Ezekiel 22:26 - Homiletics

Holy and profane.

I. THE TRUE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOLY AND PROFANE . The Jewish Law made elaborate distinctions between the clean and the unclean, some of which were founded on moral differences, some on sanitary requirements, but others OH merely symbolical and ceremonial points. Many of these distinctions were only temporary, as that between certain foods, and that between Jews and Gentiles, the abolition of which was revealed to St. Peter in his vision at Joppa ( Acts 10:15 ). Christ denounced the folly of formal distinctions ( Matthew 15:11 ). St. Paul claimed large liberty in this respect, and pointed out the danger and delusion of the will-worship which was associated with too punctilious an observance of minute external distinctions ( Colossians 2:23 ). Nevertheless, there remain true distinctions apart from the formal and ceremonial differences.

1. The distinction between holiness and sin . In this distinction we have -the root out of which the ceremonial notions of cleanness and uncleanness sprang. The formal notions may pass, the moral foundation is eternal.

2. The distinction between the service of God and the service of the world . We do not want to regard the temple as the only sacred place, so that the forum must be relegated to profanity. In the Christian age, "Holiness unto the Lord" is not only to be inscribed on the bells of the high priest; it is to be seen on the bells of the horses ( Zechariah 14:20 ). But this means a dedication of all to the service of God. If we neglect that service and sink into secularism, we fail to observe the holiness; we then make all things profane—temple as well as forum.

II. THE SIN OF DESTROYING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SACRED AND PROFANE . We have not now to do with definite Jewish offences against the Law of Moses, in which the finely drawn distinction between the clean and the unclean is disregarded. Sacred things of the temple were desecrated by the insolent heathen at Belshazzar's feast, but they had been first desecrated by Jews in the house of God, while they were touched with sinful hands and used without holy motives. They who are most careful to keep up the ceremonial distinction may yet profane sacred things.

1. The sabbath is profaned, not only when the shops are open and when crowds throng the public resorts of amusement, but when the congregations at church play the part of ostentatious Pharisees, and mock God with pretentious prayers while their hearts and thoughts are far from him.

2. The Bible is profaned when it is quoted to prop up a private opinion in disregard to the royal rights of truth.

3. The gospel is profaned when it is preached for the sake of winning popularity or raising money, to the neglect of the claims of Christ and the needs of mankind.

4. The conscience, which should be a holy standard of right, is profaned when it is distorted by casuistry into excusing a lack of integrity.

5. The body is profaned when, instead of being a temple of the Holy Ghost, it is an instrument of sin ( 1 Corinthians 6:15 ).

6. The Church, which should be the bride of the Lamb, is profaned when she sinks into worldly living or is divided against herself in bitter uncharitableness.