The Sword of the Lord Then The Messiah Comes, part 2

The Sword of the Lord

We began our last study by reading two verses in the book of Genesis. The first verse was Genesis 3:14-15. It says,

The LORD God said to the serpent,
. . .

And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.
Genesis 3:15 (NASB)

There is a lot in this verse that we could talk about. Verse 15 is about a curse that was pronounced on Satan because he deceived Eve, motivating her to sin. The most important part of the curse is that enmity would exist between Satan and “her seed.” The phrase “her seed” refers to our Savior, Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explains in Galatians 3:16 that “seed” refers to Christ. The ancient Jewish rabbis believed this verse referred to the Messiah, but they interpreted the details differently.[1] We agree that this verse refers to the Messiah who is our Savior Jesus Christ, who is our great high priest. He is the Messiah-Priest.

Then we visited Genesis 49:10. Here is the verse,

The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Genesis 49:10 (NASB)

The Hebrew word for scepter refers to a king’s staff. Here we are told the Messiah will come from Judah. The Hebrew word for “Shiloh” is an important word because siloh, probably means “until he comes into his own.” It could also mean ‘to whom it belongs” or “his due.” The common message is that the one who holds the scepter will eventually be given what is justly His. What justly belongs to him? The answer is given to us when we are told that everyone will obey Him. That reveals He will rule the world. This prophecy is about a Messiah-King.

Second Study of Ezekiel 21

Our study today is from Ezekiel 21:18-32. This is the second part of our study in this chapter. In the last study, we read verses 1-7, which is the first prophecy in the chapter. There in verse three, Yahweh told the prophet Ezekiel to announce that He had unsheathed His sword. The verse says,

“And say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.” Ezekiel 21:3 (NASB)

That is, Yahweh’s plan to slaughter the people in the temple, in the city of Jerusalem, and throughout Israel had not changed. So, Yahweh had pulled His sword out of its protective sheath. This was more than a warning of the coming invasion by the Babylonian army. It implied certainty!

Then in the second prophecy in verses 8-17, Yahweh announced that His sword was sharpened and polished. The prophet sang a song about His sword. We made the point that the word “sword” occurs seventeen times in this chapter. It occurs more times in this chapter than in any other chapter in the Bible. That helps us understand that the theme of this chapter is the sword of the Lord. Again, that implied destruction was certain.

Then in verse 10 we discovered the people did not believe destruction was coming. The Hebrew word for rod in the verse is the same one that is translated as scepter in Genesis 49:10. So, they thought they did not need to be concerned about Ezekiel’s warnings. They thought the Messiah would rescue them from the Babylonian invasion. But in verse 13 Yahweh asked what if the scepter or the Messiah does not rescue you? The idea is maybe you are wrong.

In verses 14-17, God announced that His sword had been sharpened and polished. So, it would be three times as effective at killing. In verses 15-16, He said His sword would be glistening in the sun as the light rays glinted off the sword as it swung left and right slaughtering the people. Then Yahweh clapped His hands in approval. That is the summary of the second prophecy in the chapter.

So, Genesis 49:10 was important for our understanding of verses 1-17. The false prophets, false priests, and the wicked politicians had encouraged the people in Israel that the Messiah would come and rescue them. They assumed they did not need to worry about the messages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel, but they were wrong!

The Sword Is the King of Babylon (v 18-27)

The third and fourth prophecies in this chapter are what our study is about. The third prophecy begins with verse 18 and ends with verse 27. It reveals that Yahweh’s sword is the King of Babylon. Here are verses 18-19,

The word of the LORD came to me saying, As for you, son of man, make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to the city. Ezekiel 21:18-19 (NASB)

The third prophecy is introduced with “the word of the Lord.” This time Yahweh told Ezekiel to mark two ways or roads for the sword of the king of Babylon. Notice that Ezekiel was not told to draw with a writing instrument on something but to make something. That reminded me of when I was a very young boy. I loved making roads in a flower bed on the side of the house. I mixed water and dirt together to make mud. Then I poured the mud on the ground little by little to make roads and bridges. Then I put my little toy cars and trucks on the roads and pushed them along the roads. I had fun making those roads. So, Ezekiel was to make two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon,” that is, for the Babylonian army. The two ways went to two different lands or nations. The prophet was told to also make a signpost or signs for the two roads.

The next verse tells us what the prophet was to write on the sign.

“You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.” Ezekiel 21:20 (NASB)

One sign was to indicate the road that would take the army to Rabbah which was in the nation of Ammon. The other sign would be for the road to the fortified city of Jerusalem in Judah. The road divided at the city of Babylon.

Now we must understand that the two roads the prophet Ezekiel made were symbols. But what did they symbolize? The answer is revealed in the next several verses. Verse 21 says,

For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver. Ezekiel 21:21 (NASB)

This verse reveals that the mind of the Babylonian king. He was trying to decide if he should invade Judah and conquer Jerusalem or invade Ammon and conquer Rabbah. So, he consulted the occult. He used divination. The first divination technique was that he took some arrows. One Bible commentator said the king took two arrows and marked one with the name Rabbah and the other with Jerusalem. Then the arrow that was drawn from the quiver determined the path the army should take. Another Bible commentator suggested that maybe the king shot the arrows into the air or threw them up into the air, and depending upon where they landed that helped to make the decision. Those are helpful ideas, but the truth is we do not know how he used the arrows for divination.

Secondly, he used household idols. Some have proposed that the priest of the false religion that was represented by the idol spoke for the idols, or maybe Yahweh allowed a demon to speak for the idols. But again, we do not really know how he used the idols.

The third divination technique was the examination of a liver. This technique is called a hepatoscopy. This approach involved examining the liver of a sacrifice animal to obtain an answer.
Verse 22 tells us what happened.

“Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall.” Ezekiel 21:22 (NASB)

So, the divination indicated that he should go to his right. The sign said, “Jerusalem.” So, he sent all the military weapons that were necessary to defeat Jerusalem: battering rams, ramps, and a siege wall. Then, off the army went to Jerusalem.

Before we go any further, notice three very important divine principles from these verses. The first principle is that Yahweh controlled the divination so that King Nebuchadnezzar made the decision Yahweh wanted Him to make. The message is Yahweh is sovereignly controlling the nations of the world to accomplish His righteous purposes. Proverbs 16:33 says,

The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:33 (NASB)

This should be a comfort to every believer. The second principle is that Yahweh knew exactly what the king was thinking and planning because it is recorded in Scripture. A third principle is that Yahweh uses wicked nations to judge other wicked nations.

Verses 23-24 tell us that somehow the Israelites heard later about the divination but still thought they were safe from the Babylonian army.

And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths. But he brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear — because you have come to remembrance, you will be seized with the hand. Ezekiel 21:23-24 (NASB)

Here we are told the Israelites thought the divination had deceived King Nebuchadnezzar. Just as they did not believe the prophets, they did not believe the divination. They failed to realize that maybe Yahweh had guided the divination to accomplish His purpose. They were clinging to the belief that the Messiah would rescue them (v. 10, 13), and ignored their sins, the prophets, and the divination.

This gives us a fourth important principle. We should never ignore evil events for God has allowed them for a reason. There is something to be learned from them. When something evil happens, we should ask God to give us understanding. That is the message of James 1:5. God may destroy a home, a church, or a nation to accomplish His purposes. He has promised to give understanding.

Verses 25-27 is the high point of the chapter and end of the third prophecy. Here is verse 25,

“And you, O slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end,’” Ezekiel 21:25 (NASB)

Verse 25 is about Zedekiah. He was the last man to sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem in the Old Testament era. Notice that Yahweh did not call Zedekiah a king. He calls him, “O Slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel.” I should add quickly that the Hebrew word for “slain” can also be translated as “profaned.” That appears to be the better meaning since Zedekiah was taken to Babylon alive. His death is not mentioned in Scripture. Profane means that Zedekiah was not fit to be king. He was also a very wicked king (2 Kings 25:19-20; 2 Chronicles 36:12-13; Ezekiel 17:11-21). In addition, Zedekiah was called a prince because he was not qualified to be king (2 Kings 24:17). So, he was profane, wicked, and unqualified to be king. Therefore, 2 Kings 25:20 says it this way. The Lord was angry until he cast out Zedekiah, his mother, and daughter from His presence. That is, because of his wickedness he was unacceptable as the king of Israel. He was unacceptable as mediator between the people and Yahweh. This gives us a fifth principle. When we have unconfessed sin, our service is unacceptable to God.

Therefore in verse 26, we are told that Yahweh said, “Remove the turban and take off the crown.”

Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high. Ezekiel 21:26 (NASB)

Yahweh said, “Remove the turban and take off the crown.” When Yahweh said “take off the crown,” that referred to the collapse to the civil government. Also, Yahweh said, “Remove the turban.” The Hebrew word for “turban” is mitsnepet. It is used exclusively for the turban worn by the high priest (Exodus 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6; 39:28, 31; Leviticus 8:9; 16:4). So, when Yahweh told Zedekiah to remove his turban, it symbolically referred to the collapse of the priesthood.

The priesthood collapsed because the civil government collapsed. In 588-586 B.C. the Babylonian army captured Zedekiah, tore down buildings, and burned the temple and Jerusalem with fire and slaughtered people across Israel. Then the Davidic dynasty and the priesthood collapsed. Most importantly, notice the phrase “this will no longer be the same.” It means both the priesthood and kingdom had come to an end. It also implies something will be different in the future.

So, in verse 27 we are told,

“A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.” Ezekiel 21:27 (NASB)

The Hebrew for “ruin” sounds like the Hebrew word for “guilt” in Ezekiel 16:49. So, this is a play on words. We are to understand that ruin occurred because they were guilty. He could have just said, “Guilty, guilty, guilty.” Their ruin occurred because of their guilt. Galatians 6:7 reminds us,

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7 (NASB)

Then, Yahweh said, “This also will be no more.” The Davidic kingdom and the priesthood would be no more because of their guilt. What they knew and had experienced would be no more! What a loss! What a tragedy. Unrepentant sin eventually destroys, and that has been the message of Ezekiel. It is at this point in history when the times of the Gentiles started (Luke 21:24), and King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 begins.

Next, notice the phrase, “until he comes.” But who comes? The answer is made clearer in the phrase “whose right it is.” This refers us back to the prophecy in Genesis 49:10. Remember the word Shiloh means ‘to whom it belongs” or “to what is justly His.” This reveals verse 27 is referring to the future Messiah. Everything would cease to exist as they knew it, until the Messiah-King comes and takes what is His right. That is, He establishes the Davidic kingdom. At that time the priesthood will also be restored, but not as they knew it.

We should remember that Genesis 3:15 was a prophecy about the Messiah-High Priest and Genesis 49:10 was about the Messiah-King. That is, the Messiah will be both a priest and a king. A very important prophecy about this is found in Zechariah 6:12-14. It tells us that the office of king and priest will come together in the Messiah. As a side note, we should understand that God does not agree with the concept of separation of church and state. The Messiah will merge them together in Himself. Zechariah 6:12-14 says,

“Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”’ Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the LORD . . . Zechariah 6:12-14. (NASB)

The Branch refers to the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2; 11: 1; 53:2; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15). So Zechariah 6:13-14 reveals the Messiah will have two offices. He will be a priest and a king. Here is another side comment. Notice the Messiah will build the temple in the millennial kingdom.

Now turn back to Ezekiel 21:27. Yahweh added, “I will give it to Him.” Why will Yahweh give the priesthood and the kingdom to the Messiah? Because Matthew 25:34 says that God the Father has already prepared the kingdom from the foundation of the world. Then Philippians 2:8-10 tells us the Father will give it to Him some day. This will happen after the second coming of the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25-26). So, verses 25-27 are a gold mine about the Messiah.

They teach us that when Christ sets up the kingdom in the millennium, He will have two offices. God the Father will give Him both offices. He will be our great high priest and rule as king in the millennial kingdom. God the Father has been planning for this since the foundation of the world. That is why Jesus told us to pray, “Your kingdom come!”

The Sword Is Against Ammon (v 28-32)

Verses 28-32 are about the destruction of Ammon. I plan to revisit this prophecy when we study Ezekiel 25:1-7. So, I will not read it now. But I will just give a very quick summary. This passage tells us the Babylonian army invaded Ammon and completely destroyed it. Later, Ezekiel 25:3 will tell us they were destroyed because they rejoiced that Israel was destroyed by the Babylonians. History tells us that the Babylonians slaughtered Israel and then followed the other road over to Ammon and annihilated that nation. Ezekiel 25:1-7 will give us more information.

Conclusion

I want to end by explaining two important points in this chapter. First, God kept His promise of a future Messiah even while disciplining Israel for their rebellion, sin, and guilt. He is a faithful God! Even when all hope seemed to be gone when the last man sitting on the Davidic throne was taken away, Yahweh promised something better was coming.

Second, we must never ignore the clear message of God and listen to someone else. They ignored all of the warnings, and listened to the false prophets, false priests, and wicked leaders who gave them comfort that the Messiah would protect them. We could say they butchered Scripture. So, we must be like the Bereans and study the Scriptures to see what God has said. We must always believe what Yahweh said.

 

References:

1. Risto Santala. The Messiah In the Old Testament. Karen Ahvah Meshihit. Jerusalem. 1992. p. 37-38.

The Sword of the Lord Then the Messiah Comes, part 1

The Sword of the Lord

When we think about Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah, we usually think about Genesis 3:15, which predicted the coming of one who is our Savior from sin. Then forty-six chapters later in Genesis 49:10, another prophecy was given about this Savior; but this time He is a king. It prophesies that the Messiah will rule some day upon this earth as a king. Here is the verse,

The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Genesis 49:10 (NASB)

The scepter in this verse refers to a king’s scepter. Then we are told He will be from the tribe of Judah. The word Shiloh is a cryptic word that refers to the Messiah, and the statement that all of the people will be obedient reveals that His kingdom will be worldwide. This is a tremendously important prophecy about the future Messiah. This prophecy is about Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:5 states that Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that some day everyone will confess that He is Lord. This is a great passage. It says,

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)

Another reference about the Messiah is Numbers 24:17. It calls the Messiah a star. It says the star is from Judah and that the star will arise from Israel. The ancient Jewish rabbis who lived before the birth of Christ stated that these passages referred to the Messiah.

Many other references about the Messiah occur in the Old Testament such as 2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 110; Isaiah 9:6; Daniel 7:13-14, 27; Joel 3:17-21; Micah 5:2; and Zechariah 14. Also, there are prophecies about the Messiah in the book of Ezekiel. One of them is in Ezekiel 17:22-24. It promises the people of Israel that some day their Messiah will reign as king over a worldwide empire.

Our study today is from Ezekiel 21. The chapter also contains three prophecies that are given to the prophet Ezekiel. Within these prophecies you will discover there are three short prophecies about the Messiah. I am going to divide the chapter into two parts. This study will cover verses 1-17. This is a wonderful study because it is the Word of God.

The Sword Is Drawn

The first prophecy is titled “The Sword is Drawn.” It would appear that this prophecy begins in verse 1 of chapter 21. But it actually begins with verse 45 in chapter 20. Verses 45-49 are a parable. Then verses 1-7 in chapter 21 are the interpretation. This occurred because of a bad chapter division. In the Hebrew text, the prophecy actually begins with verse 45 in chapter 20. That means verse 1 of chapter 21 should actually be verse 6.

