◄ Ezekiel 18:12 ►
He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.
Study Bible
He oppresses the poor and needy;

This phrase highlights a violation of the Mosaic Law, which emphasized justice and care for the marginalized (Exodus 22:21-27, Deuteronomy 15:7-11). Oppression of the poor was a common sin condemned by the prophets (Isaiah 3:14-15, Amos 4:1). In ancient Israel, the poor and needy were often landless, relying on the community's generosity. This behavior reflects a heart hardened against God's commands for compassion and justice.

Pro 22:22-23 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor,…
Pro 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker,…
Isa 10:1-2 Woe to those who enact unjust statutes…

he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge.

Robbery and failure to restore a pledge are direct violations of the commandments (Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:13). In biblical times, pledges were often items given as security for a loan (Deuteronomy 24:10-13). Not restoring a pledge, especially when it was a necessity for the debtor, was seen as a grave injustice. This behavior indicates a lack of integrity and disregard for the well-being of others, contrary to the righteous living God desires.

Exo 22:25-27 If you lend money to one of My people among you…
Deu 24:10-13 When you lend anything to your neighbor,…
Lev 6:1-5 And the LORD said to Moses,…

He lifts his eyes to idols;

Idolatry was a persistent issue in Israel's history, often leading to spiritual adultery against God (Exodus 20:3-5, 1 Kings 11:4-8). Lifting one's eyes to idols signifies a deliberate act of worship and allegiance to false gods. This was not only a personal sin but also a communal one, as it could lead others astray. The prophets frequently warned against idolatry, emphasizing God's exclusive claim to worship (Isaiah 42:8, Jeremiah 10:10-11).

Ezk 6:9 Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive…
Ezk 20:7 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away…
Lev 19:4 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods.…

he commits abominations.

The term "abominations" often refers to practices detestable to God, including idolatry, sexual immorality, and unjust practices (Leviticus 18:22-30, Deuteronomy 18:9-12). These acts were not only violations of God's law but also culturally associated with the pagan nations surrounding Israel. Such behavior was seen as a rejection of God's holiness and covenant, leading to judgment and exile (Ezekiel 5:11, 2 Kings 17:7-18).

Lev 18:24-30 Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices,…
Ezk 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD,…
Deu 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in this way,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel conveyed God's messages to the Israelites, emphasizing personal responsibility and repentance.

2. Israelites
The audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who were in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry.

3. Babylonian Exile
The period when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.

4. Idolatry
A recurring sin among the Israelites, involving the worship of idols, which Ezekiel frequently condemned.

5. Social Injustice
The oppression of the poor and needy, a significant issue addressed by Ezekiel, highlighting the moral decay of the society.
Teaching Points
Personal Responsibility
Each individual is accountable for their actions. Ezekiel emphasizes that one cannot blame their circumstances or ancestors for their sins.

Social Justice
God calls His people to care for the poor and needy. Oppression and robbery are direct violations of His commands.

Idolatry and Abominations
Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must examine our hearts for modern-day idols.

Restoration and Repentance
Failing to restore a pledge symbolizes a lack of integrity. True repentance involves making amends and restoring what is owed.

Holiness and Obedience
God desires holiness and obedience from His people. Abominations are actions that are detestable to God and must be avoided.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Ezekiel 18:12 challenge us to take personal responsibility for our actions today?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we are not oppressing the poor and needy in our communities?

3. What are some modern-day idols that might distract us from our relationship with God, and how can we address them?

4. How can we practice restoration and repentance in our daily lives, especially in our relationships with others?

5. How do the teachings in Ezekiel 18:12 align with the call for justice and mercy found in Micah 6:8, and how can we apply this to our lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 24:12-13
Discusses the importance of restoring a pledge, connecting to the failure mentioned in Ezekiel 18:12.

Isaiah 1:17
Calls for justice and defending the oppressed, contrasting with the actions described in Ezekiel 18:12.

Jeremiah 7:9-10
Lists similar sins, including idolatry and oppression, showing a pattern of disobedience among the Israelites.

