How does Ezekiel 22:26 highlight the importance of distinguishing between holy and common? Setting the Scene • Jerusalem is under divine scrutiny in Ezekiel 22. God lists the city’s sins, zooming in on the priests—the very people meant to guard holiness. • Ezekiel 22:26: “Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common; they do not explain the difference between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” What the Priests Failed to Do • Ignored the Law—“do violence to My law.” They mishandled God’s Word, twisting or neglecting it. • Blurred categories—“no distinction between the holy and the common.” Everything was treated as ordinary, flattening God-ordained boundaries. • Withheld teaching—“do not explain the difference.” Knowledge that should have guarded the people was kept from them. • Trampled Sabbaths—signposts of covenant loyalty were skipped, signaling deeper spiritual decay. God’s Original Design • Leviticus 10:10-11: priests were to “distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and teach the Israelites all the statutes.” • Holiness isn’t optional; it flows from God’s own character (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). • Distinctions protected the people, preserved worship, and displayed God’s glory to surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). Why the Distinction Still Matters • God remains holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). His nature hasn’t changed. • The New Covenant calls believers “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). We now bear the same responsibility to honor what God calls holy. • Spiritual boundaries safeguard fellowship with God (2 Corinthians 6:17; Hebrews 12:14). • Blurring lines leads to compromise, confusion, and ultimately profaning God’s name—just as in Ezekiel’s day. Practical Takeaways • Treat Scripture as authoritative—study it, handle it with reverence, refuse to dilute its teachings. • Keep worship distinct—guard Sunday gatherings, the Lord’s Table, and personal devotions from casual irreverence. • Honor rhythms of rest—observe a Sabbath principle, demonstrating trust in God’s provision. • Discern cultural influences—filter entertainment, relationships, and habits through God’s Word, distinguishing clean from unclean. • Teach the next generation—pass on clear, biblical standards so they too can recognize and cherish holiness. |
    |