I will not read the parable in Ezekiel 20:45-49. I will just give you a summary of its meaning. The parable is a prophecy about a forest in the south (v 46). The “south” refers to the kingdom of Judah in the southern region of Palestine. The prophet Ezekiel was to face Teman, which was in the country known as Edom. Since Edom was south of the Dead Sea, this helps us understand that there was a heavily forested area there in biblical times which included the Negev. The parable states that a fire would start in the forest and move to the north.

Historical records tell us that when the Babylonian army invaded Israel in 588 B.C. it moved towards the Mediterranean Sea, and then invaded Judah in the south. The army was like a fire spreading over the land. So, the fire in the parable refers to the invasion of the Babylonian army. That is the message of the parable.

Now the interpretation begins in verses 1-2 in chapter 21. The verses say,

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel . . .” Ezekiel 21:1-2 (NASB)

The identity of Jerusalem and Israel are clear to us. We also know that the city of Jerusalem was the capital of the nation of Israel. When Yahweh told Ezekiel to preach against the sanctuaries, He was referring to the temple. The term sanctuaries referred to the court, the holy place, and the holy of holies. So, the prophecy is against everything in Israel.

Verse 3 gives us the message that Ezekiel was to give to the people.

Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.” Ezekiel 21:3 (NASB)

The prophet was to tell the people that Yahweh said, “I will draw My sword from its sheath.” That is why I titled verses 1-7 “The Sword is Drawn.” The word “sword” occurs seventeen times in this chapter. The word occurs more times in this chapter than in any other chapter in the Old Testament. That means this chapter is about “the sword of the Lord.”

Next, in verses 4-5, Ezekiel is told to say to the land of Israel that the sword of the Lord has been pulled from its sheath. It will be used to cut off both the righteous and the wicked.

Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again. Ezekiel 21:4-5 (NASB)

The message is clear that Yahweh will use His sword to kill many people, both the righteous and the wicked from the south to the north. Once again Yahweh is referring to the southern kingdom of Judah, and the northern region of Palestine. Yahweh’s point is that His sword will kill the righteous and the wicked all across Israel.

Killing Both the Righteous and the Wicked

Some people have struggled with the idea that God would allow the righteous to be killed. This seems to be contradictory given our studies in Ezekiel 9, 14, 18, and 19. So, before we go further, I want to make some important comments and then return to our study.

In our previous studies in Ezekiel, we have learned five important principles about sin and its consequences. First, we learned from Exodus 20:5 that a father’s sins will be visited on his child to the third and fourth generations if they hate Yahweh. Obviously, any children who are in the home will suffer from a father’s sins. But Exodus 20:5 is about the great, great grandchildren. They will suffer if they hate Yahweh. It is the consequence of their own sins. Righteous great, great grandchildren will not suffer.

Second, we learned in Ezekiel 9:4-8 that Yahweh would protect all of the righteous in the city of Jerusalem, but the wicked would die. That means Yahweh planned to protect His righteous ones. This shows Yahweh’s grace, love, and mercy towards His righteous ones.

Third, in Ezekiel 14:3-30, we were told that only a righteous person can save himself or herself. He or she may not be able to save someone else. This is a very important principle to remember. Fourth, we discovered in Ezekiel 18 that every person is responsible for their own sins. These two principles go together. A righteous person is one who humbly confesses their sins and maintains their day-to-day relationship with Yahweh.

Now we arrive at our fifth principle in this passage (v 4-5). This passage creates a question. When Yahweh said that He would use His sword to kill the righteous and the wicked during the Babylonian invasion in 588 B.C., how should we understand this? Why were they killed? First, we have discovered the righteous will not suffer for their great, great grandfather’s sins. They will suffer only for their own sins. Second, Yahweh said that the righteous in Jerusalem would not die during the Babylonian invasion in Ezekiel 9:4-8. Therefore, that implies those righteous people who did die, died outside of the city. This means that the righteous died because of Yahweh’s decision to judge Jerusalem, the temple, and Israel.

Next, we must remember that the righteous suffer for many different reasons, and not just due to sin. Therefore, I want to give you eight reasons why the righteous do suffer but not because of sin.

The first reason that God causes the righteous to suffer is to motivate us to not sin. An important example to remember is 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 which tells us the apostle Paul suffered due to a thorn in the flesh. The purpose was to motivate him to not be proud.

Second, God causes the righteous to suffer to cause us to grow spiritually (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:7-8). He allows difficulties into our lives to make us grow spiritually. Third, God tests the faith of the righteous according to Matthew 13:18-23 by positive and negative circumstances. Even positive circumstances are tests to develop the different spiritual qualities.

Fourth, people suffer for the glory of God (John 9:1-3; 11:3-4). This may involve unexplained suffering. How we respond can be used by the Lord for His glory. The fifth reason we suffer is to take us to heaven (Psalm 116:15; Ecclesiastes 12:1). Dying often involves suffering. We forget about this reason. Sixth, God also allows us to suffer because we are like Christ and share in His sufferings (1 Peter 4:12-19). That brings God glory since it shows that our persecutors are children of the devil and we are children of God (1 John 3:10).

The seventh reason we suffer is that God must accomplish His will and consequently sometimes we must suffer (Job 1:18-22; Ezekiel 24:15-18). Notice that Job 1:18-19 says that when Satan caused the death of Job’s children, we are not told they were righteous individuals. But it is difficult to believe that all of them were wicked people. The same is true for the Ezekiel passage. In that passage, Ezekiel lost his wife because Yahweh needed to take her life to send a message to the people. These are two good examples that demonstrate God must fulfill His own purpose and sometimes the righteous suffer but not because of their own personal sins.

Eighth, when the Babylonian army killed some of the righteous outside of the city of Jerusalem, we know one thing for sure. It was time to bring God’s godly ones home for Psalm 116:15 says,

Precious in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of His godly ones.
Psalm 116:15 (NASB)

It was time for them to come home. He saved them from great sorrow and pain.

Now we will return to our study in verses 6-7.

“As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight. And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming; and every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,’ declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 21:6-7 (NASB)

Ezekiel let the people know how he felt about the coming slaughter. Earlier we read in Ezekiel 12:17-18 that Ezekiel himself was emotional over what was going to occur. I believe this reveals that the prophet was grieving because of what these prophecies said was going to happen. So Yahweh told him to not hide his grief but to let the people see his grief. Then Yahweh said, “Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled.’” This prophecy was about the “The Sword Is Drawn.”

The Sword Is Sharpened and Polished

Verses 8-17 tell us that the sword of the Lord is sharpened and polished. Verses 8-10 is a poetic song that the prophet was to sing.

Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD.’ Say,
‘A sword, a sword sharpened
And also polished!
‘Sharpened to make a slaughter,
Polished to flash like lightning!’
Or shall we rejoice, the rod of My son despising every tree?”
Ezekiel 21:8-10 (NASB)

So Yahweh had drawn the sword in verses 1-7, and now we are told His sword is sharp and polished. It is ready to kill.

In verse 10 we read, “Or shall we rejoice, the rod of My son despising every tree?” The Hebrew text is difficult to understand because it says, “My son” which refers to the second person of the Trinity and the Hebrew word “rod” can also mean scepter. Therefore, it appears to refer to Genesis 49:10. Remember that Genesis 49:10 refers to the scepter in Judah and says that Shiloh was coming and the people would obey. It appears that Yahweh is asking the people, “Shall we all rejoice, for the Messiah is coming and He will reject every tree?” The “tree” refers to the people back in the parable in chapter 20. It appears the people were rejoicing because they expected the Messiah to come and rescue them. So, they were not worried about these prophecies.

So Yahweh warns them in verse 11 that His sword is sharpened and polished,

“It is given to be polished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.” Ezekiel 21:11 (NASB)

Yahweh says He will give His sword to the slayer. We will discover later in verse 21 that the slayer is King Nebuchadnezzar. So, what insight does this teach us? The insight is that God uses people to accomplish His will, He is the cause of what happens. He uses you and me to do evangelism. He uses you and me to teach His Word and minister to others. He also uses wicked people to accomplish His purpose. He will use King Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His will to destroy the wicked and bring some righteous saints home.

In verse 12, Ezekiel is once again told to not hide his pain but to reveal it to others. Verse 13 refers again to the scepter or rod,

“For there is a testing; and what if even the rod which despises will be no more?” declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 21:13 (NASB)

The “testing” seems to refer to the warnings of the prophets. The point is they were ignoring the warnings! They were not repenting. So, Yahweh asked the rhetorical question, “What if the rod which is being rejected will be no more?” That is, what if the Messiah does not come and rescue you?

Then in verses 14-16, Yahweh tells the prophet to clap his hands in approval.

“You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them, that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter. how yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your edge is appointed.” Ezekiel 21:14-16 (NASB)

The prophet was told the sword of the Lord will be twice as effective, yes, even three times as effective. His sword is for killing. It will kill the great one. The great one in Jerusalem was King Zedekiah. This is another prophecy about the certainty of his death. The hearts of the people will melt and they will die. The sword will glitter as the sun is reflected off its metal as it swings right and left killing the people.

The last verse in this second prophecy states,

“I will also clap My hands together, and I will appease My wrath; I, the LORD, have spoken.” Ezekiel 21:17 (NASB)

Yahweh describes Himself as striking His hands together as an act of showing approval to King Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment for Israel’s rebellious behavior.

Conclusion

The ultimate judgment was near. Israel had refused to repent after a hundred years of warnings from Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many of the minor prophets. They indulged in gross sins and idol worship.

It is important for us to realize that God can judge or discipline a nation even though it is not the final judgment; just as He disciplines us, even though we have not committed the sin unto death that is mentioned in 1 John 5:16-17. He warns nations and individuals first. For example, when Jonah preached and warned the city of Nineveh, God wanted him to call the city to repent. Then when they repented, God spared the city.

But Israel was not like Nineveh. God had already said that Israel would refuse to repent. When the prophets preached, Israel refused to repent. We have already discovered some of the signs that reveal God is judging a nation. Some of the signs are: famine, wild beasts, war, pandemics caused by disease, killing of children, population decline, God’s refusal to listen to the prayers of leaders, and an increase in homosexuality. The preaching of the prophets was also a sign of judgment. These signs did not necessarily mean the final judgment had arrived upon Israel. They were given to motivate Israel to repent. But they were occurring because Israel refused to repent.

So, the sword of the Lord was unsheathed, sharpened and polished. It was going to be given to the slayer. The sword of the Lord would slaughter and kill the great one—King Zedekiah. The edge of the sword was appointed to appease Yahweh’s wrath against their wickedness.

Sadly, they understood that the Messiah was coming and thought He would rescue them. They ignored Yahweh’s warnings while clinging to His promise of the Messiah. We should grieve for Israel just as Ezekiel did. We should grieve for our nation too! We should also understand how much Yahweh hates sin. So, let us repent of our sins, pursue holiness, and please our God!

Our next study is the conclusion of this chapter. In that study we will learn about an important Messianic prophecy and the climax of this series of prophecies about the sword of the Lord.

When God Refused to Listen To the Leaders of a Nation

When God Refused to Listen To the Leaders of a Nation

Our study is from Ezekiel 20 and it is an amazing chapter. You will discover that the prophet Ezekiel was visited by a select group of leaders of Israel and they had a question for Yahweh. But Yahweh refused to listen to them. He did not want to listen to them. He refused to even hear their words. In this study, you are going to discover why!

Ezekiel 20 is the first chapter in the fourth cycle of prophecies. The series begins with chapter 20 and ends with chapter 24. This series of prophecies spans the years 591 B.C. to 589 B.C. It is three years before the Babylonian invasion of Judah in 588 B.C. Our study is unlike anything we have yet studied. Since Ezekiel 20 is a long chapter, we will not read every verse. But the message will still be very clear.

Introduction. (v 1-4.)

Verse 1 tells us,

Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. Ezekiel 20:1 (NASB)

The seventh year refers to the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. The fifth month refers to the month Av in the Hebrew calendar. The month begins sometime in July and ends in August. This means that the date of the prophecy is July/August in the year 591 B.C. We are also told that “certain” elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and they sat down in front of Ezekiel. Not all of the elders came to Ezekiel, just some! Verses 2-4 explain why this prophecy was given.

And the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers.” Ezekiel 20:2-4 (NASB)

First, we are told that Yahweh commanded the prophet Ezekiel to tell these elders that He would not listen to them. Then we are told Ezekiel was to judge them by explaining why Yahweh did not want to listen to them. Ezekiel was to explain all of the abominations they had committed. This reminds us of the principle that we have previously found in Scripture. God will not listen to the prayers of the wicked. Psalm 66:18 says,

If I regard wickedness in my heart,
The Lord will not hear;
Psalm 66:18 (NASB)

Proverbs 28:9 states,

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
Proverbs 28:9 (NASB)

These two verses teach us that when a person is wicked, they are unacceptable, and God will not hear them.

Abominations in Egypt (v 5-9)

Starting with verse 5, Yahweh begins giving the history of Israel’s abominations from the time they were in Egypt. Verse 5-8a says;

“And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God, on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. I said to them, ‘Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’ But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.” Ezekiel 20:5-8a (NASB)

Then Yahweh reminded the elders that when He spoke to Moses, He had made a covenant with the nation of Israel that He would be their God. Notice the statement “I am the LORD your God” in verse 5 is a quote from Exodus 6:7. Here is the verse.

“‘Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:7 (NASB)

So, Yahweh’s history lesson begins with the time they were in Egypt and His promise to Israel. His promise included three things. First, He would be their God. Second, He promised to rescue them out of Egypt. Third, He promised to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey.

In addition, Yahweh commanded them to, “Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” The expression “detestable things” refers to their idols. It reveals God’s opinion about their idols. They were detestable, and our idols are detestable too! This is one of the few places in the Old Testament that reveals the Israelites were worshiping the Egyptian gods and goddesses while they were slaves in Egypt. Joshua 24:14 and Amos 5:25-27 also refer to the Israelites’ worship of Egyptian deities while they were in Egypt. This may be one of the reasons that God brought the ten plagues upon the Egyptians (Exodus 7-12). Not only did the plagues humble Pharaoh, but the Israelites discovered that Yahweh was superior to Egypt’s gods and goddesses. So, why should they worship these idols?

The phrase “detestable things of his eyes” in verse 7 may just refer to the fact that they enjoyed looking at their idols. It may also have sexual overtones since sex was included in so many of the worship ceremonies of these idols. The phrase “defile yourselves” refers to every involvement they had with those idols.

Then in verse 8, Yahweh reminded them that they had rebelled by refusing to abandon their idols. So, Yahweh said,

Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. Ezekiel 20:8b-9 (NASB)

That is, Yahweh planned to punish them, but changed His plan for the sake of His name. He did not want His name to be ridiculed. We are going to see Yahweh respond this way two more times in this chapter. It is important to remember that this keeps repeating.

First Generation’s Abominations (v 10-17)

Then in verses 10-17, Yahweh reminded the elders about their wanderings in the wilderness after they exited Egypt. Verses 10-17 describe their wilderness journey which is described primarily in Exodus and Numbers. Notice that verse 10 says the Israelites are in the wilderness. In verses 11-12, He gives them statues, or ordinances, which include the Ten Commandments, and the Sabbaths. We can read about them in the last part of Exodus, Leviticus, and parts of Numbers and Deuteronomy. At the end of verse 12, we are told the purpose was to “sanctify” them. The Hebrew word for “sanctify” means to “set them apart.” That is, Yahweh wanted to set them apart from the surrounding nations—from their neighbors. He did not want them to become like their culture which did not worship Yahweh. So, we should watch our feelings and desires when we want the things of the world. Remember 1 John 2:14-16.

