Ezekiel 18:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

For I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God, return ye and live.
Douay-Rheims

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אֶחְפֹּץ֙ בְּמ֣וֹת הַמֵּ֔ת נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה וְהָשִׁ֖יבוּ וִֽחְיֽוּ׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

4 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom
Jerome of Stridon
Theodoret of Cyrus
Tichon of Zadonsk

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

God does not betray us or abandon us unless we choose to separate ourselves from Him. As it is written, "your iniquities have made a division between you and Me" (Isa. 59:2). The Psalmist also declares, "they that remove themselves from Thee perish" (Psalms 72:27), and Hosea states, "thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, and I will forget thee" (Hosea 4:6). Christ expresses His desire in the Gospel: "how many times have I desired to gather your children, and you were not willing" (Luke 13:34). Additionally, Isaiah reflects, "I came, no one was there; I called, no one answered" (Isaiah 50:2). This speaks to the reality that we initiate our own estrangement from God, and we are accountable for our downfall.

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

I do not desire your demise, says the one who has brought you forth for salvation. I have raised up sons and honored them, yet these have turned away from Me (Isaiah 1:2). Therefore, turn back and live. This call to repentance is directed at those who once walked with God but have since strayed from His presence. Let those who have become spiritually dead through sin find life once more through repentance. Consequently, Israel, which refuses to return to its original state, must be seen as spiritually lifeless.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Understanding that I do not wish for the demise of the sinner, but rather for his transformation, let him turn towards repentance and partake in the blessings of life. This restoration is appropriate for you, for God is not solely the God of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles; He is the Lord of all, abundant in grace for all who seek Him (Rom. 10:12). Therefore, let us abandon the path of sin, which ultimately leads to destruction and desolation, and instead embrace the divine journey that guides us to heaven and grants us confidence before God, a privilege we find in Christ Jesus our Lord. To Him be glory alongside the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever! Amen.

Tichon of Zadonsk

18th centuryChurch Father

The Tsar, in his desire to pardon and rehabilitate wrongdoers who not only destroy themselves but also inflict significant harm upon the homeland, seeks to draw them away from their malevolent ways with the promise of royal favor. He issues a decree proclaiming that if these individuals willingly confess their misdeeds, amend their lives, and commit to living righteously from then on, all their past transgressions will be forgiven and forgotten, allowing them to live in harmony like other loyal subjects of the Fatherland. Those who respond to the Tsar’s kindness and conform to his decree are bestowed with his favor.

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In a similar manner, God, the Sovereign of Heaven, the King of kings and Lord of lords, yearning to extend mercy to sinners, proclaims repentance through His sacred Word so that they may turn from sin with sincere contrition and a humble heart, and be transformed. "Repent!" (Matthew 3:2) When this is fulfilled, the good and loving God assures that all sins, no matter how grievous, will be completely forgiven and remembered no more. "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). God's compassionate promise has been "established by His oath," so that sinners may not doubt His mercy or fear coming to 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).

This extraordinary mercy of God has been proclaimed to the entire world and has reached the ears of many sinners—including robbers, fornicators, prostitutes, and others deeply entrenched in sin. Embracing this proclamation with open hearts, they renounced their wicked actions, swiftly returning in repentance to their compassionate Creator, receiving His mercy, and, once purified, became His beloved friends, entering His everlasting kingdom.

O sinner! Why do you hesitate when you hear such a gracious invitation from your heavenly Father? The tax collectors and repentant sinners are welcomed into the kingdom of heaven; why do you linger in your sinful state? The Father, filled with love for His children, awaits your return. Turn back now and come swiftly to your heavenly Father in heartfelt repentance. Truly, I tell you, He will greet you joyfully, gaze upon you with compassion, and "will have compassion on thee, and will run and fall on thy neck" (Luke 15:20). Do not fear; He will not scold you for your past wrongs or cast you out, but will clothe you in "better clothes" and place a ring on your hand and shoes on your feet. The angels of God will rejoice with you as well. Then it shall be declared of you, "This son of mine was dead and is made alive, was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24). Let us hurry, let us hurry, poor sinner, to our heavenly Father while He waits and the gates of His kingdom are wide open!

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.