What is the meaning of Ezekiel 18:8? He does not engage in usury or take excess interest • God’s people are to lend, not exploit. Exodus 22:25 commands, “If you lend money to one of My people… you must not charge him interest.” Psalm 15:5 affirms that the one “who does not lend at interest” will dwell with the Lord. • The prophet’s point is practical and moral: a righteous person refuses to profit from another’s vulnerability. Jesus echoes this heart in Luke 6:34-35, urging lending “without expecting anything in return.” • In modern terms, the verse pushes us to ask whether our financial dealings bless or burden others. Refusing excessive interest is a tangible way to love our neighbor (Romans 13:8-10). He withholds his hand from iniquity • Psalm 119:101 models this restraint: “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might keep Your word.” • The phrase pictures an active choice to pull back before sin ever takes hold—much like Joseph fleeing Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:12) or Paul’s charge to “abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). • Practical applications: – Turn off the screen that tempts. – Shut down gossip before it starts. – Refuse dishonest shortcuts at work. Each decision not to touch iniquity proves reverence for the Holy God who calls His people to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). He executes true justice between men • Justice here is not theoretical; it is the equitable, unbiased settling of disputes. Micah 6:8 summarizes: “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” • Ezekiel emphasizes “true” justice—no favoritism, no bribes, no partiality. Zechariah 7:9 warns, “Administer true justice; show loving devotion and compassion to one another.” • In daily life: – Employers pay fair wages (Colossians 4:1). – Parents discipline consistently, not capriciously (Ephesians 6:4). – Believers mediate conflicts with the Golden Rule at the forefront (Matthew 7:12). When righteousness governs relationships, the community mirrors God’s own just character (Deuteronomy 32:4). summary Ezekiel 18:8 paints a picture of the righteous life: refuse predatory gain, steer clear of any sin, and treat every person with uncompromising fairness. These concrete choices demonstrate a heart aligned with God’s standards, affirming that genuine faith produces tangible, observable righteousness in everyday dealings. |
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