Again, When a righteous man One truly righteous, and devoted to the love and service of God in heart and life; one whose person is justified, whose nature is renewed, and whose practice is conformed to God's holy will; doth turn from his righteousness and commit iniquity Which the Scriptures show to be very possible, and experience and observation demonstrate to be a case not uncommon. And I lay a stumbling-block before him Such a temptation to sin as he might have resisted, but to which, nevertheless, he yielded, and by which he was overcome. The word מכשׁול, here rendered stumbling-block, sometimes signifies ruin, as Ezekiel 18:30. Therefore some render this clause, And I cause iniquity to become his ruin; he shall die Shall perish in his sin; and his righteousness shall not be remembered Shall be of no advantage to him; shall stand him in no stead for the preventing of punishment. But his blood will I require at thy hand See on Ezekiel 3:18. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man That he may not be drawn aside by bad examples, or any other temptation, to forsake the ways of piety and virtue. And he doth not sin But continues conscientiously to walk in God's ordinances and commandments blameless. He shall surely live In the favour of God here, and in his kingdom hereafter. Also thou hast delivered thy soul Both the warner and the warned escape destruction.
Related Commentaries of Ezekiel 3:20
Ezekiel 3:20-21
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.