Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Ezekiel
Book: Ezekiel
Chapter: 14
Overview:
Threatenings against hypocrites.
(1-11) God's purpose to
punish the guilty Jews, but a few should be saved.
(12-23)
1-11 No outward form or reformation can be acceptable to
God,
So long as any
Idol possesses the
Heart; yet how many prefer
their own devices and their own
Righteousness, to the way of
Salvation! Men's corruptions are idols in their hearts, and are
of their own setting up;
God will let them take their course.
Sin renders the sinner odious in the eyes of the pure and holy
God; and in his own eyes also, whenever
Conscience is awakened.
Let us seek to be cleansed from the guilt and pollution of sins,
in that
Fountain which the
Lord has opened.
12-23 National sins bring national judgments. Though sinners
escape one
Judgment, another is waiting for them. When
God's
professing people rebel against him, they may justly expect all
his judgments. The
Faith, obedience, and prayers of
Noah
prevailed to the saving of his
House, but not of the old world.
Job's
Sacrifice and
Prayer in behalf of his friends were
accepted, and
Daniel had prevailed for the saving his companions
and the
Wise men of
Babylon. But a people that had filled the
Measure of their sins, was not to expect to escape for the sake
of any righteous men living among them; not even of the most
eminent saints, who could be accepted in their own case only
through the sufferings and
Righteousness of
Christ. Yet even
when
God makes the greatest desolations
By his judgments, he
saves some to be monuments of his
Mercy. In firm belief that we
shall approve the whole of
God's dealings with ourselves, and
with all mankind, let us silence all rebellious murmurs and
objections.