Q&A: Are God's Statutes Evil? Ezekiel 20:25

Question

Are God's statutes evil? Ezekiel 20:25

Answer

Ezekiel 20:25 I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not live by;

God's laws are perfect and holy (Psa. 19:7; Rom. 7:12; 1 Pet. 1:15). They are not evil. The law was one of God's gracious gifts to Israel (Deut. 4:40; 32:46-47; Josh. 1:7-8), but when perverted, it would bring forth death. This passage in Ezekiel may be compared to Romans 1:24-32.

Through Ezekiel, God promised to disperse Israel among the nations if they continued to rebel. This was not a new concept. Moses gave a prophetic warning that the exile would come because of disobedience (Lev 26:14-46; Deut 28; 32). God gave his law, but the people desecrated the Sabbath and lusted after idols (Ezek. 20:24); they filled the land with pagan altars and made offerings to idols, and offered their children in sacrifice to pagan gods (Ezek. 20:25-26).