Ezekiel 20:43Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord says you will loathe yourselves for all the iniquities you have committed, or as Simmachus translates: you shall regard yourselves as children for the wickedness you have done, so that after being uplifted, you may see yourselves in humility; for the Lord grants grace to the humble (James 4:6). It is also noted that a person's heart is lifted up before they are broken, and humility comes before exaltation (Proverbs 18:12). Arrogance leads to downfall, while humility is rewarded with elevation. You will know that I am the Lord when I show you favor. We truly come to understand our Savior when He does us good, bearing our sins and carrying our iniquities, not based on any merit we possess, but for the glory of His name. Our conduct and grievous sins do not warrant forgiveness, but rather judgment. All that we have discussed concerning the Israelites—who, upon being freed from Egypt, committed many offenses in the wilderness and angered God, and later, after entering the Promised Land, worshipped idols made of wood and stone—demonstrates their eventual salvation through God’s goodness. Likewise, we can draw parallels to those who, by the mighty hand of the Lord, have escaped the Egypt of this present age. Led into the wilderness of vice, they longed for Egypt and engaged in actions deserving punishment. Yet through sincere repentance, they were redeemed, not through their own achievements, but by the benevolence of the Lord.

However, this divine inspiration permits the exercise of free will, allowing for the pursuit of contrary choices. Furthermore, the grace of God aids in the practice of virtuous deeds, while still preserving human will. Additionally, He fosters virtue without constraining freedom. Consequently, the Creator instills, nurtures, and affirms all things while respecting the autonomy He has bestowed. If a contrary conclusion arises from deceptive reasoning, it should be more carefully avoided than pursued. According to Holy Scripture, understanding does not arise from mere intellect; instead, true understanding emerges from faith: if you do not believe, you will not understand (Is. 7:9). The human intellect is incapable of fully grasping how God engenders all things within us, as all becomes aligned with our will, of which it is said: ‘If you will and obey, you will taste the good things of the earth’ (Is. 1:19).