Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Ezekiel
Book: Ezekiel
Chapter: 20
Overview:
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.
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.
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.
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.