Ezekiel 33:30-33

D. The Attitude of the Exiles Toward Ezekiel

33:30-33

TRANSLATION

(30) And as for you, son of man, the children of your people who talk about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word which comes forth from the LORD; (31) and come unto you as the people come, and sit before you as My people, and hear your words, but do not do them for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness; (32) and behold you are to them a love song of one who has a beautiful voice and who can play an instrument well; so they hear your words, but they do them not (33) when this comes to pass (behold it shall come) then shall they know that a prophet has been in their midst.

COMMENTS

When the news of Jerusalem's fall reached Babylon, Ezekiel and his prophecies became the topic of general conversation. Now for the first time in his ministry the exiles were anxious to hear the word of the Lord from the lips of God's accredited prophet (Ezekiel 33:30). But while they were now eager to hear Ezekiel's word, they still had not surrendered their hearts to follow the commandments of the Lord. With their mouths they were very complimentary to the prophet; but their hearts were full of covetousness, i.e., their own selfish concerns. To those unspiritual souls Ezekiel was like a musical entertainer the crooner of love songs. They enjoyed listening to him, but were unmoved by his passionate exhortations (verse 34). But when all his predictions came to pass and they surely would come to pass they would know that a true prophet had been among them (Ezekiel 33:33).