We are responsible for walking daily in righteousness to remain in fellowship with the LORD.
“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die” (v.26). Here, the prophet Ezekiel (active in the 6th century BC, likely among the exiles near the River Chebar in Babylon) emphasizes personal accountability before the LORD, showing that an individual who once practiced righteousness is not shielded from judgment if he then chooses to live in sin. Though Ezekiel ministered during Judah’s exile under Babylonian domination (c. 597 BC onward), his message carries timeless truths: it is the devotion of the heart—manifested in everyday acts—that determines one’s standing with God, not merely a history of good deeds. In the broader context of this chapter, the prophet insists that each person’s moral choices lead to either life or death, making it clear that true righteousness is an ongoing, conscious commitment to obey God, rather than a one-time status.
“When a righteous man turns away…” also reminds us that God values repentance and present faithfulness above past performance, reflecting His holy and just character. Similar themes of personal accountability appear in other passages, such as Ezekiel 14:14, where it is taught that even the presence of righteous figures like Noah or Daniel cannot deliver a wicked people by proxy—every individual must stand or fall based on his or her own walk with God.
Set to dark mode
Ezekiel 18:26 meaning
“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die” (v.26). Here, the prophet Ezekiel (active in the 6th century BC, likely among the exiles near the River Chebar in Babylon) emphasizes personal accountability before the LORD, showing that an individual who once practiced righteousness is not shielded from judgment if he then chooses to live in sin. Though Ezekiel ministered during Judah’s exile under Babylonian domination (c. 597 BC onward), his message carries timeless truths: it is the devotion of the heart—manifested in everyday acts—that determines one’s standing with God, not merely a history of good deeds. In the broader context of this chapter, the prophet insists that each person’s moral choices lead to either life or death, making it clear that true righteousness is an ongoing, conscious commitment to obey God, rather than a one-time status.
“When a righteous man turns away…” also reminds us that God values repentance and present faithfulness above past performance, reflecting His holy and just character. Similar themes of personal accountability appear in other passages, such as Ezekiel 14:14, where it is taught that even the presence of righteous figures like Noah or Daniel cannot deliver a wicked people by proxy—every individual must stand or fall based on his or her own walk with God.