יחזקאל, פרק י״ח, פסוק כ״א

After establishing that a child does not suffer punishment for the sins of a wicked parent, the focus shifts entirely to the individual. This transition highlights the profound depth of God's justice [מצודת דוד]. It reveals a powerful truth: just as a person is free from the burden of their ancestors' wrongdoing, they are also not permanently bound by their own past. If a person chooses to change their ways, they will not be punished for their previous sins [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

The process of repairing a wicked life unfolds in two distinct stages. The first stage involves fixing the past. A person must feel true regret for their wrongdoings and completely abandon their sins, making a firm commitment never to return to them [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. The second stage focuses on the future. From this point forward, the individual must carefully observe God's laws and actively practice justice and righteousness [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

This raises a profound question: if someone spends the majority of their life sinning and only repents near the end, why are they granted life? It might seem more fair to weigh their actions, judging them as half guilty and half innocent. The answer lies in the power of true regret. The moment a person genuinely repents, their past sins are completely erased and no longer count against them. God judges a person based on their final state. Once they turn away from their wrongdoings, they are viewed as completely righteous, as if they had never sinned at all [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

The reward for this transformation is an absolute promise of life. This is understood as a guarantee of life in this world and salvation from death in the world to come [רד״ק]. Alternatively, it represents gaining life for the soul while being spared from physical death [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, when God accepts a person's repentance, it is not a case of Him changing His mind or merely canceling a harsh decree. Rather, God's original and primary desire from the very beginning is always for the wrongdoer to abandon their bad path and achieve life [מלבי״ם].