But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right. And
hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes
to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his
neighbor's wife, neither hath come near to a woman in her
separation. And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the
debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his
bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment: He
that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any
increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed
true judgment between man and man. Hath walked in my statutes, and
hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely
live, saith the Lord God (verses 5-9).
This paragraph and the next two begin with an "if." They are, therefore,
supposed cases "if a man be just." It shows what God requires as the
conditions for life. However, it must be understood that the promise of
life, "he shall surely live," has nothing whatever to do with eternal
life. This is not at all in view in these paragraphs. It is the natural
life. Eternal life was never promised to be bestowed upon man as the
result of doing what is lawful and right. Neither righteousness nor
eternal life can come by the works of the law. Here negatively and
positively God's demands are stated. In the sixth verse false worship is
in view. Eating upon the mountains, the high places, was the false
worship; the idols of the house of Israel were the calves which Jeroboam
had set up (1 Kings xii:25-33). This demand for true worship covers the
first part of the decalogue, "Thou shalt have no other gods besides Me."
With this spiritual fornication, an idolatrous worship, there was
connected the grossest lusts of the flesh. These are mentioned here as
well as sins against the neighbor. Thus the commandments in the second
part of the decalogue are made prominent. "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou
shalt not commit adultery," "Thou shalt not steal." This is followed by
the divine demand of practical righteousness. He that hath withdrawn his
hand from iniquity hath executed true judgment between man and man, hath
walked in God's statutes, to keep His judgments and deals truly, is
pronounced just and shall therefore surely live. His life would be
spared.