Ezekiel 20:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But the children also scorned Me, refusing to obey My commandments and disregarding My statutes, which if a person had followed, they would have found life through them; yet they desecrated My sabbaths. I threatened to unleash My fury upon them and execute My wrath in the wilderness. However, I withheld My hand for the sake of My name, so it would not be dishonored before the nations from which I had previously removed them before their eyes. The children, too, engaged in the iniquities of their fathers and committed the same acts, thus deserving a similar judgment. Yet, due to My immense mercy, like that shown to the fathers, they were spared from retribution for the same reasons. I have extended My forgiveness to them, and as the Creator of all, I have calmed My wrath out of My enduring patience. We briefly pass over the clear matters to delve into the more obscure ones.

He then states that he was also unwilling to chastise wrongdoing, to imprison some individuals, or to execute others. He articulated this sentiment by saying: