The language of the text is worthy of remark, because it speaks of Noah, Daniel, and Job saving their own souls by their righteousness; a form of expression to which undoubtedly many persons would object if it were used at the present day; it would be said to savour of the notion of salvation by works, and to be opposed to the doctrine of justification by faith.
I. In order to illustrate the subject, let us notice first that if we look at the history of the three holy men mentioned in the text, we shall find that they did save their souls or their lives by their righteousness. It is impossible to deny that certain great blessings didcome to them because they were righteous, and if we had no religious theory at stake which we were afraid of injuring, we could not fear to say that their righteousness saved them. And it is manifestly in accordance with our own deepest sense of right and justice that this should be so; the notion that good deeds will bring a reward, and that evil deeds will bring punishment, is too deep to be rooted out.
II. Who shall say with our Lord's description of the judgment before him, that the last judgment will not be a judgment according to works, that righteousness will not save souls alive? If we have a real deep view of our redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall not be afraid to speak freely as the Scriptures speak concerning the mode of our salvation. On the one hand the Scriptures say the Lord Jesus Christ has said, our own consciences say, that the man who turns away from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right shall save his soul alive; nothing can interfere with this great principle. At the same time, when a human being conscious of sin presents himself before God, he will feel in his inmost heart that his righteousness is as filthy rags; he will feel that he can by no manner of means save himself, but he knows that he does not depend upon himself, he comes before God as one redeemed by Christ, he claims God's mercy not because he has done his duty, but because Christ has died.
Bishop Harvey Goodwin, Parish Sermons,3rd series, p. 33.
References: Ezekiel 14:13. W. McAll, Penny Pulpit,No. 104.Ezekiel 14:14. H. Griffith, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xiii., p. 401; Parker, Christian Commonwealth,Sept. 2nd, 1886. Ezekiel 14:19; Ezekiel 14:20. J. W. Burgon, Ninety-one Short Sermons,No. 81.Ezekiel 14:20. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxviii., No. 1651; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. xvii., p. 151.Ezekiel 15:1; Ezekiel 15:2. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. iii., No. 125.Ezekiel 15:2. Ibid., Morning by Morning,p. 22.Ezekiel 16:1; Ezekiel 16:2. Ibid., Sermons,vol. vi., No. 323.Ezekiel 16:5; Ezekiel 16:6. Ibid.,vol. viii., No. 468.