Ezekiel 33:27
Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
Ezekiel 33:27 pronounces ruin and condemnation upon those who take up the work of preaching without prayerful searching of the Scriptures and who preach error and false doctrine contrary to a plain Thus saith the Lord. The condemnation falls in proportion to the influence their words and example have exerted in leading men and women into transgression and in hindering obedience to what God has commanded to be done. Every person must give strict account for personal influence, and ministers bear the responsibility to help the church obey the Word of the Lord. The blood of souls who perish through such unfaithfulness rests upon the heads of those who profess to be on the Lord's side while doing the enemy's work of hindering others from receiving the Word.
Under God's government each person is personally responsible, and no one can obey in another's place. Those who allow themselves to be deceived are not excused for neglecting to search the Word for themselves and for committing their souls to an undiligent minister. Nor is anyone excused for neglecting duty because another also neglects it. A minister cannot pay the ransom for deceived souls, for Christ gave His own life to save them and to grant them another trial to return to loyalty, while those who take Satan's side to justify sin must themselves bear the penalty of sin.