Well, how did you go? Have you got it worked out? Did the commentaries help or confuse you? Did you read all of the sense unit surrounding Ezekiel 20:47? If so, you would have found all you needed to understand Luke 23:31.
Say to the southern forest: ‘Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it. Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.’
Ezekiell 20:47
It seems the Lord’s Word confused people in Ezekiel’s day because he says, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?’ ”
Ezekiel 20:49
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel and say to her: ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its scabbard and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. Then all people will know that I the LORD have drawn my sword from its scabbard; it will not return again.’
Ezekiel 21:1-5
So the Word of Lord came again, only clearer the second time so they couldn’t miss it. The “Southern forest” is changed to “Jerusalem”. “Green and dry” has been changed to “righteous and wicked” . Ah it is clear now from a Bible perspective. Make sure you use all the Bible to interpret the Bible. And don’t stop before the sense unit ends. Don’t be put off by chapter boundaries. If you stop at chapter boundaries you will not understand the whole Word of God.
Next Gem we will start John 11. You know what to do now.
There are three ways to get something done:
- 1. Do it yourself.
- 2. Hire someone to do it for you.
- 3. Forbid your kids to do it.
Jesus won’t turn water to wine in your life, until you run out of your own. He doesn’t do miracles for the self-sufficient.
Ian Vail