Ezekiel 18:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Such is the nature of our Lord, whose generosity and compassion are boundless; as He proclaims through the prophet, ‘I desire not the death of the lawless one, but that he may turn from his ways and live.’ Even during times of sorrow, we will make use of the grace we have, mourning and lamenting individually rather than gathering in crowds.

God Himself stands as our aid, for He does not yearn for the death of the sinner but desires that ‘he may be converted and live.’ Thus, none should despair or become ensnared by this condition that often overcomes the wicked: ‘When the wicked reaches the depths of his depravity, he does not care’ (Proverbs 18:3). Despair does not stem from the abundance of sins but from the sinful disposition of the heart. Therefore, even if you find yourself ensnared in various vices, remind yourself: God is merciful and seeks our redemption: ‘If,’ He says, ‘your sins are as scarlet, I will make them as white as snow’ (Isaiah 1:18), meaning I will transform them into their opposite. Let us not lose hope; it is less perilous to stumble than to remain downcast; it is less frightening to be wounded than to lack the desire for healing, because ‘who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am clean from my sin”?’ (Proverbs 20:9). I share this not to encourage carelessness but to guard you against despair.

Likewise, the blessed Manasseh, who strayed far from his parents' way, did not inherit any merit from his father's faith; through his repentance, he secured his salvation. Conversely, Amos, who emulated his father's sins without embracing his repentance, met a tragic end. On the other hand, Josiah, who rejected his father’s wrongdoing and adorned his life with commendable virtues, was revered among the saints, suffering no consequences from his father’s evil. However, his offspring, who chose to follow wicked paths instead of his example, faced punishment for their own sins, receiving no benefit from the righteousness of their ancestor. Thus, it is evident from the very accounts of the holy Scriptures that the Lord's declarations are indeed reliable. Therefore, let us return to our exploration of these interpretations.

Similarly, God, the Sovereign of Heaven, King of kings and Lord of lords, seeks to show compassion to sinners by extending His call to repentance through His holy Word, urging them to forsake their sins and return to Him with genuine sorrow and a contrite spirit. ‘Repent!’ (Matthew 3:2). When this repentance occurs, the benevolent and loving God promises to forgive all their offenses and to not remember their past sins: ‘If the lawless man turn from all his iniquities, he shall live and not die; ... all his transgressions which he hath done shall not be remembered to him’ (Jer. 31:34; Ezek. 18:21-22). This merciful promise is firmly established by His oath so that sinners may trust in His assurances and not fear to turn toward Him in repentance: ‘I live,’ says the Lord God: ‘I do not want the death of the sinner, but that he may turn ... and live’ (Ezekiel 33:11; Hebrews 6:13, 17-18; Ezekiel 45:22-23). This extraordinary mercy proclaimed to all humanity has reached many sinners—thieves, fornicators, and others steeped in serious transgressions—who have joyfully embraced it. They renounced their wicked actions, rushed toward their compassionate Creator, and received His mercy, subsequently cleansing themselves through repentance, becoming His friends, and entering His everlasting kingdom. O sinner! What stops you from responding to such a gracious call from your heavenly Father? Publicans and repentant lovers find their place in the kingdom of heaven; why do you linger in your sins, remaining in that desolate state? Like a loving Father, God awaits you. Take heed and come swiftly to your heavenly Father in repentance. Truly, I assure you, He will welcome you joyfully, gazing upon you with compassion, and ‘will run and fall ... and will fall on thy neck and kiss you.’ Do not fear; He will not rebuke you for your mistakes or cast you away but will clothe you in ‘better garments,’ providing a ring for your hand and sandals for your feet. Then, the angels of God will rejoice with you. The same will be said of you: ‘This son of mine was dead and is made alive, was lost and is found’ (See Luke 15:20, 22, 24). Let us hurry, let us hurry, poor sinner, to our heavenly Father while He awaits, and the doors of His kingdom stand wide open!

More specifically, it tells humanity, who are sinners, that God ‘does not desire the death of the sinner, but rather that he should turn... and live for him’ (Ezek. 33:11); thus, God the Father chose to send His only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit to earth. The incarnate Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, unified the divine and human natures within Himself, allowing all humanity to be reconciled and united with the divine. This incarnate God, our Lord Jesus Christ, endured suffering and death to end the reign of sin within us, which originates from Adam and is sustained by our transgressions. He rose again to instill in us a new creation, awakening the gracious spiritual force that existed in us prior to Adam’s fall. He ascended into heaven so that through the all-encompassing power of His divinity, He could bring all who are united with Him from earth to heaven. Through the intercession of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, who has come to earth, ‘blows wherever He wishes’ (John 3:8), particularly breathing life into the proclamation of the Gospel and the sacraments of the Church; He, through His unseen yet often ‘mysterious arrival’ (John 3:8), convicts, instructs, encourages repentance, guides those who are lost, fortifies the weary in their journey toward conversion, and thereby establishes ‘within’ humanity ‘the kingdom of God’ (Luke 17:21), characterized by ‘righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Rom. 14:17). Ultimately, humanity will be fully brought into the kingdom of God when Jesus Christ returns to summon the blessed of His Father into the inheritance prepared for them from the foundation of the world. This statement encapsulates the multifaceted testament of the Christian faith regarding God and His redemptive acts.