Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryEzekiel 22

The Sins of Jerusalem and the Coming Judgment In this section, God gives Ezekiel a message to declare to Jerusalem. The city is accused of many serious sins and crimes. God tells Ezekiel to expose these wrongdoings and explain why judgment is coming. The people have become corrupt in many ways, breaking God’s laws and harming others. Because of this, God announces that punishment and disaster are certain unless there is true repentance.v. 1: The word of the Lord

v. 2: God asks Ezekiel, “Will you judge the city of blood?” He is to make the people know all the terrible things they have done. Jerusalem is guilty of killing innocent people, worshipping idols, and breaking God’s commands. Ezekiel must show them their sins clearly and warn them of the consequences.

v. 3: God says Jerusalem has brought judgment on herself by shedding blood and making idols. The city is filled with violence and false worship. Because of this, her time of punishment is near, and she has made herself unclean in God’s sight.

v. 4: Jerusalem’s sins have caused her shame and brought her to the point of destruction. She has made herself guilty by killing others and worshipping idols. The people have forgotten God, and now He will bring judgment upon them in front of other nations. They will become a warning and a mockery to others.

v. 5: The nations near and far will see Jerusalem’s disgrace. Her reputation as a city of violence and disorder will spread, and people will look down on her. Jerusalem, once honored, will become a byword for shame because of her sins.

v. 6–12: God lists the many sins of Jerusalem’s leaders and people. They use their power to harm others, show no respect for parents, oppress strangers, mistreat orphans and widows, and ignore God’s holy things. They break the Sabbath, slander, participate in violence, and engage in sexual immorality. Bribery, dishonest gain, and injustice are everywhere. The people have forgotten God and do whatever they please, breaking all His laws (Ezekiel 22:6-12 ).

v. 13–16: God says He will strike Jerusalem for her dishonest gains and bloodshed. The people trusted in their wealth and violence, but now God will scatter them among the nations. They will be humiliated and know that God is the Lord

The Sins of Jerusalem.In this passage, God compares the people of Israel to dross, the worthless waste material left over when refining precious metals. Once, Israel was like fine gold, but now they have become impure and corrupt. This imagery shows how far they have fallen from their former glory. God warns that they will face judgment, like metal being melted in a furnace, to separate the dross from anything valuable. This is a call to repentance and a reminder that God’s judgment is both just and purifying.v. 17: The word of the Lord

v. 18: God says that the house of Israel is like brass, tin, iron, and lead—all inferior metals compared to silver. These metals represent different kinds of sin: some are bold and shameless, others are hypocritical, cruel, or dull. Israel has lost its former value and purity .

v. 19: God declares that he will gather the people into Jerusalem, like metals being placed in a furnace. This gathering is not for their safety but for judgment. The city will become a place of refining, where God’s wrath will burn against their sins .

v. 20: God says he will blow on the fire of his wrath, making it burn fiercely. The people will be melted down like metal in a furnace. This symbolizes the destruction and suffering they will face because of their sins .

v. 21: God will gather the people and leave them in the furnace of his judgment. Unlike a refiner who carefully watches over precious metals, God will leave the dross to be consumed. This shows the seriousness of their sin and the finality of their punishment .

v. 22: The people will be melted in the fire, and they will know that it is the Lord

Charge against Prophets and Priests.In this section, God gives a strong warning to the land of Israel. The people have not changed for the better, even after many warnings and difficulties. Their hearts remain hard, and the leaders who should have guided them—prophets, priests, princes, and people—have all become corrupt. God points out that when everyone turns away from what is right, judgment must follow. Even worse, there is no one left to pray for the people or to stand up for what is right.v. 23: The word of the Lord

v. 24: God describes Israel as a land that has not been cleansed or refreshed. Even during times of God’s anger, they have not learned from his warnings or changed their ways. Instead, their sin has become even more obvious .

v. 25: The prophets are accused of working together to deceive and harm the people. Instead of telling the truth, they act like wild animals, destroying lives and taking what is valuable from others. They encourage evil instead of stopping it .

v. 26: The priests, who should teach God’s law, have broken it themselves. They do not respect what is holy, ignore the difference between clean and unclean, and do not care about God’s sabbaths. By their actions, they bring dishonor to God .

v. 27: The princes, or rulers, use their power like wolves. They are violent and greedy, hurting others to get what they want. They do not care about justice or the rights of the people .

v. 28: Again, the prophets are blamed for supporting evil rulers. They give false messages, claiming to speak for God when they do not. They use lies to make the people feel safe when they should be warning them .

v. 29: Even the common people have learned to oppress others, rob, and abuse the weak. They hurt the poor, the needy, and even strangers living among them. The whole society has become corrupt .

v. 30–31: God says He looked for someone to stand in the gap and intercede for Jerusalem, but found no one. Because there was no one to pray or turn the people back to God, He must pour out His anger and judge the city for its sins. The people will suffer the consequences of their own actions, and they will know that God is the Lord

v. 31: Because no one tried to stop the evil or pray for the nation, God’s anger will come in full. The people will receive the consequences of their actions. Their own way have I recompensed upon their heads (Ezekiel 22:31 ).