Therefore, once again Yahweh wanted to punish them. This time He wanted to annihilate them. Here are verses 13-14,

“But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out.” Ezekiel 20:13-14 (NASB)

Israel refused to obey in the wilderness. They rejected Yahweh’s ordinances, and greatly profaned His Sabbaths. So, Yahweh considered annihilating them, but then did not do it for His glory.

Verses 15-16 tell us that on a second occasion, Yahweh considered refusing to allow them into the promised land. This seems to refer to their refusal to enter the Promised Land after listening to the twelve spies who had visited the Promised Land. If you remember, after the twelve spies visited the promised land, ten of the spies gave a negative report to the people. As a result, the people said they would not enter the promised land. Therefore, Yahweh was angry with them and considered annihilating them. Then a second time Yahweh did not do that for His glory.

Instead, verse 15 adds that He decided to not allow the adults into the promised land. Numbers 14:28-35 states that anyone who was twenty years and older would die in the wilderness except for the two faithful spies, Caleb and Joshua. So, the Israelites wandered for forty years until all of them over twenty years of age had died.

Now why did these people respond this way to Yahweh who had done so much for them? Why were they so unthankful? The last part of verse 16 gives us the answer. It says the Israelites’ root problem was that they did not love Yahweh. The verse says,

“. . . for their heart continually went after their idols.” Ezekiel 20:16 (NASB)

They loved their own idols. Today, many churches have been polluted by the idols of the world because the hearts of believers love idols. It has affected the design of churches buildings, music, Bible studies, selection of leaders, pastors, the preaching, the giving, the involvement in the church, our service, our devotion to the Lord, and our desire to be holy. Because they did not love Yahweh, they enjoyed their idols more. Read Numbers 14:22. It says they rebelled against Yahweh ten different times and did not listen to His voice. When you read the verse ask yourself, why should Yahweh listen to these elders? Why should He listen to anyone who does the same today? For verse 17 says,

Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness. Ezekiel 20:17 (NASB)

Second Generation’s Abominations (v 18-32)

Verses 18-32 now focuses on the children of these adults, and their forty years of wanderings in the wilderness. “Their children” refers to the children who were under twenty years of age. That forty-year journey is described primarily in Numbers 15-36. These children were told to not walk as their fathers had, but verse 21 says they rebelled anyway! Verses 21-22 report that once again Yahweh considered pouring out His wrath upon them, but then He did not do that for the benefit of His own glory. That is the third time He had thought about punishing or destroying them.

Verses 23-24 tell us that this time Yahweh decided to scatter them among the nations because they had rejected His statues, profaned His Sabbaths, and “their eyes were on the idols of their fathers.” That implies they loved looking at their idols. We do not know if they liked the beauty of the idols or the idea of what they thought they provided. Whatever the reason, they loved their idols more than Yahweh.

We should remember from our last study that Exodus 20:5 warns us that if a child hates Yahweh, then the sins of their fathers will be passed onto them as an act of judgment. That happened to Israel. Just as their fathers did not love Yahweh (v. 16), these children did not love Yahweh either. As a result, they committed the same sins, and reaped the consequences!

Yahweh Dropped the Restraints and Let Them Sin

In addition to Yahweh’s plan to scatter them, He added another punishment. Verses 25-26 describe the punishment,

“I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD.”’ Ezekiel 20:25-26 (NASB)

When Yahweh said that He gave them statutes that were not good, Yahweh is revealing that this is an act of judgment. The act of judgment was that He gave them over to their sins. Romans 1:21-24 teaches that occurs when men reject God. Verses 21-24 say,

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1:21-24 (NASB)

Then Romans 1:26 and 28 echo the same truth. Since they wanted their idols, Yahweh just let them sin. We will see the same principle later in verse 39. Yahweh does this when a person abandons Him. He lets them sin!

So as an act of judgment, Yahweh planned to scatter them among the nations, drop the restraints, and give them over to their sin. The consequences are given to us in verse 26. It says they sacrificed their firstborn sons to their idols by making them walk through the fire. This resulted in a drop in their population.

We need to notice three signs of Yahweh’s judgment on Israel in these verses. Because Israel rejected God, He gave them over to their sin. Second, He allowed them to kill their children, and third, He caused their population to decrease.

Today, our nation and other western nations are experiencing a tremendous increase in violence. We have been sacrificing our children to the god of abortion. I believe it is a sign of God’s judgment on our nation and other nations. We are also experiencing a decline in our population just as Israel did. These are signs of God’s judgment upon a nation that hates God. Another sign is the increase in homosexuality (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).

Israel Blasphemed By Being Incredibly Unfaithful

How did Israel respond? Verse 27 says they responded by being even more unfaithful.

“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me.” Ezekiel 20:27 (NASB)

The phrase “acting treacherously” is translated from two Hebrew words. Both Hebrew words have the same basic meaning of “unfaithfulness.” One is a verb and the other is a noun. There is double emphasis upon unfaithfulness. That is Israel was extremely unfaithful. Their unfaithfulness is called blasphemy. This means blasphemy includes more than just words. A broader definition includes behavior. This is the result of an unloving heart. Blasphemy occurs by our words and actions.

Israel responded like teenagers who do not want to obey, and yet, want their parents to give them gifts and privileges. The fifth commandment commands children to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12). The commandment is repeated in Ephesians 6:2-3 with a promise. 1 John 5:3 describes their problem.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. 1 John 5:3 (NASB)

They did not love God. They were like children. Even though Yahweh had done all of these things for them, they did not care about Him. He promised to be their God, to rescue them from slavery in Egypt, and to bring them into the promised land. But they did not care. They wanted their idols. They proved it in verses 28-29 when they worshiped idols, sacrificed their children, offered incense, and drink offerings to their idols at the high places. They were unfaithful. They did not love Yahweh.

In verse 30, we are told they defiled themselves. So, verse 31 explains how we can defile ourselves. We just give gifts to our idols (v. 28). We defile ourselves by killing children on the altar of abortion, which is to satisfy one’s personal pleasure and convenience. The last part of verse 30 adds that they played the harlot with their “detestable things” just as their fathers did. This strongly implies they defiled themselves by engaging in sacred sexual activities at the high places with the male and female temple prostitutes.

Therefore, Yahweh said in verses 31b-32,

“As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.” What comes into your mind will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, serving wood and stone.’” Ezekiel 20:31-32 (NASB)

What did He say? He said, “I will not be inquired of by you.” He would not listen to them. This is when God refuses to listen to the leaders of a nation. Just abandon Yahweh and love your idols. Yahweh would not permit them to be like the nations surrounding them. Yahweh would not allow them to be like their culture. This was Yahweh’s judgment on Israel.

So, they blasphemed Him when they were treacherous or unfaithful to Him (v. 27). They were unfaithful because they loved their idols (v. 16). That motivated them to be like their culture. They defiled themselves by playing the harlot and committing the sins of their idols and that the culture promoted. They were just like their fathers. So, Yahweh refused to listen to the leaders of this nation.

Future Restoration and Blessing (v 33-38, 40-44)

Then in verses 33-35, Yahweh announced that someday He would be the king, gather Israel back together, and put them through judgment, that is, the future tribulation (v 36). After judgment, Yahweh promised to bring them into the covenant and fulfill His promise (v 37). The unrighteous would not be in the millennial kingdom (v 38). That is the meaning of the last part of verse 38.

Skipping to verse 40, it is now obvious that verse 38 was referring to the millennial kingdom. Verses 41-44 are a promise of a blessing. So, verses 33-38, and 40-44 are about Israel’s future restoration to a worldwide kingdom which will be ruled by the Messiah as king. It will be a time of blessing. This was offered as Israel’s future hope.

Invasion Is Near (v 39, 45-49)

Now we return to verse 39 which was a warning inserted into the middle of this promise. The warning is,

“As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord GOD, “Go, serve everyone his idols; but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols.’ Ezekiel 20:39 (NASB)

The warning is that Yahweh had stopped suppressing evil in the nation. They could go and enjoy their idols for now. But later they would realize that they were wrong (see v. 37, Zechariah 12:10-14; Romans 11:25-33). The reason is that they would have new hearts. That will occur in the future.

Then verses 45-49 announced that the generation living in Judah would be invaded by the Babylonian army (v 46). The army would spread like a fire over the land. It is interesting to note that Ezekiel 16:40-43 prophesied Jerusalem and the temple would be burned to the ground. Then the prophet complained to Yahweh that the elders said he was just speaking parables. That is, they did not care! They loved their idols and wanted to be like their culture! That proved there was not a good reason for Yahweh to listen to them.

Note. Here is a summary of six different ways that we discovered from this chapter that Yahweh judged Israel. He scattered them (v 23), allowed Israel to kill its children (v 26), allowed the population to decline (v 26), refused to listen to the leaders (3-4, 31) allowed homosexuality to increase (Romans 1:24, 26, 28), and eventually destroyed it (v 45-49).

Jesus Teaches The Gospel Is Also For The Gentiles

Greeks Ask to Speak With Jesus

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem occurred on a Sunday, and on Monday morning Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem. This study is about events that occurred later in the day on Monday, March 28, A.D. 33 or Nisan 11 in the Hebrew year of 3793. On Thursday evening, Jesus will be betrayed by Judas, arrested by Roman soldiers, and found guilty by the Sanhedrin Council for saying He was the Son of God. Then on Friday Jesus will be crucified. This week is filled with significant events. The one that will be described in this study is that Jesus revealed salvation was not for the Jewish people only, but also for the Gentiles. The disciples did not understand this truth until later. This study is from the gospel of John because John captured the next chronological event in the life of Christ. The previous study was from Mathew, Mark, and Luke. The Holy Spirit may have included this event in the gospel of John because it was written for Gentiles. As you read it, notice that it is about Gentiles. Our study is from John 12:20-26.

Gentiles Came for the Passover

John 12:20 states that some Greeks (or Gentiles) had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, which was on Nisan 14 in the Hebrew year of 3793 (April 1, A.D. 33).

Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast. John 12:20 (NASB)

We do not know anything about these Greeks except that they came up to worship at the Passover feast. The words “came up” means they had climbed from the plain below up to Jerusalem, which sat on Mount Zion. They were travelers, not residents of Jerusalem.

Since we are told they were Greeks, they were either God-fearers or proselytes. Why else would they come to Jerusalem to worship at Passover? God-fearers was a term used by Jews of Gentiles who had not yet converted to Judaism but feared Yahweh, attended the synagogue, and generally followed the Mosaic Law (Acts 10:22; 13:43; 17:17). They were permitted to enter the Court of the Gentiles, but they could not go any further. In Acts 21:28, the apostle Paul was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple area, thus defiling the temple.

A proselyte was one who had converted to Judaism. They could not work on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10), blaspheme Yahweh (Leviticus 24:16), worship idols (Leviticus 20:2), commit certain acts described in Leviticus 18:26), eat unleavened bread on the Passover (Exodus 12:16), and had to obey some dietary laws (Leviticus 17:10 and 15).[1] Josephus states that a convert must adopt the Jewish customs including being circumcised, must obey the Jewish laws and worship God.[2] While we do not know if these Greeks were proselytes or God-fearers, it is clear they came to celebrate the Passover feast.

So, verse 20 tells us they came to worship, and verse 21 adds that they wished to see Jesus.

These then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. John 12:21-22 (NASB)

This would have been a wonderful event to watch. I wish we could go back in time and watch them and hear them tell Philip that they wanted to see Jesus. Then watch Philip tell Andrew, who told Peter, who then told Jesus. Why didn’t Philip just go to Jesus? We are not told, but once again this appears to reveal that Peter was the leader among the apostles. What an amazing chain of events.

Why did the Greeks speak to Philip and not to one of the other apostles? The answer may be given when we are told that Philip was from Bethsaida.[3] This is significant because there was a very large Greek population in the Decapolis near Bethsaida.This information helps us to understand why the Greeks may have spoken to Philip, who spoke to Andrew, and then he spoke to Peter.

In addition, John 1:44 has already told us that Philip was from Bethsaida, and so were Andrew and Peter, who were brothers (John 1:40). The fact that Philip, Andrew, and Peter were from the same town is important information. Matthew 26:73 also reveals that Peter had an accent when we are told the people recognized that he was from Galilee. That suggests Philip and Andrew would have had a dialect too. So these Greeks felt comfortable with Philip and approached him. They told him they would like to speak to Jesus. Most likely the Greeks spoke to Philip because he would have recognized his dialect as belonging to someone who had been living in Bethsaida which was near the Decapolis territory, which was Greek territory.

This also suggests the Greeks may have been from the region of Decapolis themselves since Bethsaida was near Decapolis. If they were, they may had heard about Jesus feeding five thousand men, plus women and children. They may have heard about His healing many of the ill and casting out of demons (Matthew 4:25; Mark 5:20). Jesus’ fame had spread throughout Judea, Galilee, and the regions of Tyre, Sidon, and the Decapolis.

Time To Be Glorified

When Jesus heard that the Greeks wanted to speak to Him,

. . . Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:23 (NASB)

Jesus’s answer is unexpected. He did not ask why the Greeks wanted to speak with Him. Instead, He said that the hour had come for Him to be glorified. Throughout His ministry, He had said He came for various reasons! For example, Matthew 5:17 records that Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law and not abolish it. That is, He would keep the Law perfectly and fulfill the prophecies about Himself. He also fulfilled His mission of calling not the righteous but sinners to repent (Matthew 9:11; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32). In Matthew 5:3-4 He taught us that only the humble would enter the kingdom of heaven. Only they would repent and be comforted. Only humble, repentant, believing sinners will come to Christ. Men and woman who consider themselves to be righteous will not sense their need to be forgiven. They are too proud and arrogant. In Matthew 10:34, we are told that He did not come to give us peace but a sword. He knew that people would not agree about Him. Families and nations would be divided. Wars between nations, murders within nations, and hatred would exist between neighbors and within families (Matthew 10:34-35; 24:9-10; Luke 12:51). Also, Jesus said that He came “to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10). The rest who rejected Him would pay the unending agonizing penalty—eternity in hell.

As we have already seen, Jesus or the Holy Spirit has repeatedly told the disciples His hour had not come. (John 2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 7:6-8). Now Jesus said His hour had come. He came to earth so that He could become our Savior from sin. The perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) was soon to make that a reality.

Mark 10:45 says that everything Jesus did, every healing, every teaching, every miracle, and every wonder was not for His own personal glory but to serve us. If you are reading this study, this means He came to serve you too! He did not come to give you wealth or a wonderful marriage. He came to save men and women from their sins. He also came to cast fire upon the earth according to Luke 12:49. That is, He came to judge the unrepentant. Yet in John 12:47, He said He did not come to judge the world for that was the Father’s responsibility. Finally, John 18:37 records that Jesus told Pilate He came to testify of the truth, and that He did. His words are recorded in four gospels.

Jesus also said that when His hour came, He would be glorified. All of the events that occurred during His life revealed His glory for John 1:14 says,

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NASB)

When Jesus had performed His first miracle of turning water into wine, John 2:11 says,

This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:11 (NASB)

All that Jesus did revealed His glory. One of the major revelations of Jesus’ glory occurred on the Mount of Transfiguration. Luke 9:32 says that the three disciples who were with Jesus saw His glory and Moses and Elijah too!

Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. Luke 9:32 (NASB)

So He came to do many things. In the process, His glory was revealed as the people watched. But the major revelation of His glory was going to occur when He was crucified and died on the cross. That is what He referred to when He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” That hour was only days away! It was time to be glorified! So, Jesus began immediately preaching the gospel to these Greeks, these God-fearers who had become proselytes.

