They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, 'Thus declares the LORD,' when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. They see false visionsIsrael’s false prophets claimed access to God’s counsel while proclaiming messages formed by their own desires and imaginations. During Jerusalem’s final years before exile, they reassured a rebellious people that judgment would not come, contradicting the warnings God gave through Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Their supposed visions offered comfort without repentance and peace without submission to the Lord. Ezk 12:24 For there will be no more false visions,… and speak lying divinations. Their predictions were deceitful, whether drawn from pagan practices, personal ambition, or deliberate invention. God had forbidden divination because it sought guidance apart from Him and opened the way for spiritual deception (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). What they presented as supernatural insight was opposed to God’s revealed word and concealed the seriousness of Judah’s sin. Jer 14:14 “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,”… They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ By attaching the Lord’s name to their lies, these prophets gave divine authority to messages God had not spoken. Such presumption profaned His name and harmed those who trusted their words. The Lord’s true prophets spoke under His commission, often at great personal cost; the false prophets spoke what people wished to hear. Jer 23:31 “Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets… when the LORD did not send them; No human office, religious language, or public acceptance can make a person God’s messenger. The Lord had not commissioned these men and women, and their messages stood in direct conflict with His covenant warnings. Jeremiah likewise exposed prophets who ran though God had not sent them (Jeremiah 23:21). Jer 23:21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run… yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. They expected their fabricated assurances to be confirmed, revealing both their arrogance and their self-deception. God’s coming judgment would expose their claims and vindicate the word He had spoken through His servants. A message claiming God’s authority must agree with His truth and prove faithful in its fulfillment. Deu 18:21-22 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message… Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God during the Babylonian exile, tasked with delivering God's messages to the Israelites. 2. False Prophets Individuals in Israel who claimed to speak for God but delivered messages that were not from Him. 3. Israel The nation to whom Ezekiel was prophesying, particularly those in exile in Babylon. 4. Babylonian Exile The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, a significant context for Ezekiel's prophecies. 5. The LORD (Yahweh) The one true God of Israel, who is being misrepresented by the false prophets. Teaching Points Discernment in ProphecyBelievers must exercise discernment when evaluating those who claim to speak for God. Not every message that claims divine origin is truly from God. The Danger of False Assurance False prophets provide a false sense of security, leading people away from true repentance and reliance on God. Accountability for Words Those who speak on behalf of God bear a significant responsibility. Misrepresenting God’s word is a serious offense. Seeking God’s Truth Believers are encouraged to seek God’s truth through prayer, study of Scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Role of Testing Testing the spirits and messages against the truth of Scripture is crucial for maintaining doctrinal purity and spiritual health. Bible Study Questions 1. How can we identify false prophets or teachers in today's context, and what criteria should we use based on Scripture?2. In what ways might we be tempted to accept "lying divinations" in our own lives, and how can we guard against this? 3. How does the warning against false prophets in Ezekiel 13:6 relate to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament? 4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure we are hearing and following God's true voice? 5. How can the church community support each other in discerning true teachings from false ones? Connections to Other Scriptures Jeremiah 23This chapter also addresses false prophets, emphasizing the danger of speaking lies in God's name. Deuteronomy 18 Discusses the criteria for true and false prophets, providing a standard for discerning God's true messengers. Matthew 7 Jesus warns about false prophets, highlighting the importance of recognizing them by their fruits. 2 Peter 2 Peter warns the early church about false teachers, drawing parallels to the false prophets of the Old Testament.
People EzekielPlaces JerusalemTopics FALSE, Arts, Confirm, Confirmed, Declares, Divination, Divinations, Divined, Effect, Establish, Expect, Falsehood, Fulfil, Fulfilled, Fulfillment, Hope, Hoped, Hoping, Lie, Lying, Saying, Says, Secret, Spoken, Substance, Vanity, Visions, YetDictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 13:6 5914 optimism 7760 preachers, responsibilities 1469 visions Library That the Ruler Should not Set his Heart on Pleasing Men, and yet Should Give Heed to what Ought to Please Them. Meanwhile it is also necessary for the ruler to keep wary watch, lest the lust of pleasing men assail him; lest, when he studiously penetrates the things that are within, and providently supplies the things that are without, he seek to be beloved of those that are under him more than truth; lest, while, supported by his good deeds, he seems not to belong to the world, self-love estrange him from his Maker. For he is the Redeemer's enemy who through the good works which he does covets being loved … Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Of the Character of the Unregenerate. That the Ruler Should be Discreet in Keeping Silence, Profitable in Speech. "Now the End of the Commandment," &C. Purity and Peace in the Present Lord Ezekiel Links Ezekiel 13:6 NIVEzekiel 13:6 NLT Ezekiel 13:6 ESV Ezekiel 13:6 NASB Ezekiel 13:6 KJV Ezekiel 13:6 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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