Ezekiel 3:18-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 3:16-21

These further instructions God gave to the prophet at the end of seven days, that is, on the seventh day after the vision he had; and it is very probably that both that and this were on the sabbath day, which the house of Israel, even in their captivity, observed as well as they could in those circumstances. We do not find that their conquerors and oppressors tied them to any constant service, as their Egyptian task-masters had formerly done, but that they might observe the sabbath-rest for a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 3:18

When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die ,.... Not only a corporeal but an eternal death for this is what the law threatens with, and there the Lord says this; and this is the wages, end, and issue of sin, if grace prevent not: and thou givest him not warning ; of the evil nature of sin, and of the danger it exposes to: nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way ; to abstain from it, and live another course of life: to save his life ; for such warning, caution,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 3:19

Yet if thou warn the wicked ,.... Of his sin and danger; lay before him his evil, and show him the sad consequences of going on in a course of sin, and warn him to flee from wrath to come: and he turn not from his wickedness, and from his wicked way ; does not repent of it, nor abstain from it: he shall die in his iniquity ; and for it, and that very righteously: but thou hast delivered thy soul ; thou hast done the duty of thine office; thou art clear from the charge of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 3:18

Thou shalt surely die - That is, If he turn not from his wickedness, and thou givest him not warning, as above, he shalt die in his iniquity, which he should not have committed; but his blood will I require at thy hand - I will visit thy soul for the loss of his. O how awful is this! Hear it, ye priests, ye preachers, ye ministers of the Gospel; ye, especially, who have entered into the ministry for a living, ye who gather a congregation to yourselves that ye may feed upon their fat, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 3:18

Verse 18 The Prophet is now taught how difficult and dangerous an office he has now to undertake. God had previously laid it down as a law that he should utter nothing of himself: now he adds, that, the watchman is so set over the people that he must render an account of the diligence with which he goes through his watches. It is just as if it had been said that souls were committed to his care and fidelity, so that if they should perish he must undergo punishment before God. But it is better... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 3:19

Verse 19 The Prophet is here taught how usefully he will lay out his labor, although he should appear to fail, for he ought to be satisfied with this alone, that God approves his efforts. Although, therefore, those who were to be brought back by holy exhortations remain obstinate, yet God’s servants ought not, through fastidiousness, to throw up their commission as if it were useless, for they free their own souls. It has been formerly said, that a necessity was imposed upon them, but if they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:15-21

Responsibility. It is a serious thing to be responsible for our own conduct; it is (if possible) yet more serious to have responsibility for others. The two things are inseparably intertwined. I. RESPONSIBILITY SPRINGS FROM NATURAL RELATIONSHIP . Relationships are of all kinds—near and remote. No man is completely detached from others. His life penetrates other lives. A father is responsible for his children. Brothers are responsible for sisters, and vice versa, it was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:16-21

The prophet a watchman. "And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel," etc. Let us notice— I. THE CHARACTER IN WHICH THE PROPHET OF THE LORD IS HERE REPRESENTED . "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel." 1 . The appointment of a watchman implies the peril of the Church. Watchmen in ancient times were posted on the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:17-19

The watchman's office. Every servant of God conceives his service in his own manner, under the special light of his own experience and character. Ezekiel evidently felt the peculiar solemnity of his position among the children of the Captivity, and evidently was consumed by a desire to discharge his difficult and painful duty with fidelity and efficiency. Hence his habit of regarding himself, as indeed the Divine Spirit prompted him to do, as a watchman set to admonish and protect the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 3:17-21

Varieties of judgment. The duties and responsibilities of the prophet as a watchman, which are here first described, receive more elaborate attention later in the book, where therefore they can be best studied. The other side of the subject—that which concerns the guilt and dangers of the people, which is also set forth in the passage before us—is worthy of grave consideration on its own account. Let us take that alone now. I. JUDGMENT IS DETERMINED BY PERSONAL GUILT . God... read more

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