John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 18:31

"Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" — Ezekiel 18:31 (ASV)

Ezekiel again exhorts the people to stop complaining and to acknowledge that there is no remedy for their afflictions except to be reconciled to God. But that cannot be done unless they repent. For God was not hostile to them in vain; nor did He, as humans do, persecute with hatred the innocent, and those who did not deserve it.

Therefore, it was necessary to humbly seek God’s pardon. Ezekiel had already mentioned this, but he now confirms it in greater detail. He says, therefore, that they not only wasted their efforts but also increased the flame of God’s wrath by contending with Him and complaining that they were treated unfairly by Him: Cast forth your iniquities from you, he says.

He shows that the cause of all their troubles lies within themselves, so that they have no excuse. But he later expresses more clearly that they were entirely imbued with contempt for God, impiety, and depraved desires.

For if he had only spoken of outward wickedness, the reproof would have been partial, and therefore lighter; but after he commanded them to abandon their sins, he adds, Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Therefore, He requires a thorough renewal from them, so that they should not only conform their life to the rule of the law, but should fear God sincerely, since no one can produce good fruit except from a living root. Outward works, then, are the fruits of repentance, which must spring from a root—namely, the inward affection of the heart.

What is added serves to refute their impiety, because they wished to ascribe their destruction to God. Here God takes on the character of a mourner, saying, Why will you die, O house of Israel? while the next verse confirms this more clearly.