Ezekiel 16:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In a sense of bewilderment, God expresses to Jerusalem that He cannot discover a means to heal the ailing and lifeless, much like Isaiah questioned, What shall I do for My vineyard that I have not already done? And Hosea also asks, What shall I do to you, Ephraim? What shall I do to you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew that evaporates early. Your acts of immorality were not concealed; you were open, erecting altars at every corner and building your foundations throughout the city. Unlike the clever harlots, who, when faced with obstacles, demand even more from their lovers, you have not followed suit. The Seventy translates this to mean you did not act as a harlot who took payments, but instead gave without receiving. Consequently, for your acts of infidelity and pursuit of false gods, you will not find protection but shall instead experience various oppressions and calamities.

This applies also to any Christian soul who, having departed from serving God, embraces vices and worldly desires, finding no success in either earthly pursuits or the riches of faith. In your spiritual immorality, there was no restraint; rather, you willingly surrendered to your desires. Furthermore, there exists a spiritual adultery, when we, having forsaken the Church, ally ourselves with heretics, constructing our own path of deceit. Scripture instructs us: Stand in the ways and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it (Jeremiah 6:16), referencing the teachings of Moses, Jesus, the judges and kings, as well as the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. The one who builds his place of immorality at the beginning of every path does so for the sake of twisted teachings, distorting Scripture and claiming, thus says Isaiah, thus says Hosea, thus says Moses, thus says Daniel. It is significant that it is at the beginnings of the paths, not in their midst or at their ends, that such corrupt practices are established, for once one attains a deeper understanding of the divine scriptures, it becomes increasingly difficult to stray.

This individual also sets her elevated places in every public square, engaging in the promiscuity and vices typical of the heathens, ultimately finding herself with no favor, even among heretics, after being sullied by their disdain, and bearing the scorn for having quickly forfeited the purity of her faith. The statement regarding a threefold fornication with your daughters may literally apply to Jerusalem, as all manner of idolatry flourished within her cities, or it may refer to the believing and misled members of the Church who disregarded the apostle's exhortation: May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). These individuals committed all forms of spiritual adultery in body, soul, and spirit.

In Proverbs we read, Write these things three times, so you may respond with the words of truth offered to you. We are instructed to understand the Holy Scriptures in three distinct manners: first, literally; second, in an allegorical sense; and third, in a spiritual and mystical way. The literal interpretation serves as a warning against murmuring, as seen in the instance where twenty-three thousand fell in a single day (1 Corinthians 10:8), and similarly, where some perished under the destroyer (1 Corinthians 10:10). The middle, allegorical meaning involves reflecting on the text beyond the surface, gradually arriving at a higher understanding, as articulated by the Apostle: You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain. Is God concerned for oxen? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes (1 Corinthians 9:9-10)? The last, most elevated understanding is captured as: A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. This is a great mystery, but I speak regarding Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The daughters of this spiritual whoredom represent the souls who once believed but fell prey to heretical teachings, with their transgressions reflecting back upon their mother.