Ezekiel 5:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Almighty chose the people of Judah with the purpose of blessing all nations through them. He provided them with a unique set of laws that distinguished them from other peoples, allowing them to be set apart. Furthermore, He established their homeland at the center of the world; to the east and north lay Asia, to the west Europe, connected by the sea, and to the south Libya. These regions were the divisions made by the sons of Noah. Therefore, God declared, I will place Jerusalem among the nations, so that from this city they may derive benefits and learn the ways of righteousness and piety from its inhabitants. Yet, Jerusalem did the contrary in every respect. Not only did it fail to uphold the righteous laws I had bestowed upon it, but it also became entangled in the sins of the Gentile nations.

You inquired about the meaning behind God's declaration in Ezekiel, where it states, "My justifications ye have rejected, and ye walk not in my law." I will provide a concise explanation. The text reveals that the people were not only entrenched in wrongdoing but were also deceptive towards their neighbors. The commandments can be categorized into two main aspects: the first pertains to the worship of God, and the second relates to love for one’s fellow human beings — which is why the two tablets were established. Many individuals may have erred regarding the first aspect, either due to ignorance or the deceit of those aiming to mislead them; this is notably easier, as the divine nature is unseen and interpretations about it vary widely.