John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 3:19

"Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." — Ezekiel 3:19 (ASV)

The Prophet is here taught how usefully he will invest his labor, even if he should appear to fail; for he ought to be satisfied with this alone: that God approves his efforts. Therefore, even if those who were to be brought back by holy exhortations remain obstinate, God’s servants ought not, out of discouragement, to abandon their commission as if it were futile, for they free their own souls.

It has been said previously that a necessity was imposed upon them. If they are dumb dogs, the destruction of souls will be imputed to them. But when they have performed their duty and satisfied the Almighty, should it not be enough for them to be absolved in His sight?

We see then that the Prophet was encouraged by this comfort, so that he would not grow weary of admonishing abandoned and obstinate men; because, if they did not benefit from his teaching, its fruit would still return to him.

Christ’s expression is well known: “Into whatever house you enter, salute it; if the house is unworthy, your blessing shall return to yourselves” (Matthew 10:12–13; Luke 10:5–6). Likewise, when the Prophets anxiously desired to reclaim the wandering sheep and gather them into the fold, if they experienced such stubbornness that their labor did not benefit the people, its reward would still return to the Prophets themselves.

Now we understand God’s counsel in these words: “You, therefore, have freed your soul.” Here, God does not speak only of impiety, but also of an impious way, for the sake of explanation. If one prefers to distinguish that impiety is the inner wickedness of the heart, while an impious way is the outward life and includes all actions (which is perhaps more probable), there is still no reason to object to impious way being added as an explanation after the mention of impiety.