Ezekiel 33:30 - Meaning and Application

The verses before this spoke to the Jews who stayed in the land of Israel. They had been shown mercy, yet they did not return to the Lord. Here the Lord rebukes those who were in Babylon as captives under his discipline, but who were not changed by it. They were not guilty of the same open crimes as the others, and they kept some outward form of religion. Still, their hearts were not right with God.

Their sin here is mocking the messengers of the Lord, one of the sins that helped bring this ruin on them. They had not been cured of it. They mocked the prophet Ezekiel in two ways. First, they spoke about him in a hostile and unfair way when they were among themselves, doing all they could to make him look worthless. Ezekiel did not know this, but God told him, “The children of your people are still talking against you” (Ezekiel 33:30). Public people often become a common target for criticism, and many feel free to judge them as they please.

Faithful ministers often do not know how much is said against them each day. That is often for the best, because if they knew, it might discourage them deeply. God takes notice of everything said against his ministers, not only formal attacks, but also careless talk among neighbors, in the evening, by the walls, and at the doors of houses. If people mock or slander God’s servants in private conversation, God will hold them to account. His prophets will not always be made the song of drunkards.

These people had no real charge to bring against the prophet. They only liked to speak of him in a careless, scornful, joking way. They would say, in effect, “Come, let us hear what word the Lord has for us today. Maybe it will be something new and entertaining.” This is great irreverence. Serious matters should be spoken of seriously. Once people can turn the preaching and hearing of God’s word into a joke, they have sunk very low in sin.

Second, they mocked Ezekiel by pretending to honor him while they attended his ministry. Hypocrites mock God and his prophets, but their falsehood is open before God. One day it will be exposed. They made a fair show of religion, much like those who draw near to God with their mouths and honor him with their lips, while their hearts are far from him (Matthew 15:8).

They were regular and diligent in attending the means of grace, that is, the ways God uses to give spiritual help. They came to Ezekiel as the people came. In Babylon they had no temple or synagogue, so they came to the prophet’s house (Ezekiel 8:1), and likely spent their new moons and Sabbaths in religious exercises (2 Kings 4:23). When the prophet was bound, the word of the Lord was not bound. Since they did not have the full help for their souls that they wanted, they should have been thankful for what they did have. For them, it was a comfort in their bondage.

These hypocrites came as regularly and as early as anyone else. The words “as the people come” suggest that they came because others came. They were not moved by conscience toward God, but by company, custom, and fashion. A person may have no inward love for God’s ordinances and still be very regular in outward worship. Cain brought a sacrifice, and so did Abel. The Pharisee went up to the temple to pray, just as the tax collector did.

They also behaved very properly in public worship. They did not whisper, laugh, stare around, or sleep. They sat before Ezekiel as God’s people, with every outward sign of seriousness and calm. They waited through the whole time without showing weariness, and they did not wish the sermon would end.

They also listened closely to the word. They were not busy thinking about something else. They heard Ezekiel’s words and took note of what he said. They even pretended to have great affection and respect for the prophet. Though they could not speak well of him behind his back, they showed much love to his face. They likely acted as if they were his best friends and well-wishers, perhaps even seeming concerned that he might wear himself out preaching or get into trouble with the Chaldeans, the Babylonians.

They also took real pleasure in the word. They delighted to know God’s word (Isaiah 58:2). Herod heard John the Baptist gladly (Mark 6:20). Ezekiel was to them like a very lovely song. His subject was surprising, his language was fine, his comparisons were fitting, his voice was pleasant, and his delivery was graceful. They could sit and enjoy his preaching as people enjoy a play, an opera, or a concert. He was like someone with a pleasant voice who sings or plays music well.

This shows that people may enjoy the sound and style of God’s word, and still not be touched in conscience or changed in heart. The ear may be pleased while the sinful nature stays untouched.

The hypocrisy of all this was plain. They had no real love for God’s word. Their kind words came only from the mouth, while their heart went after covetousness, which is a greedy love of money and possessions. They were just as set on the world as before. Hearing the word was only a diversion, something pleasant for an hour or two. Their main concern was still their farm and their trade, and their minds kept turning to those things.

Covetousness destroys many people who make a serious profession of religion. The love of the world quietly pushes the love of God out of the heart. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are like thorns that choke both the seed and the soul. Those who listen to God’s word while they are thinking about worldly business neither please God nor help themselves. God watches the heart when people do that.

They also gave no real obedience to the word.

They hear your words, but they only give you a hearing, because they will not do them (Ezekiel 33:31). Again, they do not do them (Ezekiel 33:32). They will not be persuaded by anything the prophet says, whether by appeal to authority or by reason, to turn from even one sin they love, or to obey any duty that feels hard to their flesh.

There are many who enjoy hearing God’s word, but do not feel bound to obey it. So they build on sand and fool themselves. Hearing alone will not save them if they never put the word into practice.

What will happen in the end? Will their unbelief and carelessness make God’s word powerless? No. God will still prove the prophet’s message true, even if people mock it and treat it lightly (Ezekiel 33:33). What he says will happen, and not one small part of it will fail. The curses of the law, even if ungodly minds laugh at them, cannot be escaped.

They themselves will regret their folly when it is too late. When the things he foretold come to pass, they will know, to their shame and loss, that a prophet had been among them, though they treated him as if he were only a pleasant speaker. Those who will not admit that God has sent a prophet among them, and who waste the time when they are being warned, will be forced to remember it when the things that make for their peace are hidden from their eyes.

A day is coming when worldly people will think differently about these matters than they do now, and they will feel the weight of what they once ignored. They will know a prophet had been among them when events exactly match his words, and the prophet himself will stand as a witness against them. He will show that they had fair warning, but would not listen.

When Ezekiel is gone, the one they now speak against, and there is no more prophet and no one to tell them how long the judgment will last, then they will remember that they once had a prophet, but did not use him well. Those who will not value God’s mercies while they have them will justly be made to know their worth by losing them, like people who wanted to see one of the days of the Son of Man, which they once treated lightly and could not then see.