Ezekiel 33:31

Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

فَيَأْتُونَ إلَيْكَ كَجُمهُورٍ كَبِيرٍ، وَيَجْلِسُونَ أمَامَكَ وَيَسْتَمِعُونَ إلَى كَلَامِكَ، لَكِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَعَمَلُوا بِهِ. تَسْمَعُ المَدِيحَ عَلَى شِفَاهِهِمْ، أمَّا قُلُوبُهُمْ فَمُولَعَةٌ بِالرِّبحِ.

What Does This Mean?

In Ezekiel 33:31, God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel about people who come to listen to his words but do not follow them. These people show a lot of love with their words but their hearts are set on selfish desires.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a friend who promises to share their toys with you but never actually does. They say they love you a lot, but they keep the toys for themselves because they want to. This verse is talking about people who do the same thing with God's teachings—they say they love God's words but do not follow them.

Historical Background

The book of Ezekiel was written by the prophet Ezekiel around 593-571 BCE. The verse speaks to the people of Israel who were in exile in Babylon. The cultural setting reflects a time when people were struggling to maintain faith and obedience to God.

Living It Out Today

In modern times, this verse can be applied to people who attend church or religious services but do not live by the teachings they hear. For example, someone may promise to volunteer at a charity but never follows through because they are too focused on their own needs and desires.

Topics

• obedience
• hypocrisy
• heart
• covetousness
• faith
• love

Related Verses

• Matthew 15:8-9
• Jeremiah 17:9
• Luke 6:46-49
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
• James 1:22

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did God warn the people about their hypocrisy?

God warns the people to emphasize the importance of genuine obedience and love. Saying you love God’s words is not enough; actions must follow.

How can we avoid being like the people in this verse?

To avoid being hypocritical, we must ensure that our actions match our words. We should seek to understand and apply God’s teachings in our daily lives.

What does 'covetousness' mean in this context?

Covetousness refers to a strong desire for wealth, power, or possessions to the point that it leads to greed and dishonesty in one's actions.

How does this verse relate to true worship?

True worship involves more than just attending services or saying prayers. It requires genuine devotion and living according to God’s teachings with actions that reflect one’s faith.