The Gospel According to Ezekiel, Chapter 9 (Part 1 of 2)

Foundational Principles: God's Tolerance of Sinners

Ezekiel has been given visions of the coming destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylon. This is the spiritual reality of what will take place because for 430 years, Israel and Judah committed sins worse than the nations around them. They knew God's law—a glorious revelation that points to Jesus Christ, exposes sin, and shows our need for God. Yet they agreed with it only for a time, then incorporated what God called wrong.

Idolatry is not just bowing to graven images; biblically, it is taking anything pleasing to the mind and senses and owing our lives and affections to it. All sin reduces to idolatry. Last week, we saw the elders in Jerusalem committing idolatry in their imaginations, valuing sin more than God. Ezekiel sees the spiritual reality of their sin, and now the spiritual destruction of the sinners.

A foundational principle for these chapters: God's tolerance of sinners is because of his intolerance of sin. This explains why he spares the remnant, the elect of Ezekiel's day, but not the reprobate who outright reject him. Christ's death was required because of God's intolerance of sin. He is both just and justifier—unable to tolerate sin, yet able to tolerate sinners through the cross.

God's inability to tolerate sinners is based on sin, but Jesus bore the sins of his people. If our sins are placed on Christ and we are set free, we are free from the lifestyle of sin. We live as the elect here, exhibiting a marked lifestyle.

The Vision of Judgment (Ezekiel 9:1-7)

Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Draw near, executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. Kill old men and young men, young women and little children, and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house.

And he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out.” So they went out and struck in the city. And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord God! Are you destroying the whole remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

These are angelic beings carrying out God's destruction. The man in linen with the writing case is a scribe who marks the remnant.

Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city is full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’ As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.”

And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”

The Scope of Judgment: No One Spared

God destroys all without the mark—old men, young men, maidens, little children, women. This troubles our conscience, especially regarding children. We think of Jesus welcoming children:

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise. (Matthew 21:16)

Yet age, gender, status mean nothing in God's judgment for sin. If parents do not bring children to worship Yahweh, all are guilty. The soul who sins shall die. Even virgins—highly esteemed in society—are not spared. Nothing inherent in us stays God's hand because of sin's gravity.

The impression should not be "what a horrible God," but "what a horrible thing sin is." Amid destruction, mercy preserves the remnant. God takes no delight in the death of the wicked. He judges justly, as we cry out for justice when wronged. For 430 years, he showed grace, giving opportunity to repent.

As believers, God's wrath is exchanged for fatherly discipline, but sin still brings pain and consequences.

The Mark of Protection

The angel marks those who sigh and groan over abominations. This mark is the Hebrew letter Tav, originally shaped like a cross—a shepherd's mark on sheep. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega; this points to the cross that buffers us from wrath.

It is not by works but God's choice and faith, as Old Testament saints were approved by faith (Hebrews 11). The marked mourn sin in their city, like Ezekiel on briars and thorns.

Responses to the Vision

First, fix your gaze on God's glory. Before decisions, ask: Does this glorify God? Is it holy?

Second, exercise gratitude for his sovereign protection through Christ. If you believe the gospel and have affection for Jesus, that evidences regeneration. Agree God is holy; confess sin; thank him for the cross. Forgiveness enhances hatred of sin, motivating holiness.

Third, emulate the remnant: Mourn over sin in your life and others'. Test spiritual growth by your sensitivity to sin. The elect have always existed, growing through trials. They witness God's intolerance of sin, aiding sanctification—like church discipline today, exchanging judgment for discipline.

Discipline as a Deterrent to Sin

When an elder continues in sin, present them before the church to instill fear of sinning. Take those who have gone through the stages of Matthew 18, where the church reaches out, and discipline them publicly. This mirrors the fear induced by witnessing discipline in others, as I did with my brothers growing up.

Though I often escaped as the youngest, seeing my brothers disciplined—especially by my father—left a lasting impact. I'm grateful for it today. Observing the effects of sin in others' lives should make us fear sinning, especially when consequences are clear.

Examining Old Testament judgments should evoke thankfulness for our salvation and mourning over sin. The slaughter of women and children due to sin is a tragedy that should grieve us deeply.

God tolerates sinners who are intolerant of sin.

The Glory of God as Our Pursuit

The glory of God is the central, most amazing concept. Consider Psalm 138:5:

And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.

Many preachers promise greatness in salvation or Christianity but miss the mark by emphasizing materialism, like a full bank account. Listening to health, wealth, and prosperity teachers has made me doubt my salvation, as it doesn't match my reality.

True greatness in Christianity is the glory of the Lord. It's what gives us something to sing about, helps endure life, resist temptation, and face circumstances—not by changing them, but by transforming how we experience them.

As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says:

Whether then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

When God is glorified in your life, His glory is magnified—not like a microscope making something small bigger, but like a telescope bringing something vast and distant into clear view.

The Effects of Pursuing God's Glory

Magnifying God's glory brings permanent satisfaction and enjoyment, but sin looks worse the closer you get to Him. Your conscience is pricked more sharply; life becomes more uncomfortable, especially around sinners. You cannot help speaking out for God's glory, proclaiming truth, and presenting messages like Ezekiel's, whether people listen or not.

Live from the overflow of receiving God's glory. Ezekiel isn't the only revelation of it—Scripture and fellowship with believers plunge the depths of Romans 9's riches of God's glory.

Romans 9:22-23 explains:

What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory.

Here, "riches" means a plentiful supply of God's glory—a wealth that transforms your life. Live from the overflow of receiving it. That's the Christian's mission and the greatest place to be.