And the word of the Lord came unto me again, saying. The word of prophecy from the Lord, as the Targum; and its being mentioned is coming from the Lord is to give it weight and authority. This is a distinct sermon or prophecy from the former, and was sent and delivered out at another time. read more
What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel ,.... This is spoken to the Jews in Babylon, who used the following proverb concerning the land of Israel; not the ten tribes, but the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, concerning the desolation of the land, and the hardships the Jews laboured under, since the captivity of Jeconiah, and they became subject to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar: this expostulation with them suggests that they had no just cause, or true reason, to... read more
As I live, saith the Lord God ,.... This is a form of an oath; the Lord here swears by his life, by himself, because he could swear by no greater, Hebrews 6:13 ; and it expresses how displeased he was with the above proverb, and how much he resented it, as well as the certainty of what follows; which, it might be depended on, would be assuredly done, since the Lord not only said it, but swore unto it: ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel ; signifying... read more
Behold, all souls are mine ,.... By creation; they being the immediate produce of his power; hence he is called "the Father of spirits", Hebrews 12:9 , or the souls of men; these he has an apparent right unto; a property in; a dominion over; they are accountable to him, and will be judged impartially by him: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine ; and therefore must be thought to have as great a respect and affection for the one as for the other; for the soul... read more
But if a man be just ,.... Not legally, as to be wholly free from sin, for there is no such just man, Ecclesiastes 7:20 ; but evangelically, through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ unto him; and who has a principle of grace and holiness wrought in him; a man of a just principle and good conscience; who is disposed by the grace of God to that which is just and right; for this seems to refer to the inward frame of the mind, as distinct from actions, and as the source of them,... read more
And hath not eaten upon the mountains ,.... Where temples and altars were built for idols, and sacrifices offered up to them; and where feasts were kept to the honour of them, and the sacrifices to them eaten; see Ezekiel 6:13 ; for otherwise it was not unlawful to eat common food on mountains, as well as on other places; but here it denotes idolatrous practices; and the Targum is, "and hath not served idols on the mountains:' neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the... read more
And hath not oppressed any ,.... By fraud or force, particularly the poor, to the great grief and hurt of them: but hath restored to the debtor his pledge ; which was pawned; not embezzling it, or keeping it beyond the time fixed by the law of God, Deuteronomy 24:12 ; hath spoiled none by violence ; has not committed theft and robbery, or done injury to any man's person and property: hath given his bread to the hungry ; which was his own; what he had laboured for, and come by... read more
He that hath not given forth upon usury ,.... Money, victuals, or any other thing, which was forbidden the Jews to take of their brethren, though they might of strangers, Deuteronomy 23:19 ; neither hath taken any increase : or interest; or rather something over and above the interest money or use, as a gratuity for lending it upon the said interest: that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity ; not only that now mentioned, but all others; who, having inadvertently engaged in... read more
Hath walked in my statutes ,.... Respecting the worship of God and true religion; being observant of all laws and ordinances relating thereunto: and hath kept my judgments to deal truly ; in things moral and civil among men; regarding all such laws of God as oblige to such things: he is just ; such a man is a just man, at least externally; and if he does all these things from a right principle, without trusting to them for justification before God, and acceptance with him, but... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-9
Evil manners, we say, beget good laws; and in like manner sometimes unjust reflections occasion just vindications; evil proverbs beget good prophecies. Here is, I. An evil proverb commonly used by the Jews in their captivity. We had one before (Ezek. 12:22) and a reply to it; here we have another. That sets God's justice at defiance: ?The days are prolonged and every vision fails; the threatenings are a jest.? This charges him with injustice, as if the judgments executed were a wrong: ?You use... read more