The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 361

sins. Thus God's goodness in life generally, and in the gospel of Christ, should lead men to see the evil of their ways and to repent of it. I. Goo's GOODNESS PRECEDES MAN'S REPENTANOE. The full enjoyment of that goodness _is not possible for those who are still _living in si_n. The prodigal son cannot enJoy the fatted calf before he comes to himself, or anses and returns to his father. But long before any movement is made on the side of the sinner to return, God is preparing the way for him. The shepherd seeks the wandering sheep. The woman sweeps for the lost piece of silver. Even in Eden, on the discovery of the Fall, God promised a gospel and victory (Gen. iii. 15). 'l'he pity of God for Israel in Egypt was made known to Moses in the bush before the people made any effort to effect their own escape. Obrist came into a world that was even unwilling to receive him, yet he came for the world's salvation. 'l'he gospel is now only too often offered to unwilling hearers. God now waits to be gracious. II. THE REVELATION OF GoD's GOODNESS SHOWS THE NEOEBSITY OF REPEIITANOE. 1. It should reveal wr sin. (1) By contrast. God is good to us, while we behave ill to him. Surely we should see how sad it is to live in rebellion against a gracious God. Thus the dreadful guilt of ingratitude is added to other sins. (2) By the manner of the revelation. It is a revelation in holiness. God's glory was seen in the temple. It is a revelation in atonement for sin : the temple was for sacrifices ; Christ died on the cross as a sacrifice for the world's sin. Thus the very proclamation of the gospel involves a declaration of man's sinfulness. 2. It should incline us to retwrn. If God had turned against us we might feel no inclination to go back to him. But his graciousness should serve as a great attraction. Surely it is bad indeed to hold out against such forgiving mercy as that of our Father and of our Saviour Jesus Christ. III. GoD's GOODNESS ASSISTS us IN REPE:NTANOE. 1. It opens the door for 0'1111' return. There is no longer any excnse for delay. Despair need not paralyze our retnrning footsteps. The preparation is an invitation; the invitation should be au inspiration. 2. It 'ITWves our hearts to return. We may only be hardened by denun- ciations of wrath and doom. But love should melt the heart of ice. God's love is shed abroad in the hearts of his people. It comes as a glow of reviving energy to the soul that is unable to save itself because it is just "dead in trtspasses and sin." All is now ready. The romple built, the sacrifice offered, the welcome waiting. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. xxii. 17). Vers. 18-22.-77.e sin offering. When Ezekiel, a prophet, describes the ceremonial of a sin offering with some minuteness, it is reasonable to suppose that he intends the details to be suggestive of spiritual facts. 1 THERE MUST DE AN OFFERING FOR BIN. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins." The practical universality of sin offerings among various races has made it appear that the sacrifice arose from an instinct of conscience. We feel that we need a propitiation for our sins. Now, Christ has come to satisfy that need, and hie one death on the cross is the great atonement for the world's sin. How the Sacrifice is efficacious may be a matter of consideration, and may give rise to divergent views. The important point lies in the fact that Christ is a Sacrifice for sin (Heb. x. 12). 11 THIS OFFERING MUST BE UNBLEMISHED. God cannot take what is not pure and perfect. Even in our daily work we should give our best to God. But in making an offering for sin, no man can come before God without blemishes being seen on all he is and all he does. Christ is the one perfect Sacrifice for sin, the Lamb without spot. No one ever convicted him of evil-doing. He is the well-beloved Son of God. III. A PRIEST MUST PRESENT TIIE OFFERING. It must be given by one who has a right of close access to God. With our sin we shrink back from God and dare not enter his holy presence. Therefore, though in rite and symbol priests may be found to present sacrifices, as a fact, since all men are alienated from God, no men can truly serve as priests. But Christ, who became a Man, and so our Representative, and was like us in all other points, was unlike us in his sinlessness, He never lost his near com_munion with God. He is our one High Priest, and he does not need to offer 1acnfices first for himself, a~ was the case with the Aaronic priesthood. tllt. :ll:tJtr. 1-21.] TBE BOO:ft 01.l' '11ill!l PROPHET EZEKmt. 875