Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
Ezekiel 22:5 belongs to the correction, denunciation, warning, and reproof given to the sinners among his own people among the captives of Israel before the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was of a priestly family and prophesied between 595 and 574, beginning and ending his work a little later than Jeremiah. Before his work began God gave him visions of divine glory and majesty so that he would not fear human opposition when sent to those sinners. The verse declares that Jerusalem in its infamy, disgrace, and turmoil would be mocked by people both near and far.
That shame and mockery followed the transgressions that led to dispersion, for idolatry and Sabbath desecration brought the people into trouble and exile. The condemnation of Jerusalem in the passage includes Sabbath breaking, and that Sabbath breaking is an ethical and moral failure rather than a merely ceremonial one. The verse teaches the principle that sin must be forgiven or it will be consumed.
The chapter describes the professed people of God in the last days, concerning the same time and people addressed in Isaiah 30:8-11 and Jeremiah 6:9-19. The verse belongs to passages describing false assurances of peace in a time of danger, when ministers only slightly heal the breach by proclaiming peace and safety. Applied to the last days, the verse means that professed Christians violate divine precepts and law even in thought and motive, while refusing to heed and delight in the word of God or walk in the old paths of the commandments, so evil and sudden destruction will come upon them as the fruit of their own thoughts.
Ezekiel 22:5 belongs to the correction, denunciation, warning, and reproof given to the sinners among his own people among the captives of Israel before the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was of a priestly family and prophesied between 595 and 574, beginning and ending his work a little later than Jeremiah. Before his work began God gave him visions of divine glory and majesty so that he would not fear human opposition when sent to those sinners. The verse declares that Jerusalem in its infamy, disgrace, and turmoil would be mocked by people both near and far.
That shame and mockery followed the transgressions that led to dispersion, for idolatry and Sabbath desecration brought the people into trouble and exile. The condemnation of Jerusalem in the passage includes Sabbath breaking, and that Sabbath breaking is an ethical and moral failure rather than a merely ceremonial one. The verse teaches the principle that sin must be forgiven or it will be consumed.
The chapter describes the professed people of God in the last days, concerning the same time and people addressed in Isaiah 30:8-11 and Jeremiah 6:9-19. The verse belongs to passages describing false assurances of peace in a time of danger, when ministers only slightly heal the breach by proclaiming peace and safety. Applied to the last days, the verse means that professed Christians violate divine precepts and law even in thought and motive, while refusing to heed and delight in the word of God or walk in the old paths of the commandments, so evil and sudden destruction will come upon them as the fruit of their own thoughts.