Micah 6:8
Emphasizes doing justice and loving mercy, which stands in opposition to the behaviors condemned in Ezekiel 18:12.
Sermons
The Moral AlternativeJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 18:5-18
God's Remonstrance with Man's ReasonJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 18:5-24
Personal Character Sad DestinyW. Jones Ezekiel 18:10-20
People
Ezekiel
Places
Babylon
Topics
Abomination, Afflicted, Commits, Committed, Debt, Detestable, Disgusting, Exercised, Force, Idols, Images, Lifted, Lifts, Looks, Needy, Oppressed, Oppresses, Pledge, Plunder, Poor, Property, Restore, Restored, Return, Robbery, Spoiled, Stripped, Violence, Violently, Worship, Wrong, Wronged
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 18:1-20

     6160   fathers, sin of

Ezekiel 18:1-32

     6026   sin, judgment on
     6206   offence

Ezekiel 18:10-13

     5448   poverty, attitudes to

Ezekiel 18:12-13

     5274   credit
     5289   debt
     5389   lending
     5449   poverty, remedies
     5503   rich, the

Library
Sins of Parents visited
Eversley. 19th Sunday after Trinity, 1868. Ezekiel xviii. 1-4. "The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

God's Curse on Sin.
"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin."--EZEKIEL xviii. 30. These words of Ezekiel may be understood as expressing in the prophet's language what the Book of Deuteronomy expresses in such denunciations as those which were read to us the other day in the Commination Service. They correspond also to the warning of St. Paul when he says--"Be not …
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

Divine Impartiality Considered.
"For there is no respect of persons with God." The divine impartiality is often asserted in the holy scriptures; and the assertion coincides with our natural ideas of deity. The pagans indeed attributed to their Gods, the vices, follies and weaknesses of men! But the beings whom they adored were mostly taken from among men, and might be considered as retaining human imperfections,--Had unbiased reason been consulted to find out a supreme being, a different object would have been exhibited to view. …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

True Repentance
EZEKIEL xviii. 27. When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. We hear a great deal about repentance, and how necessary it is for a man to repent of his sins; for unless a man repent, he cannot be forgiven. But do we all of us really know what repentance means? I sometimes fear not. I sometimes fear, that though this text stands at the opening of the Church service, and though people hear it …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Of the Examination of Conscience, and Purpose of Amendment
The Voice of the Beloved Above all things the priest of God must draw nigh, with all humility of heart and supplicating reverence, with full faith and pious desire for the honour of God, to celebrate, minister, and receive this Sacrament. Diligently examine thy conscience and with all thy might with true contrition and humble confession cleanse and purify it, so that thou mayest feel no burden, nor know anything which bringeth thee remorse and impedeth thy free approach. Have displeasure against …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Theology of Grace.
The theology which Augustin opposed, in his anti-Pelagian writings, to the errors of Pelagianism, is, shortly, the theology of grace. Its roots were planted deeply in his own experience, and in the teachings of Scripture, especially of that apostle whom he delights to call "the great preacher of grace," and to follow whom, in his measure, was his greatest desire. The grace of God in Jesus Christ, conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit and evidenced by the love that He sheds abroad in our hearts, is the …
St. Augustine—Anti-Pelagian Writings

The Abbots Euroul and Loumon.
To the examples already given in the previous biographies, of the power which religion exercised over the rough and savage mind, we may add the following. The abbot Ebrolf (Euroul) had settled with his monks in a thick forest, infested by wild beasts and robbers. One of the robbers came to them, and, struck with reverence at their aspect, said to them: "Ye have chosen no fit dwelling for you here. The inhabitants of this forest live by plunder, and will not tolerate any one amongst them who maintains …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

A Startling Statement
TEXT: "The wicked shall not be unpunished."--Prov. 11:21. There are very many passages of Scripture which ought to be read in connection with this text; as for example, "Fools make a mock at sin" (Proverbs 14:9), for only a fool would. Better trifle with the pestilence and expose one's self to the plague than to discount the blighting effects of sin. And, again, "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). From this clear statement of the word of God there is no escape. Or, again, "Our …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

General Character of Christians.
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh, with the Affections and Lusts." St. Paul is supposed to have been the first herald of gospel grace to the Galatians; and they appear to have rejoiced at the glad tidings, and to have received the bearer with much respect. But after his departure, certain judaizing teachers went among them, and labored but too successfully, to alienate their affections from him, and turn them form the simplicity of the gospel. The malice and errors of those deceitful …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

