14 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying , 15 "Son of man , your brothers , your relatives , your fellow exiles and the whole house of Israel , all of them, are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said , 'Go far from the Lord ; this land has been given us as a possession .' 16 "Therefore say , 'Thus says the Lord GOD , "Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries , yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where e they had gone ."' 17 "Therefore say , 'Thus says the Lord GOD , "I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered , and I will give you the land of Israel ."' 18 "When they come there , they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19 "And I will give them one heart , and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh , 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people , and I shall be their God . 21 "But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations , I will bring their conduct down on their heads ," declares the Lord GOD .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 11:14-21
Commentary on Ezekiel 11:14-21
(Read Ezekiel 11:14-21)
The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a new spirit. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The carnal heart, like a stone, cannot be made to feel. Men live among the dead and dying, and are neither concerned nor humbled. He will make their hearts tender and fit to receive impressions: this is God's work, it is his gift by promise; and a wonderful and happy change is wrought by it, from death to life. Their practices shall be agreeable to those principles. These two must and will go together. When the sinner feels his need of these blessings, let him present the promises as prayers in the name of Christ, they will be performed.