Last Week of Jesus' Life

Parable of the Fallen Grain

Then Jesus gave them a parable that illustrated what was going to happen on Friday. It illustrates the necessity that He had to die so believers could have eternal life. Had He not died, then everyone would have remained in their sins and sped toward hell like a blind man in a car.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 (NASB)

If you had any doubt about what Jesus meant that His hour was coming, Jesus now tells us. He does it with a parable using a grain of wheat. The parable is simple. Anyone who has planted a seed into the ground and watered it knows that a little seed can grow into a tree or a plant if it is not dry or dead. But if the seed is dry, it will produce nothing. The parable also illustrates the benefits of His death.

When He died, much fruit would be produced. When Jesus died on the cross, He became the Savior of those who believed He was God and died on the cross to forgive our sins. Ephesians 2:8 says that we are saved by the grace of God. God’s grace caused Him to die on the cross. He was the seed that figuratively fell to the ground and died.

The fruit that Jesus would produce are those people who would believe in Him. That fruit would equally include both Jews and Gentiles. That is why Jesus spoke these words to these Greeks. He was offering them salvation. The Jews believed, then and even today, that Gentiles had to convert in order to partake of the blessings available of the Mosaic Covenant and to draw close to God. So, some Gentiles did convert. Some of them were listening to Jesus. Jonah is a good example of a prophet who had the wrong theology about the exclusivity of Judaism. He also hated the Ninevites. But Isaiah 42:1-2 announced the Messiah would offer salvation to Gentiles. In Acts 15:1-21 we are told the apostles, the elders of the first Christian church in Jerusalem, and members of the church gathered together to determine if God was offering salvation to the Gentiles. The apostles missed both the message of Isaiah 42:1-2 and this parable of Jesus. They concluded that God was offering salvation to Gentiles too! During the discussion Peter quoted Amos 9:11-12,

That they may possess the remnant of Edom
And all the nations who are called by My name,”
Declares the LORD who does this.
Amos 9:11-12 (NASB)

The Hebrew word for “nations” is goy. It means Gentiles. So, Peter and everyone present finally understood that salvation was for Jew and Gentile. That is why Jesus told them in Acts 1:8 to preach the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the remotest parts of the earth. In Romans 2:10 and 3:29, the apostle Paul taught that the gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles. So, Jesus was the seed and the fruit that He would produce would be both the Jewish and Gentile believers. I wonder if the Greeks understood the message. The apostles did not.

First Characteristic of The Fruit

Then after Jesus figuratively referred to His crucifixion and the fruit as believers, He described the characteristic of the fruit in verses 25 and 26. In these two verses, it becomes obvious the fruit was not apples, oranges, or cherries but the characteristics of the people. Here is verse 25,

He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. John 12:25 (NASB)

The first part of the verse is, “He who loves his life loses it.” Jesus used present participles for both “love” and “loses.” Present participles refer to ongoing activity in the present. That is, Jesus said people who are actively loving their lives in this world are going to lose their lives. In the Greek there are two words for “life.” The two words are psyche and zoe. Psyche refers to the essence of life (heart, mind, the breath of life), but zoe refers to the spirit. That is, psyche refers to what makes the body function in this world, but zoe refers to the spirit which will exist for eternity. Jesus used both words in this verse. He used psyche in the first part of the verse. That is, the people who love themselves are going to lose their life when they die. We know that He was talking about life on planet earth for he said “in this world.” May I ask you, “Do you love yourself?”

The Greek word for “lose” is apollymi. Most of the time this word is translated as destroy, or lose. Jesus’ point was if you are loving your life, you are actually destroying yourself. You are responsible for the destruction of your life. Now Jesus was speaking in spiritual terms. He meant that at the moment of death, you will destroy your very life.

Now we must pause for a minute and ask what did He mean? Matthew 16:25 helps us to understand. The verse says,

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 16:25 (NASB)

Here Jesus contrasted the man who prefers himself over Christ. The man or woman who prefers himself or herself above Christ is destroying his or her own life. Jesus will not be destroying them! The individual who rejects Jesus Christ and places himself or herself first is responsible for their own destiny.

Then in the second part of His statement in John 12:25, Jesus said that the person who is hating his soul, psyche, will be keeping it to life eternal. The Greek word for “hates” is miseo. It is a strong word for hate. Jesus has just given us the definition of a believer. When these people sincerely understand and believe the gospel they will hate themselves and in desperation seek God’s forgiveness. The gospel message is simple. Jesus is God, He died on the cross to forgive our sins, and was resurrected from the dead.

John 3:16 summarizes the gospel. It says,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His 1conly begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

Jesus gave us two promises: we will not perish in hell, and we are given eternal life. At the moment of saving faith, the believer will respond in humility and seek His forgiveness as the Holy Spirit gives this new believer understanding of the gospel and of their horrible sinful condition. At the moment of saving faith, they will in humility seek His forgiveness and submit to Him. This is the definition of a believer in Jesus Christ. Their humility is displayed as hatred for themselves as they realize their horrible sinful condition will send them to hell. They will be embarrassed before our holy God. Real believers are those who hate their wretched or sinful selves.

Paul gave us a helpful example of a believer who has been saved when he wrote Romans 7:15-19,

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. Romans 7: 15-19 (NASB)

Paul hated his very own body because of his fight with sin. It humbled him. Romans 8:13-14 states the characteristic of a believer is one who is slowly “putting to death the deeds of the body,” that is, a believer is slowly achieving victory over sin. Yes, they will lose some battles, but they will be slowly winning the war.

For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:13-14

This is the heart of a believer. Their hatred for their sins humbles them.

The apostle Paul’s heart is revealed in Philippians 1:21,

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 (NASB)

Then in Colossians 3:4 Paul added,

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:4 (NASB)

Paul revealed his heart’s passion once again with, “Christ, who is our life.” In 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul revealed His heart when He said that he was not trying to please men, “but God who examines our hearts.” May I say that I hope you are loving Christ more than yourself? I hope your heart’s desire is to please Him and no one else, including yourself.

That gives us the message of John 12:25 and the first important characteristic of a true believer. Their hearts love Jesus more than themselves. This is the internal characteristic of the fruit that Jesus produces. It loves Jesus more than self.

Second Characteristic of the Fruit

The second characteristic of the fruit is given in John 12:26. This characteristic is about the external behavior of the fruit. It reveals the external actions that result from the first characteristic. The evidence that someone is a true believer is revealed by their heart’s devotion for Christ. It produces self-denial which leads to self-sacrifice. Here is how Jesus said it,

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26 (NASB)

Jesus makes three critical statements. The first statement begins with the if statement. He said that if anyone served Him, then that person will follow Him. We need to notice that Jesus did not say they may follow Him. He did not say that it was an option a believer added to his or her life later in time. He said the person “must” follow Him. The words “must follow” are an imperative in the Greek. An imperative in the Greek is a command. True believers are commanded to obey and follow Him. This is the mark of true fruit or true believers. This characteristic is the result of saving faith and not the means of acquiring salvation.

When I became a believer in Jesus Christ, I begged Him to forgive me. I told Him that I was willing to become a missionary if He wanted me to do that. But that was the last thing I wanted to do! That illustrated my willingness to follow Him anywhere.

In Hebrews 10:32-35, we are told the early believers were willing to suffer for Christ. Verses 33-35 say,

Being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:33-35 (NASB)

Then in John 12:26, Jesus made a very important statement we must not miss. He said, “where I am, there My servant will be also.” That is, the true believers will be where Jesus is. Now think about His statement for a minute. First, He has told us that a true believer, the fruit, must follow Him. Now He emphasizes the fact that where He is, the true believer will be there also! That is the second characteristic of true believers—those who are real fruit.

True believers will have a heart’s desire to follow Him. That is the real motivation Jesus is looking for in your life if you are a real Christian. Do you love Him and want to please Him? If so, you will follow our Lord, whatever the cost. There is nothing that a true believer will not do for Him, including sacrificing their own lives (psyche). In the parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46), the man sold everything that he had to buy the pearl. The pearl of great price is salvation. The same is true for the Hidden Treasure (Mathew 13:44).

In John 12:2, Jesus said that the person who does these things will be honored by the Father. I do not know what that honor includes, but I do not need to know now.

Days after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Jesus’ death

Conclusion

That is the message Jesus sent to these Gentiles. Salvation is offered to both Jews and Gentiles by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It is offered because a seed died producing fruit. That fruit loves Jesus to the point of being willing to die for Him in order to serve Him! Then God the Father will honor them. For more on how the Father will honor them, read the study, “Bema Seat – Judgment of Christians”

 

References:

1. Merrill F. Unger. The New Dictionary. Moody Publishers. 2005. p. 1044.
2. Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews, book xx, chapter 2, and sections 1 and 4.
3. B. F. Westcott. The Gospel According to St. John. Eerdmans Publishing. 1975., p. 180.

God Reveals His Heart In Two Parables To The People In Judah

Lioness and Her Three Cubs

Some people are offended by statements they read in the Bible or hear from a preacher or teacher. For example, some people do not like to hear that God considers them to be wicked or to be an evil person. They may not like Romans 3:10-11 which says,

There is none righteous, not even one;
There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.
Romans 3:10-12 (NASB)

If they think they are a good person or that they need to have a positive self-image, then those two verses may offend them. Romans 6:23 might offend them too! It says,

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NASB)

At this point, I can imagine that God might seem to be unfair and is not concerned for people. Worse yet, maybe they think God enjoys killing people. I can imagine some people think that God uses scare tactics to motivate people to do something that they do not want to do. Sadly, those who have such thoughts do not understand God. They have never read all of the Bible. Maybe they never read John 3:36 which reveals God’s heart. It says,

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36 (NASB)

This verse reveals that God loves us. It also tells us how we can escape His wrath. Why? He loves us. This is not a threat. He is urging us to repent and believe in Jesus so that we can escape spiritual death. He is showing us that He loves us! In our study, I urge you to ask, “How does God reveal His heart to us?”

Last Five Kings of the Kingdom of judah

Introduction to the Lamentation

Our study is from Ezekiel 19:1-14. This chapter is the last one in the third series of prophecies which started in chapter 12. This prophecy was written in 592 B.C. The Babylonian invasion started four years later in 588 B.C. Here is the first verse of chapter 19,

“As for you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel.” Ezekiel 19:1 (NASB)

It is important for us to notice that Yahweh is speaking. This verse is a continuation from chapter 18:1. In that verse we are told that Yahweh is speaking to the prophet Ezekiel. This means that the words that are recorded in this chapter are from Yahweh and not from Ezekiel. Obviously, the prophet wrote them down, but Yahweh spoke them to the prophet. Notice that Yahweh said, “As for you.” That is, Yahweh is speaking to Ezekiel and He said, “Take up a lamentation.”

The word lamentation is translated from the Hebrew word “qina” which refers to a dirge or an elegy. It refers to a poem of bereavement or a mourning song that expresses great sorrow. It was usually sung or read at a funeral. This means that God gave the prophet Ezekiel a funeral song to speak to the people. It was about the “princes of Israel,” or the last kings of Judah. The lamentation contains two parables. The first parable is about a lioness and her two cubs. The second parable is about a vine. Both parables are connected to the kingdom of Judah. Judah is symbolized by a lioness or a mother in both parables.

Parable of the Lioness and Her Two Cubs

Verse 2 starts the first parable. Yahweh said,

“And say,
‘What was your mother?
A lioness among lions!
She lay down among young lions,
She reared her cubs.’”
Ezekiel 19:2 (NASB)

As I have already said, the lioness in verse 2 symbolizes Judah. This parable is about two offspring of King Josiah. However, King Josiah had four sons according to 1 Chronicles 3:14-15. His first son never reigned on the throne of Judah, but Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah did reign as kings in Jerusalem over Judah. While King Josiah was a good king, his three sons were evil. The two parables in this chapter are about Jehoahaz, Jehoichin, and Zedekiah. We should note that Yahweh calls them princes and not kings. He may have done this because they were evil.

Now verse 2 tells us that the lioness had cubs. Verses 3-4 tell us what happened to one of the cubs.

“‘When she brought up one of her cubs,
He became a lion,
And he learned to tear his prey;
He devoured men.
Then nations heard about him;
He was captured in their pit,
And they brought him with hooks
To the land of Egypt.’”
Ezekiel 19:3-4 (NASB)

Notice that verse 3 does not say the first cub but “one of her cubs.” This cub became a lion, that is, a king. Verse 4 says the nations heard about him. Then he was captured and taken captive to Egypt. This cub symbolizes Jehoahaz who became king in 609 B.C., when he was twenty-three years old (2 Kings 23:31-32). His capture in verse 4 is symbolized according to the custom of hunting lions.
Verses 5-9 are about the second cub. Verses 5-7 say,

“‘When she saw, as she waited,
That her hope was lost,
She took another of her cubs
And made him a young lion.
And he walked about among the lions;
He became a young lion,
He learned to tear his prey;
He devoured men.
He destroyed their fortified towers
And laid waste their cities;
And the land and its fullness were appalled
Because of the sound of his roaring.’”
Ezekiel 19:5-7 (NASB)

Now the parable states that the lioness saw that she lost her cub. So, another of her cubs became a lion or king (v. 5-6). 2 Kings 23:34-37 reveals there is a twenty-five year gap in the middle of verse 5 between the words “lost” and “she.” The gap corresponds to Jehoiakim’s reign as king. He reigned in the white space. Therefore, the last part of verse 5 says she took another cub, which was Jehoichin. He became a king in 598 B.C. when he was 18 years old. 2 Kings 24:8-15 says that King Jehoichin was as evil. His evil is described in verses 6-7.

Verses 8-9 tell us what happened to the second cub.

“‘Then nations set against him
On every side from their provinces,
And they spread their net over him;
He was captured in their pit.
They put him in a cage with hooks
And brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets
So that his voice would be heard no more
On the mountains of Israel.’”
Ezekiel 19:8-9 (NASB)

Just as King Jehoahaz was taken captive, Jehoichin was taken captive too! Yahweh permitted these men to reign for only three years. Notice that we are told in verse 9 that King Jehoichin was captured and taken captive to Babylon. That agrees with 2 Samuel 24:8-15. We should note that the word “hooks” appears to refer to a hook that was put into the nose of captives. Then the captives could be easily led about with a rope through the hook.

This is the end of the first parable about the two cubs. This parable focuses on the two kings who were taken captive by a foreign empire. King Jehoahaz was taken captive to Egypt and King Jehoichin was taken captive to Babylon. Imagine, two kings of Judah taken captive by Gentile empires! That had not happened to a king of Israel before.

Parable of the Vine

The second parable is about the nation of Judah. It begins in verse 10.

‘“Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
Planted by the waters;
It was fruitful and full of branches
Because of abundant waters.
And it had strong branches fit for scepters of rulers,
And its height was raised above the clouds
So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.’”
Ezekiel 19:10-11 (NASB)

This parable is about a vine and a vineyard. We have already learned from chapters 15 and 17 that a vineyard was symbolic of the southern kingdom of Judah (Psalm 80:8-11; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 15:1-5; 17:6-10). So, to be consistent, we should understand this parable to also be about the kingdom of Judah.

Immediately, we are told the vine had much water, many branches, and produced fruit. That is, the vine was healthy and prosperous. Verse 11 also reveals this vine represents a nation since it was ready for rulers or princes. Verse 11 also says that its reputation was higher than the clouds and was noticed by others. This would seem to correspond to the nation under the rule of King Solomon.

Verse 12 describes a sudden or rapid collapse of the nation.

