What is the meaning of Ezekiel 3:21? But if you warn the righteous man not to sin God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman (Ezekiel 3:17). That role includes sounding an alarm whenever righteousness is threatened. The verse assumes the righteous are still capable of stumbling; love therefore calls for timely warning (Leviticus 19:17; Hebrews 3:13). • Warning is not meddling; it is obedience to God’s charge (Acts 20:31). • The message is clear and moral, not speculative—“not to sin.” • Faithfulness requires speaking even when silence feels easier (2 Timothy 4:2; Proverbs 27:6). and he does not sin The hoped-for outcome follows: the righteous one takes the counsel to heart and turns from potential disobedience. Scripture consistently pairs warning with the possibility of real, grace-empowered response (Ezekiel 18:21; 1 John 2:1). • True righteousness listens (Psalm 34:15). • Victory over temptation proves genuine faith (1 John 3:7-9). • Community accountability works; isolation invites failure (Galatians 6:1-2). he will indeed live because he heeded your warning “Live” in Ezekiel often points to spared judgment and continued covenant blessing (Ezekiel 18:9). By turning from sin, he avoids the death that accompanies rebellion (Romans 8:13). • Listening preserves both present well-being and eternal life (John 5:24). • Obedience is evidence, not the purchase price, of life (James 2:26). • God delights to give life; warning is one of His chosen means (Proverbs 19:16). and you will have saved yourself Ezekiel’s own safety hinges on faithfulness to his commission. Neglecting to warn would make him share in the guilty party’s blood (Ezekiel 3:18; 33:6-9). • Spiritual leaders bear added accountability (James 3:1). • Declaring the whole counsel of God clears the watchman’s conscience (Acts 20:26-27). • The principle extends to every believer: “Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching… for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16). summary Ezekiel 3:21 joins two responsibilities: the hearer must heed, and the messenger must warn. When the righteous accept godly counsel, they avoid sin’s deadly wages and continue in life. When the watchman speaks faithfully, he is free from blood-guilt and stands approved before the Lord. God values life so highly that He weaves mutual accountability into the fabric of His covenant people, safeguarding both the warned and the warner. |
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