Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 20:11

"And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them." — Ezekiel 20:11 (ASV)

He shall even live in them. —Compare Deuteronomy 30:15-20. It becomes plain, on a careful perusal of this passage, that what was required was not a mere outward, technical, and perfunctory keeping of certain definite precepts, but a living and loving obedience to God’s will from the heart.

The same fundamental principle of life underlies both the Old Testament and the New. Yet the Old Testament is justly regarded, and frequently spoken of in the New Testament, as a covenant of works. This was because the people were not yet sufficiently educated spiritually to be able to receive the principle of faith. Therefore, they were placed under a law of many definite precepts, so that by keeping these with glad alacrity, they might show their readiness and desire to do the Lord’s will. It is in this sense that a man should live by doing the statutes of the law, and not on the ground of his thereby earning for himself salvation. But even thus, they failed miserably under the test.