“‘But it was plucked up in fury;
It was cast down to the ground;
And the east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branch was torn off
So that it withered;
The fire consumed it.’”
Ezekiel 19:12 (NASB)

1 Kings 11:9-13 tells us that because King Solomon’s heart was not completely devoted to God but instead he worshiped gods and goddesses, or demonic religions, his kingdom would be divided. Gradually, the kingdom declined year after year and century after century. But verse 12 tells us that suddenly the vine was plucked off and thrown down to the ground. The east wind represents the Babylonian empire. The result was the vine was destroyed. Who is the vine? He was Zedekiah, the last son of King Josiah.

Verse 13 now looks to the future. It is a prophecy about what would happen to Zedekiah.

“‘And now it is planted in the wilderness,
In a dry and thirsty land.’”
Ezekiel 19:13 (NASB)

Since Zedekiah is the vine, this verse tells us that it was replanted in a wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. That is, he was taken captive to the city of Babylon which is in a desert. He was the last man to rule the kingdom of Judah. Notice that Ezekiel never called him a kingdom.

Verse 14 is another prophecy. This one is about the future collapse of the kingdom of Judah.

“‘And fire has gone out from its branch;
It has consumed its shoots and fruit,
So that there is not in it a strong branch,
A scepter to rule.’”
This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.
Ezekiel 19:14 (NASB)

Remember the parable is about the kingdom of Judah, which is the vineyard. The prophecy states that the shoots and fruit would be consumed. There would not be any strong branches to produce a leader. Worst of all, there would not be any scepters to rule for the time of judgment had arrived. There would not be any kings. Israel would cease to exist as an independent nation. From 586 B.C. until 1948, it would be ruled by foreign empires until Israel became a nation again in the land of Palestine. The people of Judah would be punished for abandoning Yahweh and worshiping other gods and being very wicked. Prophecy tells us that someday the Messiah will return and set up His kingdom. This worldwide kingdom will rule the world. The capital city will be Jerusalem and the king will be Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Now I want you to notice the last line of verse 14. Yahweh told Ezekiel and He tells us, “This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.” Chapter 19 is Yahweh’s funeral song. It is His poem of mourning about what had happened and what was going to happen to the kingdom of Judah. Because of their rebellion, wickedness, and refusal to repent, the nation was going to be invaded, and the city of Jerusalem and the temple would be burned to the ground. So Yahweh mourned. We should remember Yahweh’s words from verses 23 and 32 of the last chapter,

“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:23 (NASB)

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.” Ezekiel 18:32 (NASB)

These words reveal God’s heart. He loved the people, the kings, the city of Jerusalem, and His temple. In this chapter, Yahweh mourns. He was not happy that He had to judge His people. In Luke 19:41-44, we are told that when the people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem were going to be destroyed by the Roman Empire, Jesus wept over the city.

Ezekiel 19 also teaches us first that Yahweh does not want to punish us or cause us to die. Second, if we will not repent, then we create a problem and He is forced to punish us and remove the evil. For if He does not suppress the evil, then evil will grow worse. Third, He must punish because His holiness and justice demands it. But fourth, He does not enjoy punishing anyone, or causing us to die.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee made this comment about the chapter,

By the way, who is concerned about you today? I suspect there are very few. Are the people where you work really concerned about you? Are the people in your church really concerned about you? Is your family concerned? A successful businessman once told me, “I honestly wonder who really cares about me today. Everybody, including my family, is only interested in what they can get out of me.” How sad that is! But God is concerned about you, and He is concerned about me. That’s quite comforting in this tremendous universe in which I live. I could get lost in it, I am so small. But He has His eye out and has a concern for each one of us.[1]

The princes of Judah were people for whom not too many in that day wanted to shed tears. They were Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, two kings who were about as sorry as they come. God alone is concerned over them.

The message of Ezekiel 19 is that Yahweh does not enjoy disciplining or taking the life of anyone even when they refuse to stop sinning. That means when we sin, we force God to discipline us or take our life. So, He warns us to stop and gives us time to repent because He loves everyone (Romans 2:4-8). Remember Yahweh’s words,

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.” Ezekiel 18:32 (NASB)

 

References:

1. J. Vernon McGee. Ezekiel. Thru The Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. 1983. Vol. III., p. 475.

How To Escape Being Punished By God For Your Sins!

How To Escape Being Punished By God For Your Sins!

Our last study was from Ezekiel 18:1-20. This study is from the same chapter, verses 21-32. In the previous study, we discovered a proverb in verse 2 which said,

The fathers eat the sour grapes,
But the children’s teeth are set on edge.
Ezekiel 18:2 (NASB)

It means that the sour grapes the fathers ate would affect the children’s teeth. “Set on edge” referred to damage done to the teeth. This proverb was so common that even the prophet Jeremiah referred to it (Jeremiah 31:29). The proverb means that the children were destined to commit the same sins that were committed by their great grandfathers and great-greatgrandfathers. They could not escape committing the same sins and experiencing the consequences. That is how they interpreted Exodus 20:5 which says,

You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me. Exodus 20:5 (NASB)

The principle that Yahweh gave us in this verse is that the sins of the fathers would be visited on their great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren if they hated Yahweh. This verse reveals the children would suffer the consequences of their father’s sins while they were in the home. But as adults, they can escape if they do not hate Yahweh. But if they do hate Yahweh, then the principle applies only until the third or fourth generation. This divine principle is also repeated in Numbers 14:18 and Deuteronomy 5:9. It is repeated to make sure we do not miss the message. This principle should have motivated the Israelites to live a righteous life in order to protect themselves and their own children, but most of them did not do that.

Sadly, the Israelites believed they would experience the consequences of their forefathers’ sins. They thought that they did not have any choice but to suffer the effects of their forefathers’ sins. They believed they were victims of their forefathers. They could have said their great- grandfather or grandfather made them do it. That is the message of the proverb.

Principle #1 — Ezekiel 18:1-20.

Therefore, Yahweh gave a message to the prophet Ezekiel that explained they were not victims of the sins of their forefathers. In order to communicate this, Yahweh gave them three examples that should have corrected their misunderstanding. In verses 5-9, Yahweh explained that if a man practices righteousness and justice, he will be regarded as righteous and will surely live.
In verses 10-13, Yahweh said that even though a righteous man had a wicked son, the wicked son would still die. Why? Because of all the sins that he had committed. In verse 13, Yahweh said, “His blood will be on his own head.”

In verses 14-18, Yahweh described a wicked man who had a righteous son. In verse 17, Yahweh said the righteous son “will not die for his father’s iniquity, but will surely live.” But his father will die for his own iniquity. It is important to notice a righteous son breaks free from the curse in Exodus 20:5. Why? Because he does not hate Yahweh, but instead he loves Yahweh. We must remember that Jesus said,

The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters. Matthew 12:30 (NASB)

Then in verses 19-20, the Israelites complained,

“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. Ezekiel 18:19-20 (NASB)

That is, a righteous son is responsible for his own sin. He is not a victim of his great-grandfather and grandfather. Also, every father is responsible for his own sins. This helps us understand that the message of Exodus 20:5 is that the sins of the fathers would affect the great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren if they are wicked individuals.

Therefore in Jeremiah 31:30, the prophet Jeremiah corrected the proverb and reworded it like this,

But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge. Jeremiah 31:30 (NASB)

So, if a counselor or psychologist blames our parents for our own sinful behavior, they are wrong. Yes, their behavior can influence us to be righteous or wicked, but we are not automatically destined to be like our parents. In fact, many children are rebellious and want to be different. The message of this part of Ezekiel 18 is that those who love Yahweh will pursue righteousness and escape the influence of their forefathers.

Yes, we inherited our sin nature from Adam according to Romans 5:12.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12 (NASB)

So, every child is born a sinner and we prove it by sinning. We can only blame Adam for our sin nature. But we cannot blame anyone else for the sins we commit. James 1:13-15 teaches that when we sin, it reflects our own internal desire to sin. We either choose to sin or not to sin. Therefore, a wicked person cannot blame their forefathers because he or she chose to be a wicked person. Then the principle will apply to them. If they will choose to be a righteous person, they will escape the consequences. So, this gave us the principle from our last study that we are responsible for our own sins and not our forefathers.

Three Principles in Ezekiel 18:21-29

That brings us to our study in verses 21-32. In these verses Yahweh gives us three more principles. Yahweh does it in an interesting way. Here are verses 21-22.

Here are verses 21-22,

But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. Ezekiel 18:21-22 (NASB)

This illustration is about a wicked man who turns away from his sins. The Hebrew verb, sub, which is translated as “turns” is in the imperfect tense, which means he is repeatedly turning away. He did not turn away one time. Instead, he repeatedly turned away. The Hebrew word for “has committed” is asa. It is in the perfect tense which indicates a pattern of life. That is, the man turned from a pattern of wicked behavior and began to practice justice and righteousness. So, Yahweh said that this man “will surely live and not die.” Why? Because he decided to be a righteous man.

Then verse 22 gives us some wonderful news. Consequently, all of his transgressions will not be remembered. The idea is that he was guilty because of his wickedness. But now he is not guilty since Yahweh has forgotten his past sins. Notice that Yahweh forgave all of his past sins. Yahweh will forgive all his sins, not just some of them.

At the end of verse 22, Yahweh explained why his sins will not be remembered. He said, “because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.” This gives us a second principle. Yahweh wants the wicked to pursue righteousness so they can live physically and have eternal life.

Now, it is important for us to notice that Yahweh has been referring to external behavior as an indication of a man or woman’s internal spiritual condition. Jesus gave us the reason in Matthew 15:18-19,

“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” Matthew 15:18-19 (NASB)

We are like a thermostat. Our internal spiritual condition determines our external behavior. Or, we could say our external behavior reveals how our internal thermostat has been set. If there is a fire inside the house, there will be smoke outside. So if we are not a Christian, our behavior will reveal it. If we are a Christian, our behavior will also reveal it.

Thus, God can refer to our external behavior as the objective proof of the spiritual condition of our hearts. Revelation 20:11-15 teaches us that at the final judgment, God will review the external behavior of the wicked as the proof they deserve to be thrown into the lake of fire. In Matthew 12:35-37, Jesus said we will be judged for every word we have spoken. So, Yahweh will judge the wicked by their external objective behavior because it reveals the internal spiritual reality of the person.

Now look at Ezekiel 18:23,

“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:23 (NASB)

This verse gives us a third principle that Yahweh does not enjoy the physical or spiritual death of the wicked.

Verse 24 now reveals what happens to the righteous man who becomes evil.

“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.” Ezekiel 18:24 (NASB)

Again, Yahweh is talking about a pattern of life – not some isolated acts of wickedness or righteousness. It is a picture of a righteous man who becomes a wicked man. Yahweh said this man’s righteous deeds will not be remembered because he is acting like a wicked man. His change in behavior reveals that he was never really a righteous man. Notice two things. First, Yahweh focuses on the man’s behavior in his last days upon the earth. The apostle Paul rejoiced in 2 Timothy 4:7 that he had fought the good fight and finished the course. He said, “I have kept the faith.” Unbelievers will not keep the faith. That is the message of 1 John 2:19. Second, notice that Yahweh accused this man of treachery. Why? He appeared to be something that he was not. He was never righteous. He was treacherous. Jesus would have called him a tare who only looked like one who believed in Yahweh.

Then in verses 25-26, the Israelites complained once again.

“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die.’” Ezekiel 18:25-26 (NASB)

Apparently, the Israelites objected to the idea that a man would not be given credit for his righteous deeds. The fact is the man was never righteous. He was treacherous. He was a tare.
Verses 27-28 now give us the opposite example,

“Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” Ezekiel 18:27-28 (NASB)

Then verse 29 gives Israel’s third complaint,

“But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?” Ezekiel 18:29 (NASB)

Now we have our fourth principle. Every person is responsible for their own sins. Our parents, culture, neighborhood, or environment cannot be blamed for the choices we make. If our pattern of life is wickedness, we will die both physically and spiritually. If our pattern of life is righteousness, we will live physically and have eternal life.

Fifth Principle in Ezekiel 18:30-32.

The last principle of the study is given in verses 30-32. Here is verse 30,

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.” Ezekiel 18:30 (NASB)

The conclusion is that Yahweh will judge every person according to their deeds. God will not judge them according to the deeds of their forefathers or anyone else. The judgment is based on what we do. So, Yahweh calls us to repent and turn away from all of our transgressions. As soon as we read, “. . . turn away from all your transgressions,” we realize that no one can do that by our own strength and effort. Also notice that Yahweh reveals our own sins can be a stumbling block to us. We become desensitized by our sins. Consequently, we may sin even more.

Therefore, Yahweh gave the solution to our problem in verse 31,

“Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? “ Ezekiel 18:31 (NASB)

Yahweh revealed the real solution to living a righteous life is that we need a new heart and a new spirit. This can only occur by an act of God from heaven. In John 3:3, Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again. The Greek actually says born “from above.” Jesus was referring to a transformation that is caused by the Holy Spirit. That is how a person can be righteous and have eternal life. Otherwise, the person may die physically in this life and also die spiritually.

It is important we do not miss Yahweh’s statement that we need “a new heart and a new spirit.” Anyone who just acts righteously without a new heart is a Pharisee who is into keeping rules. That describes every religion, cult, and every false Christian. They are into ritual. But Yahweh says we need a new heart. We need a heart that loves God will all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we have a new heart, we will desire to please Him. That is why we desire to be righteous, and our lives will evidence a pattern of righteousness. I am sorry to say that many people enjoy keeping rules, and they think they are a Christian. But Yahweh says we need a new heart and a new spirit. The Holy Spirit transforms us and the result is a heart that wants to please Him by godly behavior. Now that is a righteous person.

Our final verse says.

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.” Ezekiel 18:32 (NASB)

This gives us our fifth principle; Yahweh does not desire for anyone to die. Therefore, repent, and live—in this life and the next. So, the choice is ours. Repentance is the first sign of a new heart and new spirit. If our behavior does not change, then we do not have a new heart and a new spirit. Yahweh’s message is the decision is ours!

My final comment is that Ezekiel 18 is a unique chapter because it presents the gospel for us in the Old Testament.

Cursed Fig Tree and Second Cleansing of the Temple

Fig Tree

Fig tree in Vineyard

 

It is Monday, March 28, A.D. 33 or Nisan 11 in the Hebrew calendar. Yesterday was the Triumphal Entry of Christ. Yesterday, Jesus received honor and blessing from a crowd along the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. Yesterday, the blind and the lame came to Him at the temple and were healed. The people of Jerusalem were very interested in Him, but they were not committed to Him. It was a wonderful day for Christ because He was honored as the Messiah, the King of Israel. It was also a wonderful day because two prophecies were fulfilled (Psalm 8:2; Zechariah 9:9). The prophets had predicted that day. It was also a day of criticism from the chief priests and scribes. Yet, that must have been encouraging for it revealed they were being motivated to kill Him. However, the day was also a reminder that their rejection of Him would result in the destruction of Jerusalem and a massive slaughter of the people of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). It was a day of joy and weeping. The Father’s plan for His sacrificial death for the forgiveness of our sins was being executed. His human body would die on Friday during Passover. Then at the end of the day He and the disciples walked back to Bethany for the night. Our study begins on Monday morning, March 28, A.D. Our study is about a fig tree (Matthew 21:12-13, 18-19; Mark 11:12-21; Luke 19:45-48). We will follow Mark’s gospel in this study.

Breba Baby Fig Can Be Found In March

Symbol of Spiritual Deadness

The gospel of Mark provides us with the most complete description of the events about the fig tree. So, we will follow Mark’s account.

