Ezekiel 13:22

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

Ezekiel 13:22 (KJV)

Context

The book of Ezekiel contains the prophecies of the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel during their exile. In this chapter, Ezekiel confronts the false prophets who were deceiving the people with lies and false prophecies.

Meaning

Ezekiel condemns the false prophets for their deceptive practices. Through lies, they made the heart of the righteous sad, even though God had not made them sad. At the same time, they strengthened the hands of the wicked by promising them life, so that the wicked would not turn from their sinful ways.

The righteous are those whom God has not made sad, indicating that their sorrow was unjustly caused by human lies rather than divine discipline. The wicked, however, were emboldened in their sin because they received false assurances of security and prosperity, which prevented them from seeking repentance.

God expresses His displeasure with the false prophets for these actions. He did not make the hearts of the righteous sad, nor did He intend for the wicked to be encouraged in their wickedness. The false prophets were going against God’s will and leading people astray.

Biblical connections

This verse reveals God’s concern for the hearts of the righteous and His desire for the wicked to turn from their ways. The false hope offered by the prophets stood in direct opposition to God’s purposes of repentance and restoration.

Application

This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of discernment and the dangers of false teachings. It warns against those who use lies and false promises to manipulate and deceive others. It also emphasises the responsibility of leaders, teachers, and prophets to speak the truth and lead people in the ways of righteousness.

• Words have power to either build up or tear down; true prophetic ministry aligns with God’s truth and His purposes of repentance and restoration.

Reflection

God desires that the wicked would return from their wicked way and that the righteous would not be unnecessarily grieved. This passage calls for faithfulness in speech, warning against both discouraging the righteous and encouraging the wicked in their sin.