1 Then came certaine of the Elders of Israel vnto me, and sate before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came vnto me, saying,
3 Sonne of man, these men haue set vp their idoles in their heart, and put the stumbling blocke of their iniquitie before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
4 Therefore speake vnto them, and say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Euery man of the house of Israel that setteth vp his idoles in his heart, and putteth the stumbling blocke of his iniquitie before his face, and commeth to the Prophet, I the Lord will answere him that commeth, according to the multitude of his idoles,
5 That I may take the house of Israel in their owne heart, because they are all estranged from mee through their idoles.
6 ¶ Therefore say vnto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent, and turne your selues from your idoles, and turne away your faces from all your abominations.
7 For euery one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that soiourneth in Israel, which separateth himselfe from me, and setteth vp his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling blocke of his iniquitie before his face, and commeth to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me, I the Lord will answere him by my selfe.
8 And I wil set my face against that man, and will make him a signe and a prouerbe, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people, and yee shall know that I am the Lord.
9 And if the prophet bee deceiued when hee hath spoken a thing, I the Lord haue deceiued that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand vpon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10 And they shall beare the punishment of their iniquitie: the punishment of the prophet shall bee euen as the punishment of him that seeketh vnto him:
11 That the house of Israel may goe no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may bee their God, sayeth the Lord God.
12 ¶ The word of the Lord came againe to me, saying,
13 Sonne of man, when the land sinneth against mee by trespassing grieuously, then will I stretch out mine hand vpon it, and will breake the staffe of the bread thereof, and will send famine vpon it, and will cut off man and beast from it.
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Iob were in it, they should deliuer but their owne soules by their righteousnes, saith the Lord God.
15 ¶ If I cause noisome beastes to passe through the land, and they spoile it, so that it bee desolate, that no man may passe through because of the beasts:
16 Though these three men were in it, as I liue, saith the Lord God, they shall deliuer neither sonnes nor daughters: they onely shalbe deliuered, but the land shalbe desolate.
17 ¶ Or if I bring a sword vpon that land, and say, Sword, goe through the lande, so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men were in it, as I liue, saith the Lord God, they shall deliuer neither sonnes nor daughter, but they onely shall bee deliuered themselues.
19 ¶ Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and powre out my fury vpon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel and Iob were in it, as I liue, saith the Lord God, they shal deliuer neither son nor daughter: they shall but deliuer their owne soules by their righteousnes.
21 For thus saith the Lord God, How much more when I send my foure sore iudgements vpon Ierusalem; the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
22 ¶ Yet behold, therein shalbe left a remnant that shalbe brought foorth, both sonnes and daughters: behold, they shall come foorth vnto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shalbe comforted concerning the euill that I haue brought vpon Ierusalem, euen concerning all that I haue brought vpon it.
23 And they shall comfort you when yee see their wayes and their doings: and ye shal know that I haue not done without cause, all that I haue done in it, saith the Lord God.
Threatenings against hypocrites. (1-11) God's purpose to punish the guilty Jews, but a few should be saved. (12-23)1-11 No outward form or reformation can be acceptable to God, so long as any idol possesses the heart; yet how many prefer their own devices and their own righteousness, to the way of salvation! Men's corruptions are idols in their hearts, and are of their own setting up; God will let them take their course. Sin renders the sinner odious in the eyes of the pure and holy God; and in his own eyes also, whenever conscience is awakened. Let us seek to be cleansed from the guilt and pollution of sins, in that fountain which the Lord has opened.
12-23 National sins bring national judgments. Though sinners escape one judgment, another is waiting for them. When God's professing people rebel against him, they may justly expect all his judgments. The faith, obedience, and prayers of Noah prevailed to the saving of his house, but not of the old world. Job's sacrifice and prayer in behalf of his friends were accepted, and Daniel had prevailed for the saving his companions and the wise men of Babylon. But a people that had filled the measure of their sins, was not to expect to escape for the sake of any righteous men living among them; not even of the most eminent saints, who could be accepted in their own case only through the sufferings and righteousness of Christ. Yet even when God makes the greatest desolations by his judgments, he saves some to be monuments of his mercy. In firm belief that we shall approve the whole of God's dealings with ourselves, and with all mankind, let us silence all rebellious murmurs and objections.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.