On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry.Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Mark 11:12-13 (NASB)

Mark 11:12-13 captures the early events on Monday morning, the day after the Triumphal Entry. We are told that after Jesus left Bethany, He became hungry. Verse 15 will tell us that Jesus and the disciples were headed for Jerusalem, which was about two miles from Bethany. So somewhere along that two mile walk, He became hungry and saw a fig tree in leaf. Verse 13 states that Jesus saw a fig tree at some distance and went to it hoping to find some fruit. But when He arrived, He found the tree only had leaves. Then we are told that it was not the season for figs.

This is a confusing passage for anyone who is not familiar with fig trees in the land of Israel. So, we need to understand two points to unscramble what happened. First, the time of the year was 28 March A.D. 33. The winter season was almost over. That helps us to understand some plants and trees were beginning to grow. Second, W. E. Shewell-Copper reveals that “baby fruit buds” on the fig tree native to Israel would usually appear in February before the leaves did. Then the fruit would ripen in May and June. He wrote,

The normal winter figs ripen in May and June and the summer figs in late August and September. Sometimes, one crop overlaps the other. The baby fruit buds are usually seen in February before the leaves appear in April each year.[1]

These fig trees are called Ficus Carica. The baby fruit buds W. E. Shewell-Copper refers to are called brebas.[2] A breba grows out of the wood of the tree from the previous year’s growth. Photographs and videos document that breba can grow on a fig tree branch without leaves being present.[3] So, the baby fruit can appear before the leaves. The first crop, called the breba crop, occurs relatively early in the year on the previous year’s growth.[4] Then later in the spring, the first crop of figs ripen.

In culinary markets, especially in Spain and Colombia, Brevas are regarded as a delicacy due to their limited availability and are valued for their unpredictable, varying flavor.[5]

These baby figs can be present in March with or without leaves on the branches. This means that when Jesus saw the leaves, it would have been reasonable for Him to expect fruit such as breba. So when Mark said, “it was not the season for figs,” it appears that he was reminding the reader that the baby fruit should have been available, but the full grown figs would come in May and June. The leaves that Jesus saw revealed that at least breba should have been on the branches, and the full crop of figs would come later. Hosea 9:10 and Micah 7:1 refer to the breba.

Then verse 14 says that Jesus cursed the tree.

He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening. Mark 11:14 (NASB)

The Greek word that is translated as “ever” is composed of three Greek words which literally reads as “into the ages.” That is, Jesus said, “Not into the ages” will anyone eat fruit from you again. It was a curse upon the tree. This would result in the tree not producing any fruit. The tree was not functioning correctly already. It should of had breba in March. Surprisingly, we are not told if the disciples asked Jesus why He did that. I am sure the disciples were curious! You may wonder why Jesus cursed the tree. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? We will discover later. But for now, we will have to wait.

Last Week of Jesus' Life

Acceptance of Spiritual Deadness

So, Jesus cursed the fig tree somewhere on the Mount of Olives as they walked along the road from Bethany toward Jerusalem. Verse 15 tells us they finally arrived in Jerusalem, and entered the temple.

Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. Mark 11:15-16 (NASB)

Since the primary entrance to the temple was from the east, most likely Jesus and the disciples entered through the eastern gate and walked onto the Court of the Gentiles. Before they walked onto the Court of the Gentiles, they would have seen people treating the temple like a common road by taking a shortcut through the court to a road leading to the Mount of Olives. Later, the Mishnah prohibited such behavior.[6]

They did not see worshipers solemnly bringing their sacrificial animals to be offered on the golden altar. Instead, Jesus saw a money-exploitation-scheme. He saw an outdoor market that took advantage of travelers from great distances who came to worship at Passover. Rather than bringing animals with them from great distances, the travelers would arrive at the temple and buy animals supposedly guaranteed to be spotless and acceptable for sacrifice. Obviously, no traveler would want to bring an animal only to learn that the priests claimed it was not perfect. So, supposedly these animals were sold at the temple as a service. The scheme that Annas and his sons had developed made them wealthy.

Alfred Edersheim, a converted rabbi, states the court of the Gentiles had bazaars. They were owned by the high priest Annas.[7] Sometimes the bazaars have been called the bazaars of the sons of Annas.[8] Annas and his sons sold franchises to merchants who would raise the animals for Passover and then sell them. Then Annas and his sons would also take a percentage of the sales. But in order for the travelers to buy the animals, they had to convert their Roman money into the temple coinage known as the Tryian shekel. Outrageous prices were charged to exchange the Roman currency into Tryian currency. Annas and his sons took a percentage of the charge. Since everything had to paid in the Tryian coin, we can only imagine how wealthy this made Annas and his family.

John 2:14 tells us that sheep and oxen were being sold the first time Jesus cleansed the temple. This second time we are told they were selling doves. Apparently, John did not mention the doves and Matthew did not mention the sheep and oxen. For both would have been required. That would mean large numbers of animals would have been in the Court of Gentiles and doves in cages. We can only imagine the noise that was created by the people and the animals. While Scripture does not say, it is possible the merchants were shouting out prices and offering a better deal for your sacrifice. They had turned the temple into a place of a wicked business.

The cold hearts of the high priest and sons are obvious. But it is even worse when we realize they also sold doves to the poor. Doves were the offerings that our God allowed the poor to bring. Yet, the poor were exploited too! We can imagine the noise of the very large crowd buying, the exploiters selling, and the sound of animals. The smell of the animals may have been irritating. This was not a place of worship. It was spiritualized-robbery.

So, we rejoice when we read in verse 15 that Jesus drove everyone out of the temple. The Greek word for “drive out” is ekballo. It literally means to “throw out.” Obviously, Jesus did not pick up the people and throw them out. That is why the NASB and other major Bibles say “drive out.” But the message is that Jesus forcefully drove them out. He was so forceful that He overturned tables and seats. Any money that was on the table would have scattered over the floor.

Jesus did not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. When we are told that Jesus would “not permit” them to carry anything through the temple, the Greek tense for “no permit” is in the imperfect tense. That is, He was repeatedly stopping them. All together we are left with a very vivid picture of Jesus moving about and very forcefully preventing anyone from taking anything out of the temple or moving through the temple. Too bad we do not have a video of the scene!

We can be confident the chief priests and scribes were horrified to see Him do this. They lost money. Jesus interfered in their annual money-making bazaars. Since Passover was just days away, millions of people would have been present. This was the biggest money-making event of every year, and Jesus was interfering. The chief priest and his sons had turned what should have been the high-spiritual event of the year into a crass business. Luke 16:14 has already told us that the Pharisees loved money. So if we wrap all of this together, we understand the Jewish religious leaders must have been furious. They hated Jesus for so many reasons.

Rebuke for Spiritual Deadness

Verse 17 says,

And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” Mark 11:17 (NASB)

Jesus combined two verses together. The first verse is Isaiah 56:7,

For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. Isaiah 56:7 (NASB)

The message of Isaiah 56:7 is that the temple was not supposed to be a place of business, a place where the chief priests and scribes became wealthy. They made it difficult for the poor and average citizen to worship at the temple. Instead of being a place to make money, it was supposed to be a place where people prayed to the one and only God. The context of Isaiah 56 also describes Gentiles coming to the temple in Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom. That is, Gentiles and Jews both will be welcomed in Yahweh’s temple in the millennial kingdom temple. It is to be a place of worship and prayer, not a place for pastors and clergy to become wealthy. He said all of this while standing in the outer court called the Court of the Gentiles. We can be confident that the Jewish religious leaders missed that point, and that their prayers were not heard because of their sin (Psalm 66:18).

The last part of the quote is from Jeremiah 7:11. This passage is also about Yahweh’s temple.

Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Jeremiah 7:1 (NASB)

Yahweh declared that His temple had become a robbers’ den before the Babylonian army invaded Jerusalem and burned the city and temple to the ground. Yahweh did that because Israel had abandoned Him and apparently had done the same thing then. It is appalling that these religious leaders were so spiritually bankrupt. They exploited the worshipers who came to celebrate Passover and seek forgiveness for their intentional sins, inadvertent sins, and to offer thanksgivings. But these religious leaders were heartless.

Hearts of Spiritual Deadness

After the chief priests and scribes heard that Jesus had quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 to the crowd, they were angry. We can be confident they did not like the people hearing the temple was supposed to be a place of prayer and not a place of business. They did not like hearing they were robbers. Luke 19:47-48 describes their response,

And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said. Luke 19:47-48 (NASB)

Mark 11:18 adds this,

The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. Mark 11:18 (NASB)

Once again they planned to kill Him. But this time He would die in four days. This occurred on Tuesday, and He would die on Friday. The spiritually dead would murder the One who came to give life. He was the Light of the World, but they were sons of the dark one. The high priest, his sons, the chief priests, and the scribes, including the Pharisees and Sadducees were spiritually dead.

I am sorry to say that there are many religious leaders today who are just as evil as Annas and his sons. They exploit their congregations, including the poor. For them, the church is not composed of the members of Christ’s body, but of financial supporters and customers. Their pulpit ministries are like that of the church in Sardis. Their ministries appear to be alive, but they are actually dead, and those attending have come to believe this is the way church should be. All they have known are ministries centered around a pastor. Some preachers refer to their ministry as “work.” Wow, what an attitude! They view the ministry as work. They go to work each day of the week, including Sunday! The ministry has become a job. They have lost the view that they were serving our Lord God. The ministry had become about their own popularity, personal acceptance, and financial security.

Matthew 23:33 reveals that Jesus told the Pharisees it would be very difficult for them to escape hell. Luke 16:14 states they had become lovers of money. Money was one of the idols in their hearts. Because their hearts were not devoted to God, they were spiritually dead. The temple was dead, and worship in Jerusalem was dead, except in the hearts of the righteous. Jesus was the true Light in a dead city and in a lifeless temple. Does this describe your church— spiritually dead? Are you a attending but are not growing spiritually?

Curse of Spiritual Deadness

Luke 19:47 has already said that Jesus was teaching daily in the temple. He planned to teach and did teach every day as the day of His death came closer. Early in His ministry, Jesus told the disciples that another reason He came was to preach (Mark 1:38), and so He did. He was fulfilling His purpose. He loved the disciples, but He also loved the lost. That is why He came!

Mark 11:19 is the next verse in the gospel of Mark, but it skips the events described in the passage of John 12:20-50. This passage tells us that some Gentiles had asked Jesus a question after the Triumphal Entry. He then proceeded to discuss His death and to present the gospel to them. But in this study, we are going to skip the passage in John 12:20-50 and jump to Mark 11:19-21 so that we can understand what happened next with the fig tree and understand the message of the cursed fig tree.

Mark 11:19 tells us that Jesus and the disciples left the city when it became dark. They may have returned to Bethany.

When evening came, they would go out of the city. Mark 11:19 (NASB)

Mark 11:20 states that in the morning they walked by the fig tree again. Here are verses 20-21,

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” Mark 11:19-21 (NASB)

When Jesus and the disciples saw the fig tree, Peter responded with surprise. He did not expect the fig tree to be withered. Maybe we would have been surprised too! Peter’s response reveals two important facts. First, his surprise reveals that he did not understand the great authority that Jesus had with His simple statement, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” Jesus’ simple command turned a fruitless tree into a lifeless tree. They did not yet understand who Jesus was. They did not understand the power to kill the tree was rooted in God the Father. We will learn more about that in the next study.

The second fact that Peter seems to have missed was the meaning of the dead fig tree. In the Old Testament, Israel was pictured as a fig tree (Hosea 9:10; Nahum 3:12). But even without those references, it is obvious the fig tree is like bookends on a bookcase. Jesus cursed the fig tree before He cleansed the temple and rebuked the high priest and scribes, the religious leaders of Jerusalem. Then afterward, they found the fig tree was dead. Jesus did this for a reason. The fruitless fig tree symbolized the spiritual deadness of the religious leaders and the deadness of the temple. Consequently, Jerusalem was spiritually dead too!

Days after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Jesus’ death

 

Conclusion

As I was studying this passage, it reminded me of the book of Ezekiel. Yahweh repeatedly warned the civil leaders, the religious leaders, and the people to repent of the idols in their hearts. He called them to repent. In Ezekiel He finally told them the Babylonian army was coming to destroy Jerusalem and the temple with fire. He would burn it to the ground. That occurred during the third Babylonian invasion in 586 B.C. It was because they loved the idols of their hearts. They loved to worship at the shrines and high places of gods and goddesses such as Baal, the Asherah, Tammuz, and Moloch. They enjoyed the ritual sex,, the child sacrifices, and having their children walk through the fire of Moloch. Such descriptions make us feel uncomfortable. It is repugnant to us. We react negatively to their behavior. But we should also be horrified at their spiritually dead hearts and the spiritually dead hearts of Annas, his sons, the scribes, and all the other spiritually dead religious leaders. Because of them, Jerusalem the temple and the people were spiritually dead. They proved that in four days when they cheered for Christ’s death. So, the fig tree symbolized the spiritual deadness of religious leaders, Jerusalem, and the temple.

So, are you like that fig tree? Do you look good but have no spiritual fruit? What idols sit on the throne of your heart? The warning in Ezekiel and in this study is that spiritual deadness results in God’s judgment and punishment. That is the message of the parable of the fig tree.

If that is true of you, do what Ezekiel urged the people to do.

Thus says the Lord GOD, “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations.” Ezekiel 14:6 (NASB)

In Luke 24:46-47 Jesus urged the disciples to preach this message,

“Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47 (NASB)

Forgiveness of sins occurs when a person believes in Jesus and trusts in Him alone for the forgiveness of sins.

Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:43 (NASB)

Are The Father’s Sins Passed On To The Children?

Are The Father’s Sins Passed On To The Children?

In 1946 Dr. Benjamin Spock published a book titled The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. His book was an international best seller and many parents followed his advice as their raised their children. Most of the world interpreted him to advocate leniency in disciplining children. Society’s liberals began pushing parents to stop spanking children and become more tolerant of rebellious behavior.

Later Redbook Magazine published an article written by Dr. Benjamin Spock titled, “How Not to Bring Up a Bratty Child.”[1] He said he was concerned by the bratty behavior of children. The change in philosophy of raising children had touched the hearts of parents around the world because no parent wanted to be the reason why their children hated them, were wicked, or struggle later in life. Redbook Magazine reported that during an interview Dr. Benjamin Spock had said the, “Inability to be firm is, to my mind, the commonest problem of parents in America today.”[2] He blamed the parents and the experts for the “brattiness” of America’s children.

In later editions, in the 1980s, he discouraged parents from spanking children.[3] For a historical review of Dr. Spock’s view about corporal punishment visit “Did Dr. Benjamin Spock recant his child-rearing teachings later in life?”[4] Yet, today the punishment for wrong doing of both children and criminals is discouraged and evil is exploding.

Governments and parents around the world should have followed God’s advice in Proverbs 22:6,

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

This is a wonderful passage that provides guidance to parents. But some have taught that it is a promise. So many parents have believed that this is a guarantee that godly training will result in their children becoming believers or righteous adults. But sadly this verse only promises that if parents do not train their children, then the character of their children will not be changed. The Hebrew words for “the way he should go” actually read “the way according to his mouth.” That is, if parents train a child according to his or her character at birth, the child will never change.”[5] Actually, parents are commanded to counter the child’s bent toward evil. Children are not by nature inherently good. If parents avoid discipline, the children will never move in the direction of a righteous behavior.

The advice of both Dr. Benjamin Spock and Proverbs 22:6 have touched the hearts of parents who wanted the best for their children. So, some followed Dr. Spocks’ advice and Christian parents have followed Proverbs 22:6. Both have cared about their children. But Dr. Spock’s unbiblical advice results in “brats,” to use his own words.

