Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Ezekiel
Book: Ezekiel
Chapter: 11
Overview:
Divine judgments against the wicked at
Jerusalem.
(1-13)
Divine favour towards those in
Captivity.
(14-21) The Divine
presence forsakes the
City.
(22-25)
1-13 Where
Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the
Judgment
to come as uncertain, he gains his point
By persuading them to
look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to
say, We are as safe in this
City as
Flesh in a boiling pot; the
walls of the
City shall be to us as walls of
Brass, we shall
receive
No more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does
from the
Fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own
ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have
No peace if they
go
On. None shall remain in possession of the
City but those who
are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure.
God
is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to
others. Whether
Pelatiah died at that time in
Jerusalem, or when
the fulfilment of the
Prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like
Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden
Death of
others, and we should still plead with the
Lord to have
Mercy On
those who remain.
14-21 The pious captives in
Babylon were insulted
By the Jews
who continued in
Jerusalem; but
God made gracious promises to
them. It is promised, that
God will give them one
Heart; a
Heart
firmly fixed for
God, and not wavering. All who are made holy
have a new
Spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from
new principles, walk
By new rules, and aim at new ends. A new
name, or a new
Face, will not serve without a new
Spirit. If any
Man be in
Christ, he is a new
Creature. The
Carnal Heart, like a
Stone, cannot be made to feel. Men live among the dead and
dying, and are neither concerned nor humbled. He will make their
hearts tender and fit to receive impressions: this is
God's
work, it is his
Gift By promise; and a wonderful and happy
change is wrought
By it, from
Death to
Life. Their practices
shall be agreeable to those principles. These two must and will
go together. When the sinner feels his need of these blessings,
let him present the promises as prayers in the name of
Christ,
they will be performed.
22-25 Here is the departure of
God's presence from the
City and
Temple. It was from the
Mount of Olives that the
Vision went up,
typifying the
Ascension of
Christ to
Heaven from that very
mountain. Though the
Lord will not forsake his people, yet he
may be driven away from any part of his visible
Church By their
sins, and woe will be upon them when He withdraws his presence,
Glory, and protection.