Ezekiel 3:17-18

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 3:17

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel ,.... Not in a civil sense, a watchman of a town or city, or of the whole country, but in an ecclesiastical sense. So the Targum renders it by מליף , "a teacher"; whose business it was to instruct the people in divine things, to warn them of their evil ways, and of the danger they exposed them to; such were the prophets of old, and such are the ministers of the New Testament: the office is the same with that of bishops or... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 3:17

I have made thee a watchman - The care and welfare of all this people I have laid on thee. Thou must watch for their safety, preach for their edification, and pray for their eternal welfare. And that thou mayest be successful, receive the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. God is particularly jealous lest any words but his own be taught for Divine doctrines. He will not have human creeds, no more than Traditions, taught instead of his own word. No word can be successful in the... 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 3:17

Verse 17 What Ezekiel heard belongs to all teachers of the Church, namely, that they are Divinely appointed and placed as on watch-towers, that they may keep watch for the common safety of all. It was the duty of those who have been appointed from the beginning ministers of the heavenly doctrine to be watchmen. And would that in the Papacy, as this name has been imposed on idols, dumb and blind and deaf, those who with swelling cheeks call themselves Bishops, had been admonished of their... 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

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

A watchman unto the house of Israel . The seven days' session of amazement came to an end, but even then there was at first no utterance of a message. The word of the Lord came to his own soul, and told him what his special vocation as a prophet was to be. He was to be a "watchman unto the house of Israel." He was, like the watchman of a city on his tower, to be on the look out to warn men against coming dangers, not to slumber on his post. In 2 Samuel 18:24-27 and 2 Kings 9:17-20 we... read more

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