Not only do most parents want their children to behave well as adults, they also feel responsible when they do not behave morally. They often blame themselves. For example, the Hindu religion teaches that Vishnu’s incarnation was told,

Like a cow, a sinful act perpetrated does not produce immediate fruits. If the fruit is not seen in the perpetrator himself, it is seen in his son or in his son’s son, or daughter’s son.[6]

The statement means that if the negative consequences of a parent’s sin are not immediately obvious, they will become obvious later in their children.

Peggy Drexler wrote this in the article “Is a Child’s Behavior Always a Reflection of His Parents?” in Psychology Today,

We’ve long held a tendency to blame parents for how their children behave and develop. Though we most often fault mothers more than fathers, the idea is the same: If we’re good parents, our children will turn out okay. If we’re bad ¬parents, well, they won’t.[7]

So, parents want their children to be good children. Christian parents want their children to be righteous and to choose to follow Christ. When children commit sins, some parents feel responsible. This is true today and was true of the people who lived in 592 B.C. That is when Ezekiel 18 was written. This concludes the introduction to our study from Ezekiel 18:1-32.

Proverb About Fathers and Their Children.

We are going to discover some important principles about parents and children, and four principles about their sin. You will soon understand why I began with this introduction. Here are the first four verses of the chapter.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land
of Israel, saying,
‘The fathers eat the sour grapes,
But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
“As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. Ezekiel 18:1-4 (NASB)

We are told that Yahweh spoke to the prophet Ezekiel about a parable that was common among the people of Israel. The parable is in verse 2,

The fathers eat the sour grapes,
But the children’s teeth are set on edge

This parable is also given in Jeremiah 31:29. The parable will make more sense if we change the word “but” to “and.” We can do that because the Hebrew word for “but” can also mean “and.” Most current Bible translations use the word “and.” If we do that, the proverb is,

The fathers eat the sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge

The Hebrew word for “set on edge” is qahah. It can also be translated as “dull.” The basic idea of the proverb is that sour grapes cause damage to teeth. That is, the acid in sour grapes can irritate teeth or set them on edge. If a person eats too many sour grapes, the teeth can become dull. But the message of the proverb, as we will soon learn, is that the sins of the parents are passed on to their children.

1st Principle

Then Yahweh told Ezekiel this proverb will not exist in Israel anymore and gave us two divine principles. The first is,

“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine.”

Here Yahweh declared that He owns every soul. The Hebrew word for “soul” is nepes and it does not mean spirit. It refers to ‘breath” or that which keeps our physical bodies alive. Ecclesiastes 12:7 also adds that God gave us our spirit. It says,

. . . the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NASB)

So, Yahweh owns us and not us. He can do anything to us because He is like the Potter and we are just the clay.

2nd Principle

Yahweh’s second principle is.

The soul who sins will die.

This is an important divine principle. When Adam and Eve sinned, their nepes or their physical bodies started dying and their spirits died. Romans 6:23 says “the wages of sin is death.” It is a parallel verse to Ezekiel 18:20. Both verses warn us that when we sin our reward is death—physical and spiritual. So, the second principle is the soul who sins will die. We see this daily as people are constantly dying.

3rd Principle

Verses 5-20 now give us the third principle. There are three sections in these verses. Verses 5-9 are about a righteous father. The second section is verses 10-13 which are about his wicked son. The third section is verses 14-18. They are about a wicked father who has a righteous son. The message of section one is easy to follow. So, I will just read and summarize each one. Let us discover the third principle. Here are verses 5-9,

“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, and does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period — if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between man and man, if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully — he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 18:5-9 (NASB)

Yahweh defined a righteous man by what he does. Notice the key word “practices.” The Hebrew word refers to the pattern of life of the man from his past to his present. His past record reveals his character. Notice that Yahweh described a righteous man as one who practices righteousness. That is what a righteous man or woman does! His righteousness is revealed by what he does. There are fourteen things in this list that a righteous man does. But they can be grouped into five categories. The first is that a righteous man practices justice (v. 5). That is surely missing from our country today. It reveals that we do not have righteous leaders at the top. The second category is a righteous person worships Yahweh and Him alone (v. 6a). The next categories are he maintains sexual purity (v. 6b), he is a good neighbor (v. 7-8), and the fifth category is that he obeys Yahweh’s statues and ordinances (v. 9a). Then the last part of verse 9 says that such a man is righteous and will surely live. Now these categories do not cover every possible behavior of a righteous man, but they do contrast with the major areas of sin.

Now Yahweh described the man’s wicked son in verses 10-13,

“Then he may have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination, he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.” Ezekiel 18:10-13 (NASB)

The son is the opposite of his father. He violates every category of righteousness. Now notice verse 13. Yahweh said two important things. First, the son will not live! Second, “his blood will be on his own head.” That is, he alone is responsible for his own death. He sinned and so he will die. He cannot blame anyone else.

Next, Yahweh described the reverse of the verses we just read. Verses 14-18 are about a wicked father and a righteous son,

“Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife, or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live. As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.” Ezekiel 18:14-18 (NASB)

The message is that the wicked father will die, but not the righteous son.

Then verses 19-20 gives us the third principle. They say,

“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:19-20 (NASB)

In verse 19 Yahweh knew that the people would not agree. He knows they would ask, “Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?” Their proverb had already described what they believed. They believed that the son would be punished for the father’s sins. The father would suffer and so would the son. But Yahweh said the righteous son would not suffer for the father’s sins! Nor will a righteous father suffer for a wicked son’s sins.

Before we go further, we need to turn to Exodus 20:5-6. We need to understand these two verses and why they do not conflict with what we are reading in our study. Here is the Exodus passage,

You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:5-6 (NASB)

Yahweh said this to Moses as part of the second commandment in the Ten Commandments. When He said that He would visit the sins of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations, there are two things we need to remember. First, notice that Yahweh said at the end of verse 5 that this would happen to the children of those who hate Him, that is, to unbelieving children—not believing children. This is said in the context of the second commandment prohibiting the making of idols and worshiping them. That is, this warning applies to those who do not worship Yahweh.

The second thing to notice is from Deuteronomy 24:16. It says,

Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16 (NASB)

That is, Moses himself taught the third principle that we have discovered in our study. Each person is responsible for their own deeds. Each person will be rewarded according to their own righteous deeds or sins.

Notice that the second principle in verse 4 is repeated in verse 20. The Hebrew word that the NASB translates as “persons” is soul. Consequently, verse 20 should say, “The soul who sins will die.” Since this principle is the only one repeated in this chapter, it is the primary principle. The soul that sins deserves to die because he or she sinned.

4th Principle

So, we have arrived at the fourth principle. It is found in verse 20 when Yahweh said,

“The righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”

Once again we are given the message that each soul is responsible for his or her own actions. The righteous soul will benefit from their own righteousness. The wicked soul will suffer for their own wickedness. That is, we alone are responsible for our sins and for our righteous deeds.

So, this gives us the fourth principle: a father’s sins are not passed on to their children. The only exception is the wicked descendant who hates Yahweh, then he or she will suffer the consequences of the sins of their great-grand father and great-great-grand father. Even then, parents are not responsible for a child being an unbeliever. We must remember that God Himself predestined the elect before the foundation of the world. So, a father’s sins are not passed on to their immediate children, but the consequences of their sins may if a third and fourth generation child is an unbeliever. It is the punishment they deserve for rejecting Yahweh.

Conclusion

As we close, we have discovered that the proverb that was floating among the people at the time of this prophecy was wrong. The proverb was,

The fathers eat the sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge

They believed the sins of the fathers were passed onto the immediate children. They were saying that the children could not help themselves because the sins they were guilty of committing were due to their fathers. Yahweh should not be upset with them and cause their land to be invaded. The real guilt was their fathers. The current situation was their parent’s fault. This same philosophy exists today. Counselors blame fathers and mothers for the sins of their children. But Yahweh’s message is that the children do not inherit the guilt of the father’s sins. They do not have to commit the father’s sins. If they do commit the same sins, then they made that decision and thus they alone are guilty of the sins they commit. But children may experience the influence and negative consequences of the father’s sins. A good illustration is the man who robs a bank, is arrested, and is eventually put in prison for ten years for his crime. His son does not inherit his guilt, but he will experience the consequences of having a father in prison. In addition, should he decide to rob a bank also, he alone is guilty for making that decision.

So, the four principles are: 1) God owns every soul; 2) the soul who sins will die; 3) we are responsible for our own deeds; and 4) the father’s sins are not passed to righteous children. We have discovered that each family member bears the guilt for his or her own sins and his or her own righteousness.

The next section, verses 21-32, is the conclusion, but we will have to wait until the next study to discover what happened.

 

References:

1. Dr. Benjamin Spock. “How Not to Bring Up a Bratty Child.” Redbook Magazine. February 1974, p. 29.
2. “Blame Him For Brats Spock Swallows His Words.” Beaver County Times – Jan 23, 1974. (news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19740123&id=nfsqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UNoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6430,1705588&hl=en).

“A new Spock? The Doctor Says No”. The Milwaukee Journal. Apr 14, 1974. (skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/28022/did-dr-benjamin-spock-recant-his-child-rearing-teachings-later-in-life).
3. Jason M. Fuller. “The Science And Statistics Behind Spanking Suggest That Laws Allowing Corporal Punishment Are In The Best Interests Of The Child.“ University Of Akron. p. 250. See footnote 23 (uakron.edu/dotAsset/724600.pdf).
4. “Did Dr. Benjamin Spock recant his child-rearing teachings later in life?” (skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/28022/did-dr-benjamin-spock-recant-his-child-rearing-teachings-later-in-life)
5. Chuck Swindoll. “A Better Way to Train Up A Child.” Insight for Living Ministries Resources. June 15, 2009. (www.insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/a-better-way-to-train-up-a-child)
6. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr. The Mahabharata. Book 12. Santi Parva. 1883-1896. p. 199. (www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a090.htm).
7. Peggy Drexler Ph.D. “Is a Child’s Behavior Always a Reflection of His Parents?” September 18, 2012. Psychology Today. (www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-gender-ourselves/201209/is-child-s-behavior-always-reflection-his-parents).

Promise of the Messiah and the Millennial Kingdom

Promise of the Messiah and the Millennial Kingdom

Prophecies about our future exist in both the Old and New Testaments. The book of Revelation in the New Testament paints a timeline that is Jewish in focus starting with the tribulation, continuing to the battle of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ resulting in victory over the armies of the world, and then the setting up of the millennial kingdom. Jesus, Himself, also describes the same basic timeline in Matthew 24-25 and gives us some additional details.

The same timeline is found in the books of Joel, Daniel, and Zechariah in the Old Testament. The book of Zechariah is like the Revelation of the Old Testament. Zechariah 11-14 describes the antichrist, the tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ, and the millennial kingdom. Collectively, the major and minor prophets give us important information about the tribulation, the second coming of Christ, and the millennium! They give us wonderful glimpses of the future kingdom because Yahweh repeatedly warned Israel about pending judgment due to their rebellion, and then he comforted the believing remnant with promises that the Messiah and the kingdom were coming. Israel has a glorious future.

Sadly, the major prophets are sometimes ignored, but those who do miss the many assurances that Yahweh has given to believers of the coming Messiah and His kingdom. Just recently, we have been discovering some of those glorious promises in our studies of the book of Ezekiel. Since some of these prophecies have not yet occurred, today we have the joy of watching for the fulfillment of those prophecies about Israel.

Timeline of The Future

Prophecy of the New Covenant

In our study in Ezekiel 11:19-20, we learned that Yahweh promised to give Israel a new heart someday. They would no longer have a heart of stone but a heart of flesh. Jeremiah 31:31-34 records this promise. It says,

Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31 (NASB)

Then verses 33-34 continue the promise,

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NASB)

Later in Ezekiel 36:25-27 the same promise was recorded. This promise was repeated during the Last Supper when Jesus used the cup symbolic of the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20). Hebrews 8:7-13 quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 and calls it a new covenant. Then Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 say that Jesus instituted the new covenant when He died on the cross. The evidence of the new covenant occurred when the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostles on the day of Pentecost. It is being fulfilled now in every individual believer.

But the full impact of the new covenant on Israel has not yet been fulfilled. That will not happen until the second coming of Christ when He comes in victory at the battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 12:10-11; Romans 11:16-27). Then all of Israel that is still alive at His coming will see Him in the air, will believe in Him, repent, and mourn.

In our study of Ezekiel 16:60-63, the promise of the new covenant was echoed. Yahweh said He will remember the new covenant. When He has forgiven Israel, then the chosen remnant will remember their evil ways, humble themselves, and be ashamed. Then He will establish His covenant; that is, the Messiah will establish His kingdom. Verse 63 says,

“So that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord GOD declares. Ezekiel 16:63 (NASB)

The fulfillment of the New Covenant is already occurring as promised. It had to occur so that Israel would enjoy their Messiah and His millennial kingdom. They must repent and believe in Christ so that they can enter the millennial kingdom. For more information about this point, read the study, “The Judgment of the Nations — Sheep and Goat judgment.”

Problem With the Messianic Line

That was the background for our study now in Ezekiel 17:22-24. Our study is another prophecy that reveals more blessings of the new covenant for all the saints. The blessing to which I refer is that every believer down through the ages will enjoy the Messiah and His millennial kingdom that was promised to King David. The original prophecy is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:16-17. Ezekiel 17:22 says,

Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. Ezekiel 17:22 (NASB)

In order to understand this verse, we must remember some details from our last study which was in Ezekiel 17:1-21. There we discovered that Ezekiel 17 is a parable about two great eagles and a vine. The two eagles were two superpowers that existed at the time the prophecy was written (about 593 – 588 B.C.) The two eagles were the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. The vine was King Zedekiah. The interpretation of the parable can be found in verses 11-21. In verse 12 of the interpretation, we are told that King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian empire captured and removed the reigning king and his princes from Jerusalem to Babylon. Then in verse 13 we are told that another member of the royal family was made king. Verse 15 adds that this puppet king later rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. That gives us enough information to identify the names of these kings.

We discovered that the second king was King Zedekiah. He was the puppet king who was supposed to maintain control of the city for King Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:18-25:7; 2 Chronicles 36:10-14). That helped us to identify the first king, who was taken to Babylon. He was King Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:15-17; 2 Chronicles 36:9-11). This means that none of King Jehoiachin’s sons sat on his throne. In fact, the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied that this would occur in Jeremiah 22:24-30. In that passage an alternate name is used for Jehoiachin. It is Coniah. In verse 30, the prophet Jeremiah announced that Yahweh had decreed that none of King Jehoiachin’s sons would reign on his throne because he had been so wicked. Therefore, the prophet called him “childless.”

Now before we return to our passage beginning with verse 22, we need to discuss three important facts that occurred when King Jehoiachin was removed as king. First, 2 Kings 24:8 tells us that he was only eighteen when he became king and then reigned only for three months. He was very young.
Another important fact that occurred when King Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon was that he was the last king to sit on King David’s throne. Archaeological evidence has been discovered in the Weidmer clay tablets near the Ishtar Gate in Babylon that states the people of Judah considered him to be the last king. They probably thought that due to his youth, King Jehoiachin had not yet fathered a male child. That is, he did not have any heirs to the throne at the time of the Babylonian invasion and deportation.

