I include all these verses under one view in reading, the better to gather also into one view the just and unalterable reasoning of the Lord upon them. Here are three cases stated, in a father, and a son, and the son's son, to show and illustrate the truth by. One is supposed to be a just man, who makes a conscience of his ways; and another is supposed to be the reverse of all this, and abounding in iniquity; while the third, like the first, is enabled to take warning from the awful example of his father, and follows the steps of his grandfather. Now, from these very opposite characters, the Lord draws the just conclusion, that the soul keeping his statutes should live, and the sinner, breaking and despising them, should die. All which proves the equal dealings of the Lord. Here the Reader, in order to a clear apprehension of the doctrine, and especially on gospel principles, will consider, that the Lord is all along speaking on the presumption that men lived up to the observance of the divine law, and were judged by it. This kind of reasoning is frequently made use of by the sacred writers, in order the more fully to make way for, and to prove the absolute necessity of the Gospel. The Lord sends His people, as it were, to judge themselves by a covenant of works, in order to show the blessedness of grace. For (saith the Apostle Paul) if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Galatians 3:21-22. Such is the reasoning on those cases, if considered with an eye to the divine law in a covenant of works, in which the Lord's equity and just judgment is most plainly proved and illustrated. But if we consider the doctrine yet closer on gospel principles, (and which, I humbly conceive, is the way in which it should be forever considered), in this case the sum and substance of the whole passage will be found from every instance, both of father and children, to be among the highest confirmations of the necessity and absolute expediency of the Gospel of Christ. The just persons here spoken of, both in the case of father and son, are justified souls in Christ; and this appears from what is said, the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him. What righteousness but that of Christ? This indeed is truly upon the justified soul; for Christ was made sin for his people, though he knew no sin, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21. Hence He is called, the Lord our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6. And he is said to be made of God, both wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30. And hence the Lord himself saith, This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Isaiah 54:17. Hence this scripture, the righteousness of the righteous, meaning Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1, and the wickedness of the wicked, meaning the awful ungodliness inwrought in the heart by the wicked one at the fall, and never done away in Christ by His holy spirit and regeneration, shall be upon each respectively. Read, in this point of view, the whole passage is pure gospel from beginning to end.
Ezekiel 18:5-20
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
10 If he beget a son that is a robber,a a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his bloodb shall be upon him.
14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.