Ezekiel 20:6

4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then ^amake known to them the abominations of their fathers.

5 “Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day when ^aI chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself ^bknown to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ^c‘I am the Lord your God.’

6 On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, ^ato bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, ^b‘flowing with milk and honey,’ ^cthe glory of all lands.

7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, ^athrow away ^bthe abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with ^cthe idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’

8 But they rebelled against Me and would not¹ obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will ^apour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’

9 ^aBut I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself ^bknown to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 “Therefore I ^amade them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

11 ^aAnd I gave them My statutes and¹ showed them My judgments, ^b‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’

12 Moreover I also gave them My ^aSabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.

13 Yet the house of Israel ^arebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they ^bdespised My judgments, ^c‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly ^ddefiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the ^ewilderness, to consume them.

14 ^aBut I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out.

15 So ^aI also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, ^b‘flowing with milk and honey,’ ^cthe glory of all lands,

16 ^abecause they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for ^btheir heart went after their idols.

Commentaries:

Matthew Henry

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Ezekiel 20:1-49

The elders of Israel are reminded of the idolatry in Egypt. (1-9) In the wilderness. (10-26) In Canaan. (27-32) God promises to pardon and restore them. (33-44) Prophecy against Jerusalem. (45-49)

1-9. Those hearts are wretchedly hardened which ask God leave to go on in sin, and that even when suffering for it; see ver. 32 . God is justly angry with those who are resolved to go on still in their trespasses. Cause the people to know the evil deeds of their fathers, that they may see how righteous it was with God to cut them off.

10-26. The history of Israel in the wilderness is referred to in the new Testament as well as in the Old, for warning. God did great things for them. He gave them the law, and revived the ancient keeping of the sabbath day. Sabbaths are privileges; they are signs of our being his people. If we do the duty of the day, we shall find, to our comfort, it is the Lord that makes us holy, that is, truly happy, here; and prepares us to be happy, that is, perfectly holy, hereafter. The Israelites rebelled, and were left to the judgments they brought upon themselves. God sometimes makes sin to be its own punishment, yet he is not the Author of sin: there needs no more to make men miserable, than to give them up to their own evil desires and passions.

Verses 27-32 The Jews persisted in rebellion after they settled in the land of Canaan. And these elders seem to have thought of uniting with the heathen. We make nothing by our profession if it be but a profession. There is nothing got by sinful compliances; and the carnal projects of hypocrites will stand them in no stead.

Verses 33-44 The wicked Israelites, notwithstanding they follow the sinful ways of other nations, shall not mingle with them in their prosperity, but shall be separated from them for destruction. There is no shaking off God's dominion; and those who will not yield to the power of his grace, shall sink under the power of his wrath. But not one of God's jewels shall be lost in the lumber of this world. He will bring the jews to the land of Israel again; and will give them true repentance. They will be overcome with his kindness: the more we know of God's holiness, the more we see the hateful nature of sin. Those who remain unaffected amidst means of grace, and would live without Christ, like the world around them, may be sure it is the way to destruction.

Verses 45-49 Judah and Jerusalem had been full of people, as a forest of trees, but empty of fruit. God's word prophesies against those who bring not forth the fruits of righteousness. When He will ruin a nation, who or what can save it? The plainest truths were as parables to the people. It is common for those who will not be wrought upon by the word, to blame it.

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