John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 18:18-19

"As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? when the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live." — Ezekiel 18:18-19 (ASV)

He emphasizes the same point at greater length, not so much for embellishment as to refute that ungodly saying to which the Israelites so harmfully clung. Because it was difficult to remove from their minds what was so deeply rooted in them, the Prophet often exclaims that no one was punished unless they deserved it for their crimes.

He adds in the next verse what seems unnecessary and absurd: for the Israelites did not argue with God about His sparing the innocent. But here Ezekiel represents them as speaking as if they wished the innocent son to be punished equally with the wicked father. However, he does not mean that they argued about the principle of the matter, but about the actual occurrence, as we commonly say.

For since they were deeply convinced of that error—that punishments extended beyond the criminals themselves—he, on the other hand, declares that the righteous were not acquitted by their own goodness if they were descended from ungodly parents, even though the people assumed this; for they were buried under their own corrupt judgment. Otherwise, they would surely have perceived that God never deprives justice of its reward of life.