Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Ezekiel
Book: Ezekiel
Chapter: 16
Overview:
A
Parable showing the first low estate of the Jewish nation,
its prosperity, idolatries, and
Punishment.
1-58 In this
Chapter God's dealings with the Jewish nation, and
their conduct towards him, are described, and their
Punishment
through the surrounding nations, even those they most trusted
in. This is done under the
Parable of an exposed infant rescued
from
Death, educated, espoused, and richly provided for, but
afterwards guilty of the most abandoned conduct, and punished
for it; yet at last received into favour, and ashamed of her
base conduct. We are not to
Judge of these expressions
By modern
ideas, but
By those of the times and places in which they were
used, where many of them would not sound as they do to us. The
design was to raise
Hatred to
Idolatry, and such a
Parable was
Well suited for that purpose.
59-63 After a full warning of judgments,
Mercy is remembered,
Mercy is reserved. These closing verses are a precious promise,
in part fulfilled at the return of the penitent and reformed
Jews out of
Babylon, but to have
Fuller accomplishment in
Gospel
times. The Divine
Mercy should be powerful to melt our hearts
into godly sorrow for
Sin. Nor will
God ever leave the sinner to
perish, who is humbled for his sins, and comes to trust in His
Mercy and
Grace through
Jesus Christ; but will keep him
By his
power, through
Faith unto
Salvation.