What does "defile yourselves" in Ezekiel 20:31 reveal about sin's nature? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 20 recounts God’s review of Israel’s history of rebellion. • Verse 31 addresses their present practices: “When you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day.” • “Defile yourselves” is God’s verdict on idolatrous worship that included child-sacrifice—an act Israel chose despite knowing His law. Key Word: “Defile” • Hebrew root ṭāmēʾ means to make unclean, pollute, or render unfit for worship (Leviticus 18:24). • It is reflexive (“yourselves”), stressing that the people deliberately inflicted impurity on their own souls. • Defilement in Scripture always jeopardizes fellowship with God and requires cleansing (Numbers 19:20). What “Defile Yourselves” Reveals About Sin’s Nature 1. Sin is self-contaminating – God charges, not “I defile you,” but “you defile yourselves.” – Sin is not merely external; it turns inward, staining heart and conscience (Mark 7:20-23). 2. Sin is willful rebellion, not ignorance – The participants knew God’s statutes yet chose contrary worship (Ezekiel 20:11-13). – Romans 1:24 parallels this: “Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity…” 3. Sin reshapes worship—toward idols and away from God – Idolatry substitutes the Creator with created images (Exodus 20:3-5). – Defilement therefore equals distorted worship; holiness is restored worship (John 4:24). 4. Sin degrades what is most precious – Child-sacrifice illustrates sin’s cruelty: destroying life given by God. – Isaiah 57:5 warns of being “inflamed by idols…sacrificing children in the ravines.” 5. Sin is repetitive and accumulative – “To this day” signals an ongoing pattern. – Habitual impurity hardens hearts, making repentance more difficult (Hebrews 3:13). 6. Sin erects a barrier between God and the sinner – God’s refusal: “I will not let you inquire of Me!” shows broken communion (Isaiah 59:2). – Defilement blocks prayer and guidance until cleansing occurs (Psalm 66:18). 7. Sin invites righteous judgment – The self-polluted become subject to God’s holy wrath (Ezekiel 20:33-38). – Galatians 6:7: “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Implications for Believers Today • Examine personal idols—anything treasured above God can defile (1 John 5:21). • Recognize defilement’s self-inflicted nature; excuses dissolve before God’s word. • Seek cleansing through Christ’s blood, the only provision for true purity (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:14). • Guard worship practices; holiness is maintained as we offer ourselves “as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1-2). • Remember that unconfessed, habitual sin silences God’s guidance, but repentance restores fellowship (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). Conclusion “Defile yourselves” exposes sin as a deliberate, self-polluting act that corrupts worship, damages others, and severs communion with a holy God. Only God’s provided cleansing reverses that condition, enabling restored fellowship and pure worship. |
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