The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, Ver. 1. _And the word of the Lord came unto me._] This is oft prefaced by the prophets to make their sermons more authoritative and authentic. Pausanias telleth us that some heathen sages, to add weight to their works, were wont to prefix Yεος, Yεος,... [ Continue Reading ]
What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? Ver. 2. _What mean you?_] Or, What is come to you? - _quoe vos dimentia cepit?_ - that you do so toss this sinful and senseless proverb among y... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 18:3 [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb in Israel. Ver. 3. _Ye shall not have occasion any more._] For I will shortly take an order with you; and not by words, but by blows, vindicate my just judgments from your cavils and scurrilities... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ver. 4. _Behold all souls are mine._] So that to show my sovereignty I may do with them as I see good. Howbeit, let me tell you that I slay none but for his sins, _i.e.,... [ Continue Reading ]
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, Ver. 5. _But if a man be just._] Keep faith and a good conscience; do good acts, and have good aims; do all as well as any, not this or that, but this and that too, as here it followeth, duties of piety, and duties of charity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 18:6 [And] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, Ver. 6. _And hath not eaten upon the mountains,_] _i.e., _ Hath not offered there to id... [ Continue Reading ]
And hath not oppressed any, [but] hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; Ver. 7. _And hath not oppressed any._] Either by force or fraud. _ Hath given his bread to the hungry._] Negative... [ Continue Reading ]
He [that] hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, [that] hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Ver. 8. _He that hath not given forth upon usury._] Of this sin, see what I have said elsewhere. Exo 22:25 _Psalms 15:5_ Neh 5:1... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he [is] just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD._ Ver. 9. _Hath walked in my statutes._] _Qui leges iuraque servat._ It is as if the prophet had said There are many more characters of a righteous man, but I shall shut up... [ Continue Reading ]
If he beget a son [that is] a robber, a shedder of blood, and [that] doeth the like to [any] one of these [things], Ver. 10. _If he beget a son._] As he may; for grace is not hereditary. _Heroum filii noxae._ That is a robber.] _Effractor._ A breach maker, whether upon the laws of God, or of men;... [ Continue Reading ]
_And that doeth not any of those [duties], but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,_ Ver. 11. _And that doth not any of these duties._] Bare omissions may undo a man. Not robbing only, but the not relieving of the poor, was the rich man's ruin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Ver. 12. _Hath committed abomination._] Such is every of the sins here instanced, whatsoever some can say in defence of them. Hath given f... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him. Ver. 13. _He hath done all these abominations._] Or, If he have done but one of them, and undo it not again by true rep... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, lo, [if] he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, Ver. 14. _Now, lo, if he beget a son that seeth._] And withal sigheth, his eye affecting his heart with grief and dislike. _ And considereth,_] viz., Of the ill consequence... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 18:15 [That] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, Ver. 15. _That hath not eaten._] See on Ezekiel 18:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, [but] hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, Ver. 16. See on Ezekiel 18:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 18:17 [That] hath taken off his hand from the poor, [that] hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. Ver. 17. See on Ezekiel 18:8,9 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 18:18 [As for] his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did [that] which [is] not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Ver. 18. _Spoiled his brother by violence._] A man had as good deal with a Cossack or a cannibal as with a tr... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, [and] hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. Ver. 19. _Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father?_] Thus these unreasonable... [ Continue Reading ]
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ver. 20. _The son shall not bear the iniquity of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die._ Ver. 21. _But if the wicked will turn, &c._] That is, saith Theodoret, so far am I from punishing one for the sins of anot... [ Continue Reading ]
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Ver. 22. _All his transgressions._] So true is that of an ancient, _Quem poenitet peccasse, poene est innocens_ - Penitence is nearly as good as innocence. _ I... [ Continue Reading ]
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live? Ver. 23. _Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?_] No, verily; for then he should do nothing but do and undo, make a world and unmake it again, since w... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? Ver. 25. _Yet ye say._] Ye will still hold your own, and no reason shall persuade you. A stubborn man standeth as a stake in a stream, lets all pass by him, but he standeth sti... [ Continue Reading ]
When a righteous [man] turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Ver. 26. _When a righteous man turneth,_] _q.d,_ Shall I say the selfsame over again to you? I had need do so surely, and all little enough. _ An... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, when the wicked [man] turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ver. 27. _Again, when the wicked man turneth away._] This also he had said before, Eze 18:21-23 but men had need to hear this sweet promise o... [ Continue Reading ]
Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ver. 29. _Because he considereth._] Consideration necessarily precedeth conversion. Psa 119:59 _Lamentations 3:40_ Jer 8:6 The prodigal came to himself first, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Ver. 29. _Yet saith the house of Israel._] Yet; for all that I can say to the contrary. They will still hold their own; they will be _dicti sui domini, &c., _ such w... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ver. 30. _Therefore I will judge you._] I will word it no longer with you, but clear up and vindicate m... [ Continue Reading ]
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ver. 31. _Cast away from you, &c._] And so evidence the soundness of your repentance. He that repenteth with a contradiction, as continuing in... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye. Ver. 32. _For I have no pleasure._] See on Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11 .... [ Continue Reading ]