Ezekiel 14:1-11 Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me, and sat before me.… I. THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN. As a magnet attracts out of rubbish only the bits of iron for which it has an affinity, so the idol-idea in a man's mind will make him fix on whatever will minister to it, and neglect everything else. The very Word of God will be but a mirror in which he sees reflected the thought which possesses his soul. II. THE WORKING OF THIS PRINCIPLE. 1. The apostles, like the rest of the Jews, had a settled conviction that the Messiah would be a great temporal Prince. 2. Another instance is found in those who seek a system of Church government in the New Testament. 3. The controversy as to the ultimate doom of the unbelieving. Restorationist, annihilist, and believer in endless torment — all appeal to same Word, and often to same texts. III. PRACTICAL USE. Three common idols — 1. The thought that to repent of sin and turn to Jesus at last hour will be enough. 2. The thought that good works are not essential to salvation. 3. The thought that the new life of faith must be ushered in with some great and overwhelming spasm of feeling. (J. Ogle.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.WEB: Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me, and sat before me. |
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