Ezekiel 20:11

11 I gave them my rules. I made my laws known to them. The one who obeys them will live by them.

Ezekiel 20:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:11

And I gave them my statutes
The precepts of his law, the law on Mount Sinai, of which there were not the like among other nations; nor were they given unto them, but were a special gift unto Israel, and greatly to be valued, ( Deuteronomy 4:8 ) ( Psalms 147:19 Psalms 147:20 ) ( 19:8-10 ) ; and showed them judgments:
the nature, use, and excellency of the the necessity and advantage of observing them: the same as before, called "statutes", because appointed, fixed, and certain, being of inviolable and lasting obligation; and "judgments", being according to strict justice and equity: these, though they were originally written on man's heart, yet so obliterated by sin that there was need not only of their being afresh written and published, but of their being taught and made known; or of pointing out the use of them, and obligation to them: which [if] a man do, he shall live in them;
or "by them" F7; in the land of Canaan, enjoying all the blessings of a long and happy life: reference seems to be had to ( Leviticus 18:5 ) . The Targum adds,

``in eternal life;''
but eternal life is not to be obtained by the works of the law, since no man can perfectly obey or fulfil it, but is the pure gift of the grace of God.
FOOTNOTES:

F7 (Mhb) "per ea", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Piscator; "propter ea", Pagninus.

Ezekiel 20:11 In-Context

9 " ' "But I wanted my name to be honored. I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations my people lived among. I had made myself known to Israel in the sight of those nations. I had brought my people out of Egypt.
10 " ' "So I led them out of Egypt. I brought them into the Desert of Sinai.
11 I gave them my rules. I made my laws known to them. The one who obeys them will live by them.
12 I also told them to observe my Sabbath days. That is the sign of the covenant I made with them. I wanted them to know that I made them holy. I am the Lord.
13 " ' "But the people of Israel refused to obey me in the desert. They did not follow my rules. They turned their backs on my laws. The one who obeys them will live by them. They totally misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out my burning anger on them. I would destroy them in the desert.
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