The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 301

Sodom possessed not. The people of Judah had greater privileges than Samaria also, in having the temple of God in their midst, and in having kings of the line of Duvid to reign over them, some of whom were eminent for their piety. Because of their grievous sins, notmthstanding their superior privileges, they are accounted more guilty than the people of Sodom and Samaria (vers. 46-48). The sins of Sodom are specified by the prophet. "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread," etc. (vers. 49, 50). Her grossest, foulest sin is not mentioned here. Before it was destroyed, Sodom bad become a moral plague-spot upon the face of God's fair earth, And the sins of Samaria, or of the ten tribes, were many and dark. Yet the highly favoured people of Judah were accounted guiltier than either Sodom or Samaria, because they h&.d committed their sins despite the greatest advantages and privileges. Their wickedness bad become proverbial. It was common to say of them," As is the mother, so is her daughter," etc. (vers. 44, 45; a.nd cf. ver. 3), The principle with which we are dealing was clearly and explicitly stated by our Lord (Matt. xi. 20-24; Luke xii. 47, 4S). Viewed in this light, how heinous are the sins of Great Britain I 'l'his land bas been most richly blessed by God with civil and religious freedom, with a splendid literature, a. noble ancestry, an open Bible, a weekly day of rest and religious service, abundant provision for public worship, and countless Christian ministries. And if these great advantages be not truly prized and improved, a darker, deeper guilt will be ours than that of less favoured peoples. II. THE MORE HEINOUS SINS OF A MORE FAVOURED PEOPLE JUSTIFY THE BINS OF PERSONS OF INFERIOR PRIVILEGES. "Thou hast justified thy sisters in all thine abomi- nations which thou hast done" (ver. 51). "The justification is a comparative one: in relation to thee, Sodom and Samaria must appear as righteous." Great sins appear small when compared with greater ones. Thus professedly religious people, when they give way to sin, cause those who make no profession of religion to think less gravely, or even lightly, of sin. When religious people have a low standard of practical life and conduct, they thereby lower the standard of those who are about them. Sin in those who occupy the place of the people of God seems to excuse sin in those who occupy a lower position, and in this way affords encouragement to wickedness. Let those "who profess and call themselves Christians" take heed that they so live as not in any way or degree to justify or countenance sin in others. ffi THE GREATEST SINNERS ARE SOMETIMES MOST BEADY TO JUDGE OTHER SINNERS. " Thou also hast judged thy sisters" (ver. 52). "Judah had concurred from the heart in the Divine jndgment on Sodom and Samaria, and exalted herself above them on this account, as the Pharisee in the Gospel" They had spoken harshly of their fellow- countrymen who were in exile, and with self-righteous assertion of t-heir own privileges (eh. x:i. 15). Yet in some respects, as we have seen, they were the greatest sinners. And still it is not the holy, but the wicked, who are most ready to condemn sin in others, and to judge others with rigorous severity. But mark the teaching of our Lord on this matter (Matt. vii 1-5; John viii 2-11). IV. THE GREATEST SINNERS WILL MEET WITH THE SEVEREST PUNISHMENT. "Thou also, which hast jndged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they," etc. (ver. 52). Punishment is proportionate with guilt. Terrible were the judi!'.ments of God upon Jerusalem (cf. eh. v. 9-12; Lam. iv. 4-11). Jeremiah cries, "The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater thari the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her." "Sodom's punishment was sharp but short; Jerusalem's was sharp and long." "We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth." "'l'he righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds." CoNcLuSioN. Even the greatest sinners ma.y obtain free and full forgiveness through the infinite mercy of God. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," etc. (Isa. Iv. 6, 7).-W. J. Yera. 60-63.-.A picture of renewed favour. "Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee iu the days of thy youth," etc. There is perhaps II reference here to the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon to their own land. But it Stems l.,eyond doubt that the prophet points to the gospel covenant and its spiritual on. xvr, 1-63.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL.