יחזקאל, פרק י״ח, פסוק ה׳

The question of reward, punishment, and personal responsibility stands at the heart of the prophet's message. To disprove the mistaken belief that children are punished for the sins of their parents, a model of an upright individual is presented—someone whose actions represent the fulfillment of the entire body of law. Historically, this ideal figure points to King Hezekiah. He was completely righteous and did not bear the guilt of his wicked father, Ahaz [אברבנאל].

Being defined as righteous is not merely a title for good outward behavior; it describes a state where justice is deeply ingrained and natural to a person's soul [מלבי״ם]. This spiritual level begins with a total avoidance of evil and a strict adherence to negative commandments [רד״ק]. It describes an ultimate level of perfection where a person is entirely free from sin and guilt, rather than just someone whose good deeds happen to outnumber their bad ones [אברבנאל].

Following this inner perfection and avoidance of wrongdoing, active engagement is required. Good character traits must be brought into reality through the fulfillment of positive commandments [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. The primary approach among commentators is that this active practice is divided into two realms: justice refers to the commandments between people, while righteousness refers to the duties between a person and God [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that both concepts describe how a person treats others, balancing strict law and fairness with mercy and compassion [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Ultimately, this active lifestyle is not just a technical routine. It flows from a deep, internal desire to unify the name of God. This devotion is expressed through profound acts of dedication, such as giving one's own food to the poor, driven by the understanding that the commandment of charity is equal in weight to all other commandments combined [חומת אנך].