THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The elders of Israel approached me and took a seat before me. The Lord spoke to me, saying, Son of man, these individuals have allowed their detestable idols to invade their hearts and have placed the lure of their wickedness before their eyes. Should I respond to them when they seek my counsel? Therefore, you are to address them and say, This is what the Lord God declares: If a man from the house of Israel allows his abominations to infiltrate his heart and presents the allure of his wickedness before him, then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I, the Lord, will answer him based on the multitude of his abominations, so that the house of Israel may be ensnared by what is in his heart, which has led them away from Me to embrace their idols.
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Thus, tell the house of Israel, This is what the Lord God says: Turn away and forsake your idols, and remove your abominations from My sight. For if a man from the house of Israel, or a foreigner residing among them, turns away from Me and allows his idols into his heart, setting the temptation of his wickedness before him, then comes to the prophet to question Me through him; I, the Lord, will respond to him according to what is in his heart. I will turn My face against that man, making him a warning and a lesson, and I will cut him off from among My people, so that you will know that I am the Lord. If a prophet misleads and claims, The Lord has led me astray, I will extend My hand against that prophet and remove him from the midst of My people Israel. They will bear the consequences of their iniquity; the guilt of the inquirer will be the same as that of the prophet, so that the house of Israel will not stray from Me nor become defiled by their apostasy; but they shall be My people, and I will be their God, says the Lord of Hosts.
The text indicates that not all the elders came to the prophet to avoid the appearance of collective wrongdoing; only some approached him. They remained silent about their true intentions until the Lord revealed their purpose to the prophet. The human heart, even in its righteousness, cannot fully comprehend its own secrets. This is evident in the Savior Jesus, who perceived the thoughts of those around Him and questioned, Why do you entertain evil in your hearts?
To summarize, the Lord addresses the elders, indicating that they have allowed their own abominations and unrighteous thoughts to take root within them. If they approach the prophet with insincere hearts, seeking knowledge not for genuine understanding but rather for temptation, they do not deserve a truthful answer. Instead, they must confront their corrupt hearts and turn away from their past misdeeds while examining their inner thoughts with sincerity.
God's response to such inquires serves as a warning to turn away from misguided beliefs and thoughts, to seek His guidance genuinely. Those who approach with ulterior motives are not worthy of the truth; instead, they are to be caught in their own wrongdoings, reminiscent of the scribes and Pharisees who attempted to trap the Lord with their questions.
God's severity against the errant prophet serves as a reminder that an unfaithful people often prefer falsehood over truth. Thus, the Lord notes that He has allowed a spirit of deception to mislead those who choose to listen to false prophets instead of His true Messengers.
The dual nature of a man, whether of the house of Israel or a stranger among them, reflects an inward and outward identity, as noted by the Apostle. Many appear outwardly righteous but harbor the essence of beasts; and while some individuals are identified merely as serpents or foxes due to their wickedness, true men of God are expected to repent and be corrected.
Moreover, the passage emphasizes that if anyone departs from God, harboring unrighteous thoughts, they prepare their own punishment. This aligns with the reckoning in Isaiah, where one is warned to walk by the light of their own flames, signifying that they forge their paths and the consequences thereof when they reject the opportunity for repentance.