Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood. Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquityThis phrase highlights the concept of apostasy, where an individual who was once living in accordance with God's laws chooses to abandon that path. The Bible frequently warns against turning away from righteousness, as seen in Hebrews 6:4-6 and 2 Peter 2:20-22. The cultural context of Ezekiel's time involved a strong emphasis on community and covenant faithfulness, where individual actions could impact the entire community's standing with God. and I put a stumbling block before him
The "stumbling block" is a metaphor for divine intervention that leads to judgment or correction. In biblical terms, a stumbling block can be a test or trial that reveals the true nature of one's faith, as seen in Romans 9:32-33. This reflects God's sovereignty and justice, ensuring that those who turn from righteousness face consequences. he will die
The consequence of spiritual death is emphasized here, aligning with the biblical principle that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23). In the Old Testament, physical death often symbolized spiritual separation from God. This phrase underscores the seriousness of turning away from righteousness and the ultimate penalty for sin. If you did not warn him
This phrase addresses the responsibility of the prophet or spiritual leader to provide guidance and warning. Ezekiel's role as a watchman (Ezekiel 3:17) is to alert the people to their spiritual danger. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to admonish one another (Colossians 3:16). he will die in his sin
The emphasis here is on personal accountability. Each individual is responsible for their own actions and will face the consequences of their sin if they do not repent. This aligns with the principle found in Ezekiel 18:20, where each person is accountable for their own sin. and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered
This phrase indicates that past righteousness does not compensate for future sin. It reflects the biblical teaching that perseverance in faith is necessary for salvation (Matthew 24:13). The cultural context of covenant relationships in the Old Testament required ongoing faithfulness, not just past obedience. And I will hold you responsible for his blood
This phrase underscores the serious responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide and warn their communities. The concept of being "responsible for his blood" is a legal and moral obligation, similar to the role of a watchman who must alert the city to danger (Ezekiel 33:6). This responsibility is echoed in the New Testament, where leaders are accountable for the souls they oversee (Hebrews 13:17). Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. He is tasked with being a watchman for the house of Israel. 2. Righteous ManRepresents individuals who have been living according to God's laws but choose to turn away and commit sin. 3. Stumbling BlockA metaphorical obstacle that God places, which can lead to the downfall of those who turn from righteousness. 4. GodThe sovereign Lord who holds individuals accountable for their actions and the actions of others they fail to warn. 5. IsraelitesThe primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who are in exile and need guidance and warning from God. Teaching Points Responsibility of the WatchmanAs believers, we are called to be watchmen, warning others of the spiritual dangers of turning away from righteousness. Accountability Before GodGod holds us accountable not only for our actions but also for our inaction in warning others. The Danger of ComplacencyEven those who are righteous can fall into sin if they become complacent. Continuous vigilance and adherence to God's word are necessary. The Irrelevance of Past RighteousnessPast righteous deeds do not exempt one from the consequences of current sin. Continuous faithfulness is required. God's Sovereignty and JusticeGod is just in His judgments, and His placement of stumbling blocks serves as a test of faithfulness and obedience. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the role of a watchman in Ezekiel 3:20 apply to modern-day Christians in their communities and churches? 2. What are some practical ways we can warn others who are turning away from righteousness, and how can we do so with love and grace? 3. In what ways can we guard against becoming complacent in our own spiritual walk, ensuring we do not turn from righteousness? 4. How does understanding God's sovereignty and justice in placing stumbling blocks affect our view of trials and temptations in our lives? 5. Reflect on a time when you failed to warn someone of spiritual danger. What did you learn from that experience, and how can you apply Ezekiel 3:20 to future situations? Connections to Other Scriptures Ezekiel 18:24This verse also discusses the consequences of a righteous person turning to sin, emphasizing personal responsibility and the loss of previous righteousness. James 5:19-20Highlights the importance of turning a sinner from the error of their ways, which aligns with the responsibility of warning others. Hebrews 6:4-6Discusses the peril of falling away after having received the knowledge of the truth, similar to the righteous man turning to iniquity. People EzekielPlaces Chebar, Tel-abibTopics Accountable, Acts, Block, Blood, Cause, Commit, Commits, Danger, Death, Deeds, Die, Dieth, Evil, Evil-doing, Falling, Hast, Hold, Iniquity, Lay, Memory, Obstacle, Overtake, Perversity, Remembered, Require, Responsible, Righteous, Righteousness, Sin, Stumbling, Stumblingblock, Stumbling-block, Turn, Turning, Turns, Upright, Warn, Warned, Warning, WrongDictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 3:20 5186 stumbling
6206 offence
7150 righteous, the
8707 apostasy, personal Ezekiel 3:16-21 5054 responsibility, examples Ezekiel 3:17-20 8426 evangelism, motivation Ezekiel 3:17-21 7773 prophets, role Library Cæsarius of Arles.
He was born in the district of Chalons-sur-Saone, A. D. 470. He seems to have been early awakened, by a pious education, to vital Christianity. When he was between seven and eight years old, it would often happen that he would give a portion of his clothes to the poor whom he met, and would say, when he came home, that he had been, constrained to do so. When yet a youth, he entered the celebrated convent on the island of Lerins, (Lerina,) in Provence, from which a spirit of deep and practical piety …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark PlacesBoniface, Apostle of the Germans.
BONIFACE, or Winfried, as they called him in Anglo-Saxon, born at Crediton in Devonshire, in 680, deserves to be honoured as the father of the German Church, although he was by no means the first who brought the seeds of the Gospel to Germany. Many had already laboured before him; but the efforts which had been made here and there did not suffice to secure the endurance of Christianity amongst the many perils to which it was exposed. Christianity needs to be linked with firm ecclesiastical institutions, …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [1331] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. Many foolish men have supposed that, if I were advanced to the rank of the episcopate, I should decline to address thee, or to keep up communication with thee by letter. But this is not so; since I am compelled by the very necessity of my position not to hold my peace. For it is written, Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet (Isai. lviii. 1). And again it is written, I have given thee for a watchman …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great The Greatness of the Soul,
AND UNSPEAKABLENESS 0F THE LOSS THEREOF; WITH THE CAUSES OF THE LOSING IT. FIRST PREACHED AT PINNER'S HALL and now ENLARGED AND PUBLISHED FOR GOOD. By JOHN BUNYAN, London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682 Faithfully reprinted from the Author's First Edition. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Our curiosity is naturally excited to discover what a poor, unlettered mechanic, whose book-learning had been limited to the contents of one volume, could by possibility know …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
'For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint.'--ISAIAH l. 7. What a striking contrast between the tone of these words and of the preceding! There all is gentleness, docility, still communion, submission, patient endurance. Here all is energy and determination, resistance and martial vigour. It is like the contrast between a priest and a warrior. And that gentleness is the parent of this boldness. The same Will which is all submission …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ezekiel 3:20 NIVEzekiel 3:20 NLTEzekiel 3:20 ESVEzekiel 3:20 NASBEzekiel 3:20 KJV
Ezekiel 3:20 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
