Ezekiel 2:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He refers to them not as the people of the God of Israel but as nations in rebellion, having turned away from the Lord, including both ancestors and descendants, so that they are not exonerated from the guilt of their forebears. Rather, the wrongdoing of both generations remains on equal footing. In the translation by the Seventy, the term for “annoying Me” or “turning to bitterness” indicates that what is inherently good and pleasing from God is transformed into bitterness due to our transgressions. Just as it is proclaimed to the faithful, “Taste and see how sweet the Lord is” (Psalm 33:9), those who sin find Him to be bitter. This is why the apostle also articulates both the kindness and severity of God towards the righteous and the unrighteous. Concerning those who stray, it is written, “The Lord raiseth up the erring; the Lord loveth the righteous” (Psalm 145:8), and “The Lord delivereth them that are in bonds.” The faithful who persevere are promised great rewards.

Who can gauge the extent of God's humanity through words? What intellect can comprehend this vast ocean of benevolence? Despite countless instances of sin and wrongdoing, He does not withhold salvation. He points out the refusal of His people and their ancestors to uphold the sacred covenants, as they remain entrenched in sin; nonetheless, He draws them back to Him, inviting the unhealed to restoration, fully aware of their obstinacy and rebellion. Therefore, He adds:

It is noteworthy what is stated, "I will send you to the house of Israel, to those who afflict Me, and they that afflict Me." Just as there are two means by which individuals separate themselves from God, there are similarly two ways in which they can turn away. Each person betrays their Creator, either through lack of belief or through their deeds. Therefore, just as one who strays from faith is deemed an apostate, so too is one who reverts to a wayward life, despite seeming to hold faith, undoubtedly regarded as having forsaken the Almighty. For one cannot stand alone; neither faith without accompanying actions nor deeds devoid of faith holds value, except that these are initiated prior to faith itself.

The Lord communicates with me. After Ezekiel witnessed the splendor of the Lord upon the throne above the cherubim, he heard the voice of the Lord emanating from above the throne. The Lord addressed him with these words: "Son of man, I am sending you to the house of Israel." The term 'Son of man,' derived from the Hebrew phrase referring to the son of Adam, served to impart a lesson in humility, often used by God in His directives to Ezekiel. As St. Jerome explained, despite being privileged to behold angels, Ezekiel remained a mere mortal like all humanity—being collectively the sons of man, or Adam. The name Adam, which implies being formed from the earth, captures this notion as he was shaped from the dust of the ground. In a similar manner, St.