Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Ezekiel
Book: Ezekiel
Chapter: 17
Overview:
A
Parable relative to the Jewish nation.
(1-10) to which an
explanation is added.
(11-21) A direct promise of the
Messiah.
(22-24)
1-10 Mighty conquerors are aptly likened to birds or beasts of
prey, but their destructive passions are overruled to forward
God's designs. Those who depart from
God, only vary their crimes
By changing one
Carnal confidence for another, and never will
prosper.
11-21 The
Parable is explained, and the particulars of the
history of the Jewish nation at that time may be traced.
Zedekiah had been ungrateful to his benefactor, which is a
Sin
against
God. In every solemn
Oath,
God is appealed to as a
Witness of the sincerity of him that swears.
Truth is a
Debt
owing to all men. If the professors of the true religion
Deal
treacherously with those of a false religion, their profession
makes their
Sin the worse; and
God will the more surely and
severely punish it. The
Lord will not
Hold those guiltless who
take his name in vain; and
No Man shall escape the righteous
Judgment of
God who dies under unrepented guilt.
22-24 The unbelief of
Man shall not make the promise of
God of
none effect. The
Parable of a tree, used in the threatening, is
here presented in the promise. It appears only applicable to
Jesus, the Son of
David, the
Messiah of
God. The kingdom of
Satan, which has borne
So long,
So large a sway, shall be
broken, and the kingdom of
Christ, which was looked upon with
contempt, shall be established. Blessed be
God, our
Redeemer is
seen even
By the ends of the
Earth. We may find
Refuge from the
wrath to come, and from every enemy and danger, under his
Shadow; and believers are fruitful in him.