Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 18:23

"Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?" — Ezekiel 18:23 (ASV)

Have I any pleasure at all? —This brings out that fundamental truth which underlies the whole teaching of both the Old and New Testaments, and which should have assured Israel of the Lord’s readiness to receive every penitent sinner. God created man; and when he had fallen, ordered both the old and the new dispensations, and employed methods of infinite love to win him to salvation. He can have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; His delight can only be when man fulfills the design for which he was created, and returns to obedience and communion with God. Nor, as is declared in the next verse, can the Almighty allow His creature to set at naught His love and despise His salvation.