How does Ezekiel 16:51 connect with Romans 3:23 about universal sinfulness? Key Verses Ezekiel 16:51 — “Samaria has not committed even half your sins. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs and have justified your sisters by all the abominations you have committed.” Romans 3:23 — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Setting the Scene in Ezekiel 16 • The chapter is a prophetic parable picturing Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife who has spurned the covenant love of the LORD. • By comparing Jerusalem to Samaria (capital of the northern kingdom) and Sodom (the infamous city of Genesis 19), God underscores how deeply Judah has plunged into idolatry and moral corruption. • Verse 51 climaxes the indictment: Jerusalem’s sins exceed those of cities already synonymous with wickedness. How Ezekiel 16:51 Mirrors Romans 3:23 • Every group stands guilty. – Sodom, Samaria, Jerusalem—three distinct peoples, yet all bear guilt. – Romans 3:23 universalizes that verdict: “all have sinned.” • Greater sin does not erase lesser sin. – Jerusalem’s extreme evil makes her “sisters” look righteous by comparison, yet Samaria and Sodom still sinned. – Likewise, Romans stresses that no human—even the most outwardly moral—meets God’s glory-standard. • God’s standard is absolute righteousness. – In Ezekiel, the benchmark is covenant faithfulness; missing it, even by “half,” condemns. – Romans presents the same absolute measure: God’s own glory. Anything less is sin. • Comparison is futile. – Jerusalem tried to hide behind “I’m not as bad as Sodom”—but the LORD rejects relative righteousness. – Paul replaces all human comparisons with a single verdict: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10–12; cf. Psalm 14:2-3). Supporting Passages • 1 Kings 8:46 — “For there is no one who does not sin.” • Isaiah 53:6 — “We all like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way.” • James 2:10 — “Whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” What These Verses Teach About Sin • Sin is both corporate and personal: nations, cities, and individuals stand accountable. • God’s judgment is not arbitrary; it measures us against His flawless holiness. • Even covenant privilege (Jerusalem) or moral reputation (Samaria’s religious heritage) cannot shield from that verdict. Grace Shines Against This Dark Backdrop • Romans continues: “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). • Ezekiel, too, ends with hope: God promises to atone for Jerusalem’s sin and establish an everlasting covenant (Ezekiel 16:60-63). • The universal problem of sin in both passages magnifies the universal offer of salvation: whoever believes in the Lord Jesus will be saved (Acts 16:31; John 3:16). |
    |