Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
righteous . . . turn from . . . righteousness—not one "righteous" as to the root and spirit of regeneration (Psalms 89:33; Psalms 138:8; Isaiah 26:12; Isaiah 27:3; John 10:28; Philippians 1:6), but as to its outward appearance and performances. So the "righteous" (Proverbs 18:17; Matthew 9:13). As in Ezekiel 3:19 the minister is required to lead the wicked to good, so in Ezekiel 3:20 he is to confirm the well-disposed in their duty.
commit iniquity—that is, give himself up wholly to it (I John 3:8-9), for even the best often fall, but not wilfully and habitually.
I lay a stumbling-block—not that God tempts to sin (James 1:13-14), but God gives men over to judicial blindness, and to their own corruptions (Psalms 9:16-17; Psalms 94:23) when they "like not to retain God in their knowledge" (Romans 1:24, Romans 1:26); just as, on the contrary, God makes "the way of the righteous plain" (Proverbs 4:11-12; Proverbs 15:19), so that they do "not stumble." CALVIN refers "stumbling-block" not to the guilt, but to its punishment; "I bring ruin on him." The former is best. Ahab, after a kind of righteousness (I Kings 21:27-29), relapsed and consulted lying spirits in false prophets; so God permitted one of these to be his "stumbling-block," both to sin and its corresponding punishment (I Kings 22:21-23).
his blood will I require— (Hebrews 13:17).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ezekiel 3:20:
Ezekiel 3:20
Ezekiel 33:2
Ezekiel 33:11
Ezekiel 33:12
Acts 20:26
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