Ezekiel 11:1 says, Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord's house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. Ezekiel said he was next lifted up by the Spirit to the east gate of the temple and saw twenty-five men at the gate, two of whom were identified as Jaazaniah and Pelatiah. Matthew Henry says these were a different twenty-five men than those mentioned earlier, who were priests, and that these men were charged with not administering justice to the people fairly. Not just religious leaders in administering the affairs of the church relating to worship, but all people charged with administering justice to people will be held accountable for their actions. Two were mentioned by name, but this was a different Jaazaniah than was mentioned in chapter eight, verse eleven, since he had aa different father. We cannot separate the world into secular and religious, but everything we do should be seen as under the authority of God.
Verse two adds, Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: These men were not pointed out because of their fairness in judgment but because of their corruption. We need to pray that if God points us out that it is not because we have become corrupt in the way we treat others.
Verse three continues, Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh. These men believed that the destruction of the city of Jerusalem was not near and that they would not soon be held accountable by God for their actions. There are still many people today who believe that if there is a God, that He is far off and so is His judgment. Just as these twenty-five men were wrong then, so is anyone who believes that today. We just need to pray that those who profess to be Christians do not feel this way.
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