That leads us to the third fact which is that the people correctly understood this to mean there was a break in the messianic line. If there is no descendant in the messianic line, then no man can qualify as the Messiah. Clearly King Jehoiachin had not been the Messiah. So, the parable in Ezekiel 17 introduced a major problem when it said that King Jehoiachin would be taken captive to Babylon. So, what about the future Messiah? Would there ever be one? Furthermore, Yahweh had caused this situation. What would Yahweh do to solve this problem that He created? That is the question this parable answers. This parable is very important, but the conclusion is even more important. How would Yahweh solve the problem of no heir in the messianic line? King Jehoiachin was the last king in David’s line to sit on David’s throne, even to this very day!

Prophecy of the Messiah and His Kingdom

Now we are ready to return to Ezekiel 17:22. This verse and the next two verses reveal Yahweh’s promise that there is not a problem with the messianic line. Here is verse 22 once again,

Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. Ezekiel 17:22 (NASB)

The first part of this verse reminds us of the first eagle in verses 3-4 which plucked off the topmost of young twigs from the top of a cedar tree. But Yahweh is not an eagle. Yet, He used parts of the parable to give us this important prophecy. Notice that in the NASB, the word “sprig” is in italics. That means it is not in the Hebrew text. That means the passage should just read as, “I will take from the high top of the cedar and set it out,” “pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one,” and “plant it on a high and lofty mountain.”

So, what does the cedar symbolize? Who is the young twig? What is the lofty and high mountain? Then what do these three symbols mean or represent? We have already discovered from the parable that the cedar referred to Jerusalem, but now we need to understand that it also refers to the royal line of kings who reigned in Jerusalem! It referred to the ancestral line of the messiah. That is the symbolic meaning of the cedar tree.

In addition, the Hebrew grammar suggests that the “young twig” that was plucked is a person more important than King Jehoiachin. Next, the high, lofty mountain is explained to us in verse 23 which says,

On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches. Ezekiel 17:23 (NASB)

Now we are told the high mountain is in Israel. The city of Jerusalem sat on Mount Zion. Mount Zion is Yahweh’s holy and high mountain. Also, in the Old Testament, the word mountain could symbolically refer to a kingdom. A good example is Jeremiah 51:24-25. The passage says,

“But I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all their evil that they have done in Zion before your eyes,” declares the LORD.
“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain,
Who destroys the whole earth,” declares the LORD,
“And I will stretch out My hand against you,
And roll you down from the crags,
And I will make you a burnt out mountain.
Jeremiah 51:24-25 (NASB)

Here the empire of Babylon is symbolized as a mountain twice. Another example is Daniel 2:35, 44. Daniel 2:35 is part of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and it says,

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Daniel 2:35 (NASB)

Then in verse 44 of Daniel 2, we discover the mountain is a kingdom. So, the “young twig” will be from David’s line. He will reign in Jerusalem over an empire.

So, who does the “young twig” symbolize? He symbolizes the Messiah. The young twig or branch is another name or title for Messiah (Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12). For example, Jeremiah 23:5 says,

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
Jeremiah 23:5 (NASB)

The phrase “that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar” means His kingdom will grow and prosper.

The last sentence of verse 23 is, “And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches.” That is, the Messiah’s kingdom would rule over all the peoples of all of the nations. These nations would be blessed. This sentence reminds us of Jesus’ parable of the Mustard Seed in Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19. This passage helps us understand His parable. The parable teaches that the kingdom of God will include everyone; but not everyone will be a believer.

Then verse 24 concludes the chapter.

“All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.” Ezekiel 17:24 (NASB)

All of the trees of the field includes all of the leaders of the world. They will know that Yahweh is Lord! Yahweh will bring down all of the nations of the world and exalt Jesus Christ as the only king of the world. He will reign from Jerusalem over a worldwide kingdom.

Yahweh ends with, “I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”

This should have been an encouragement to every person in exile and every citizen of Jerusalem. Even though King Jehoiachin did not have any descendants when he was taken to Babylon and the Messianic line appeared to have been interrupted by Yahweh Himself, they should not fear. Ezekiel 17:22-24 was and is a prophecy that promises the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, will reign as king over an empire that will encompass the entire world. So, Yahweh said, “I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.” We can trust that He knows what he is doing.

Solution About the Messianic Line

Before we end, we need to read Matthew 1:11-12. These two verses are from the genealogy of Jesus Christ. They are from Joseph’s line to King David.

Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Matthew 1:11-12 (NASB)

Here we are told that Josiah was the grandfather of Jeconiah (1 Chronicles 3:14-16). Matthew skipped Jehoiakim in his genealogy. This was a common occurrence. But the important fact in verses 11-12 for us is to notice the name Jeconiah. That is another name for King Jehoiachin, just as Coniah was another name for the king. The letters in “Coniah” are common to all three names. So, this verse refers to King Jehoiachin at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

Then verse 12 adds this very important point, “Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel.” So, what does this verse reveal? It reveals that King Jehoiachin did have children after the Babylonian invasion. In fact, 1 Chronicles 3:17-18 reveals he had seven boys. This means King Jehoiachin was childless only from the perspective that none of his immediate descendants sat on the throne before or after he was taken to Babylon. However, he did later have children. So, Yahweh removed the wicked king and refused to allow any of his descendants to reign on David’s throne. Then Yahweh made sure that the messianic line continued unbroken as Jehoiachin later had seven sons. Matthew 1 records the messianic line is traced to Jesus Christ. So, Ezekiel 17 is a prophecy and a promise. It explains how Yahweh rescued the messianic line from a wicked king. The result was that Jesus is the Messiah and some day He will rule over all of the nations of the world in an earthly millennial kingdom.

Conclusion

Yahweh said, “I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.” That is a great encouragement.

Parable of Two Great Eagles and The Vine

Parable of Two Great Eagles and The Vine

The book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book that warned and affirmed. It warned the Jewish people of a massive future slaughter of the people in the city of Jerusalem except for a remnant. It also warned that Jerusalem and the temple would be burned to the ground. These three events would occur because the people had abandoned Yahweh and put idols in their hearts. As a result, they committed horrible sexual sins, killed some of their children, made their children walk through the fire of Moloch, indulged in abundant food, enjoyed careless ease, and were very arrogant. They refused to repent and turn to Yahweh and so He prophesied and warned them of the future judgment.

The book of Ezekiel also affirmed that it was written by Yahweh because it gave detailed information about future events that came true. Yahweh proved to the Jewish people who were alive in 593-583 B.C. that “I am the Lord; I have spoken.” For Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states that the proof Yahweh has spoken is that what His prophet speaks will come true.

First Great Eagle

Our study is Ezekiel 17, except for the last three verses. It is about the last king who reigned in Jerusalem before the Babylonian army slaughtered the people and burned both the city and Solomon’s temple. That is a quick snapshot of the chapter. The chapter is divided into three sections. Verses 1-10 are the parable. Verses 11-21 are the interpretation of the parable, and verses 22-24 are the conclusion, which we will leave to the next study.

Verses 1-2 say,

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel . . .” Ezekiel 17:1-2 (NASB)

Once again, Yahweh speaks. The phrase, “the word of the LORD” introduces another prophecy. This has been the pattern since chapter 12. Then verse 2 reveals that Yahweh gave the prophet Ezekiel a riddle and a parable. It is a riddle because its meaning is not clear and it is a parable because of the symbolic imagery used by Yahweh. Jesus also spoke in parables when He walked on this planet and taught the people. It captures our attention and causes us to think while communicating important truths.

Verse 3 starts the parable. The explanation will begin in verse 11. Here are verses 3-4,

“. . . saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.”’” Ezekiel 17:3-4 (NASB)

The parable begins with a great eagle with great wings, long pinions, and very colorful plumage. This eagle symbolizes great power as the eagle is considered the king of the birds. We are told the eagle came to Lebanon. Lebanon symbolized the city of Jerusalem for King David had built his home of cedar from Lebanon (2 Samuel 5:11) Then King Solomon had imported cedars from Lebanon to build the temple and his own house (1 Kings 4:33; 6:9-10, 15-20, 36; 7:1-2). He may have used cedar wood to build parts of the city also. So, we are being told the eagle plucked off the top of the cedar tree, that is Jerusalem, and all of its young twigs and brought it to another city, the city of Babylon, a place of great commerce.

The meaning of this part of the parable is given to us in verses 11-12.

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Say, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and princes and brought them to him in Babylon.’” Ezekiel 17:11-12 (NASB)

Once again, the prophet Ezekiel speaks directly to the rebellious house of Israel. He reminds them of their sins. They were rebels who refused to obey. They lived in rebellion to Yahweh. Many teenagers are also rebellious. That helps us understand how God views our sins. We are rebels when we refuse to obey and repent of our sins. Then Yahweh asked, “Do you not know what these things mean?” That is, do you understand the parable? That was a rhetorical question. Immediately, Yahweh begins to explain the parable. The great eagle with the powerful pinions and colorful plumage symbolized the king of Babylon.

The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and his princes to Babylon. This helps us understand that Lebanon symbolized the city of Jerusalem. The top of the cedar tree was the king of Jerusalem and the young twigs were the princes or leaders under him.

So, who is the king? 2 Kings 24:11-16 will help us understand the future events this parable is predicting,

And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it. Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother and his servants and his captains and his officials. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. He carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said. Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land. So he led Jehoiachin away into exile to Babylon; also the king’s mother and the king’s wives and his officials and the leading men of the land, he led away into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. All the men of valor, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths, one thousand, all strong and fit for war, and these the king of Babylon brought into exile to Babylon. 2 Kings 24:11-16 (NASB)

Now we understand that the top of the cedar in verse 3 symbolized King Jehoiachin. This will also become clearer in the verses to follow. The young twigs or princes were the other significant leaders of Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzar removed them since he did not want to leave anyone who might cause trouble for him in the future.

First Great Eagle Plants a Vine

Verses 5-6 now describe a vine in the parable.

“He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow. Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.” Ezekiel 17:5-6 (NASB)

Now we are told the great eagle took some seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil beside abundant waters. The reference to a willow tree reveals the seed had all the water it needed because willow trees require a great amount of water. Then we are told the seed grew into a vine and spread everywhere.

Verses 13-14 explain this part of the parable. They are about King Nebuchadnezzar. They say,

“‘He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue.’” Ezekiel 17:13-14 (NASB)

So, the vine that grew from the seed symbolized a member of the royal family of Jehoiachin. This individual was Zedekiah. Everything in this chapter is about King Zedekiah, except for the last three verses. That means Yahweh is using this king to teach us an important principle. Verses 13-14 tell us he made a covenant with King Nebuchadnezzar in order to become king. We are also told King Nebuchadnezzar took away all the significant leaders of the land in an attempt to ensure that the covenant would be maintained. Again, 2 Kings 24 helps us understand what happened when the prophecy was fulfilled. Here is 2 Kings 24:17,

Then the king of Babylon made his uncle Mattaniah king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 2 Kings 24:17 (NASB)

Notice that Mattaniah was Jehoiachin’s uncle. He was not directly in the line to become the king, but he was from the royal family. So, Yahweh referred to him as “one of the royal family” in Ezekiel 17:13. Mattaniah’s name was changed to Zedekiah. 2 Chronicles 36:13 gives us more information about him and tells us that he had to swear allegiance by Yahweh to King Nebuchadnezzar in order to become the king over Jerusalem. This is important to remember as we continue our study.

Second Great Eagle and The Vine

Now back to the parable again. Verses 7-8 say,

“But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was planted, that he might water it. It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.”’ Ezekiel 17:7-8 (NASB)

The great eagle in verse 7 is another great eagle. This second eagle is different than the first one. This eagle does not have great pinions. That is, he is not as lethal or as powerful as the first eagle. We are also told the vine “bent out” to this second eagle. The Hebrew word for “bent out” is kapan. It refers to the idea of seeing water or being hungry. In this context it refers to the vine eagerly seeking water. Even though it was planted in good soil and was like a willow next to plenty of water, it was seeking yet another source for water so it could produce more fruit and become splendid.

The first part of verse 15 explains these two verses. This verse describes the puppet king, King Zedekiah.

“‘But he rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops.’” Ezekiel 17:15a (NASB)

The prophecy states that King Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar and sent envoys to Egypt. That explains the vine seeking another source of water. At the time this prophecy was fulfilled, the pharaoh of Egypt was Hophra. He came to the throne in 588 B.C. He was a new king. Zedekiah was seeking an army to free himself and Jerusalem from King Nebuchadnezzar. So he reached out to this new pharaoh of Egypt. He did this contrary to warnings given by the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isaiah 30:1-2; Jeremiah 37:7). They warned him that he would not succeed.

Will the Vine Succeed?

Now we return to the last part of the parable. In verses 9-10 Yahweh says,

“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers — so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it — wither on the beds where it grew?”’” Ezekiel 17:9-10 (NASB)

The rhetorical question is, “Will the vine succeed?” The same question is given in the interpretation in the last of verses 15 through 21,

“‘Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape? As I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘Surely in the country of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon he shall die. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in the war, when they cast up ramps and build siege walls to cut off many lives. Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’” Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “As I live, surely My oath which he despised and My covenant which he broke, I will inflict on his head. I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. Then I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there regarding the unfaithful act which he has committed against Me. All the choice men in all his troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to every wind; and you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.” Ezekiel 17:15b-21 (NASB)

The answer to Yahweh’s rhetorical question was, “No!” The vine will not succeed. King Zedekiah would fail to free himself from King Nebuchadnezzar. His alliance with the pharaoh was unsuccessful. Did you notice the reason why Zedekiah did not succeed? Yahweh said, “He despised the oath by breaking the covenant” that he made with King Nebuchadnezzar. What made his oath more serious was that Zedekiah swore by Yahweh. 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 states,

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Furthermore, all the officials of the priests and the people were very unfaithful following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the LORD which He had sanctified in Jerusalem.

The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy. Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand. All the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officers, he brought them all to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles. Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete. 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 (NASB)

So, we have read the parable and the explanation has been given. We have also discovered how the prophecy was fulfilled. It was a masterful riddle-parable-prophecy.

Conclusion

But before we conclude the chapter, we need to notice two important principles. The first reason this parable was given is revealed in Ezekiel 17:21. “You will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.” That has been Yahweh’s repeated message since chapter 12. The parable would prove that Yahweh had been speaking to them through His prophets. The second reason this parable was given was to teach us that failure to keep an oath can result in punishment. If we make an oath we must keep it. Remember this parable builds up to King Zedekiah and ends with his sons being killed, his eyes being plucked out, and being taken to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7). This all happened because Yahweh said King Zedekiah “despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged his allegiance.” The point is that King Zedekiah was not serious about his oath to King Nebuchadnezzar so he broke his oath, his allegiance. In addition, Yahweh said, “surely My oath which he despised and My covenant which he broke.” 2 Chronicles 36:13 adds that he swore allegiance by God. In someway, he obligated Yahweh when he made the oath before King Nebuchadnezzar. So, this is a warning to keep our oaths, vows, or promises or not make them. We remember that Jesus said this about oaths and keeping promises.

“But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil. Matthew 5:34-37 (NAS)

Jesus’ point is that we should not make oaths, vows, and promises by anything. Say yes or no! Psalm 15:4 says this about the righteous man,

He swears to his own hurt and does not change. Psalm 15:4 (NASB)

The message is that God expects a righteous man or woman to keep their promises even if hurts us. James 5:12 encourages us to keep our commitments,

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. James 5:12 (NASB)

Then in James 4:13-17 we told to not make an oath but,

Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” James 4:15 (NASB)

We should recognize that God may have a different plan for our lives.
That is the end of this. We will leave verses 22-24 about the future messianic kingdom for our next study.