Ezekiel 18:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It will be declared, The conduct of the Lord is unjust: this was the reasoning of the children of Israel, who recognized that their forefathers had sinned but had not experienced exile as a consequence. They voiced this opinion to those destined for captivity; and although the announcement of their impending captivity should have prompted them to turn back to God, they complained that He was wrong to predict their exile.

He provides explanations for the fairness of God's judgment. Do you consider Me unjust, He asks, because I reward the descendants for their fathers' transgressions, and because some taste sour grapes while others have their teeth set on edge? Thus, every individual dies because of his own sin and is revived through his righteousness; in both situations, he is evaluated not for what has occurred in the past but for the state of his present life. However, your assessment is flawed, for you fail to perceive the parable as a metaphor, interpreting it as if it were grounded in reality, leading to the punishment of some for the misdeeds of others.

How can you, in light of this just judgment, charge me with wrongdoing? It is you who should hold yourselves accountable, for despite the evident truth of the Judge, you choose to pursue unrighteousness. The Prophet succinctly reiterates this point: the virtuous individual who turns away will face spiritual death, while the sinner who returns to repentance and commits to following the path of virtue shall find life through the fruits of repentance.