How does Ezekiel 18:5 connect with Jesus' teachings on righteousness? The Verse in Focus “But if a man is righteous and does what is just and right,” (Ezekiel 18:5) Key Themes in Ezekiel 18:5 • Personal accountability for righteousness • Righteousness defined by doing what is “just and right” • No reliance on ancestry, tradition, or ritual alone—obedience is personal Jesus and the Call to Authentic Righteousness • “For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) • “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) • “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes... yet you have neglected the more important matters of the Law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” (Matthew 23:23) Common Threads Between Ezekiel and Jesus • Righteousness Is Active – Ezekiel: “does what is just and right” – Jesus: “he who does the will of My Father” (Matthew 7:21) • No Substitutes for Obedience – Ezekiel dismisses inherited merits (Ezekiel 18:2–4) – Jesus rejects empty religious performance (Matthew 23:25–28) • Justice and Mercy Interwoven – Ezekiel highlights fairness and protection of the vulnerable (vv. 6–9) – Jesus exalts justice, mercy, and faithfulness as “weightier matters” (Matthew 23:23) • Individual Response Determines Destiny – Ezekiel: “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (v. 4) – Jesus: “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) Practical Takeaways for Today • Examine motives: righteousness begins in the heart (Matthew 5:21–28) • Align actions with Scripture: obey God’s revealed standards (John 14:15) • Practice justice in daily relationships: honesty, generosity, integrity (Luke 6:31) • Depend on Christ’s empowering grace: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) |
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