The Same Necessary and Eternal Different Relations
that different things bear one to another, and the same consequent fitness or unfitness of the application of different things or different relations one to another, with regard to which the will of God always and necessarily does determine itself, to choose to act only what is agreeable to justice, equity, goodness, and truth, in order to the welfare of the whole universe, ought likewise constantly to determine the wills of all subordinate rational beings, to govern all their actions by the same …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Some Man Will Say, "So Then any Thief Whatever is to be Accounted Equal...
19. Some man will say, "So then any thief whatever is to be accounted equal with that thief who steals with will of mercy?" Who would say this? But of these two it does not follow that any is good, because one is worse. He is worse who steals through coveting, than he who steals through pity: but if all theft be sin, from all theft we must abstain. For who can say that people may sin, even though one sin be damnable, another venial? but now we are asking, if a man shall do this or that, who will …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

"He is the Rock, his Work is Perfect, for all his Ways are Judgment, a God of Truth, and Without Iniquity, Just and Right is He.
Deut. xxxii. 4, 5.--"He is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are judgment, a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children," &c. There are none can behold their own vileness as it is, but in the sight of God's glorious holiness. Sin is darkness, and neither sees itself, nor any thing else, therefore must his light shine to discover this darkness. If we abide within ourselves, and men like ourselves, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus, My Rock.
When the storm and the tempest are raging around me, Oh! where shall I flee to be safe from their shock? There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! When my heart is all sorrow, and trials aggrieve me, To whom can I safely my secrets unlock? No bosom (save one) has the power to relieve me, The bosom which bled for me, JESUS MY ROCK! When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will …
John Ross Macduff—The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus

And for Your Fearlessness against them Hold this Sure Sign -- Whenever There Is...
43. And for your fearlessness against them hold this sure sign--whenever there is any apparition, be not prostrate with fear, but whatsoever it be, first boldly ask, Who art thou? And from whence comest thou? And if it should be a vision of holy ones they will assure you, and change your fear into joy. But if the vision should be from the devil, immediately it becomes feeble, beholding your firm purpose of mind. For merely to ask, Who art thou [1083] ? and whence comest thou? is a proof of coolness. …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy.
It is found by continual experience, that near the time of death, when the children of God are weakest, then Satan makes the greatest nourish of his strength, and assails them with his strongest temptations. For he knows that either he must now or never prevail; for if their souls once go to heaven, he shall never vex nor trouble them any more. And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can, and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the judgments …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall.
Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall. [182] All Adam's posterity, or mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, as to the first Adam, or earthly man, is fallen, degenerated, and dead; deprived of the sensation or feeling of this inward testimony or seed of God; and is subject unto the power, nature, and seed of the serpent, which he soweth in men's hearts, while they abide in this natural and corrupted estate; from whence it comes, that not only their words and deeds, but all their imaginations, are …
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags,"
Isaiah lxiv 6, 7.--"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," &c. This people's condition agreeth well with ours, though the Lord's dealing be very different. The confessory part of this prayer belongeth to us now; and strange it is, that there is such odds of the Lord's dispensations, when there is no difference in our conditions; always we know not how soon the complaint may be ours also. This prayer was prayed long before the judgment and captivity came …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Repentance and Restitution.
"God commandeth all men everywhere to repent."--Acts xvii. 30. Repentance is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Yet I believe it is one of those truths that many people little understand at the present day. There are more people to-day in the mist and darkness about Repentance, Regeneration, the Atonement, and such-like fundamental truths, than perhaps on any other doctrines. Yet from our earliest years we have heard about them. If I were to ask for a definition of Repentance, a great …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Perseverance Proved.
2. I REMARK, that God is able to preserve and keep the true saints from apostacy, in consistency with their liberty: 2 Tim. i. 12: "For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Here the apostle expresses the fullest confidence in the ability of Christ to keep him: and indeed, as has been said, it is most manifest that the apostles expected …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Sanctification.
I. I will remind you of some points that have been settled in this course of study. 1. The true intent and meaning of the law of God has been, as I trust, ascertained in the lectures on moral government. Let this point if need be, be examined by reference to those lectures. 2. We have also seen, in those lectures, what is not, and what is implied in entire obedience to the moral law. 3. In those lectures, and also in the lectures on justification and repentance, it has been shown that nothing is …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Letter ii (A. D. 1126) to the Monk Adam
To the Monk Adam [3] 1. If you remain yet in that spirit of charity which I either knew or believed to be with you formerly, you would certainly feel the condemnation with which charity must regard the scandal which you have given to the weak. For charity would not offend charity, nor scorn when it feels itself offended. For it cannot deny itself, nor be divided against itself. Its function is rather to draw together things divided; and it is far from dividing those that are joined. Now, if that …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

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