Ezekiel 33:31
Ezekiel 33:31 in Multiple Translations
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.
And they come to you as my people come, and are seated before you as my people, hearing your words but doing them not: for deceit is in their mouth and their heart goes after profit for themselves.
So my people come and visit you like they usually do. They sit and listen to the message you share, but they don't do anything about it. Even though they talk about love, all they're thinking about is how to cheat others.
For they come vnto thee, as the people vseth to come: and my people sit before thee, and heare thy wordes, but they will not doe them: for with their mouthes they make iestes, and their heart goeth after their couetousnesse.
And they come in unto thee as the coming in of a people, And they sit before thee — My people, And have heard thy words, and they do them not, For doting loves with their mouth they are making, After their dishonest gain their heart is going.
They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
And they come to thee as the people come, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
And they come to thee, as if a people were coming in, and my people sit before thee: and hear thy words, and do them not: for they turn them into a song of their mouth, and their heart goeth after their covetousness.
My people come to you as they often have done, and they sit in front of you to listen to what you say. But they do not do what you tell them that they must do. With their mouths they say that they love me, but in their inner beings they are eager to acquire things by doing what is unjust.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 33:31
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Ezekiel 33:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 33:31
Study Notes — Ezekiel 33:31
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 33:31 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 33:31
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 33:31
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 33:31
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
- Sermons on Ezekiel 33:31
Context — Word of Jerusalem’s Fall
31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
32Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. 33So when it comes to pass—and surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 13:22 | The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. |
| 2 | Psalms 78:36–37 | But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant. |
| 3 | James 1:22–24 | Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. |
| 4 | Luke 11:28 | But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” |
| 5 | Isaiah 29:13 | Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. |
| 6 | James 2:14–16 | What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? |
| 7 | Ezekiel 8:1 | In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me; and there the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me. |
| 8 | Luke 6:48–49 | He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!” |
| 9 | Jeremiah 44:16 | “As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! |
| 10 | 1 Timothy 6:9–10 | Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. |
Ezekiel 33:31 Summary
[Ezekiel 33:31 tells us that some people who claim to love God don't actually follow His commands, which is a form of hypocrisy. This verse reminds us that God looks at our hearts and actions, not just our words. As it says in Matthew 7:21, 'Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.' We must make sure our actions match our words and that we are truly following God's will.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that the people 'express love with their mouths' in Ezekiel 33:31?
This phrase indicates that the people are verbally acknowledging their love for God, but their actions do not match their words, as seen in Matthew 15:8, where it says, 'These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.'
Why do the people come to hear Ezekiel's words if they don't plan to put them into practice?
The people are drawn to the prophet's message, but they are not committed to obeying it, much like the seed that falls on rocky ground in Matthew 13:20-21, which receives the word with joy but has no root and withers away.
What is the significance of the people's hearts 'pursuing dishonest gain'?
The pursuit of dishonest gain reveals the people's true priorities, which are contrary to God's will, as stated in 1 Timothy 6:10, 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith.'
How does this verse relate to the concept of hypocrisy?
Ezekiel 33:31 highlights the hypocrisy of the people, who claim to love God with their words but demonstrate a different love with their actions, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 23:3, 'So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but do not follow their example, for they do not practice what they preach.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I might be 'expressing love with my mouth' but not putting God's words into practice in my own life?
- How can I ensure that my heart is not pursuing 'dishonest gain' and is instead focused on God's will?
- In what ways can I be more intentional about obeying God's word, rather than just hearing it?
- What are some potential consequences of hearing God's word but not putting it into practice, as seen in this verse and others like Matthew 25:31-46?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 33:31
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 33:31
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 33:31
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:31
Sermons on Ezekiel 33:31
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Great Apostasy by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of maintaining a childlike trust and confidence in God. He criticizes the modern methods and techniques used in churches and |
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Doing Something About It by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the seriousness of being in church and attending Bible conferences. He acknowledges the importance of fun, humor, and relaxation, but warns a |
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Repentance Is Our Only Hope (Compilation) by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses how people often listen to the word of God but fail to put it into practice. He emphasizes the importance of repentance and warns against the |
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Arrependimento by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the powerful impact of the Word of God, highlighting how it can either break or harden individuals. It addresses the tendency of some churches to avoid proph |
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Repentance Is Only Hope (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the word of God, but actually putting it into practice. He criticizes those who come to church and listen |
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Hearers Not Doers by Chuck Smith | This sermon emphasizes the importance of not only hearing the Word of God but also actively doing what it says. It warns against the deception of merely agreeing with God's command |
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Christian Love by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker shares two powerful illustrations about the transformative power of love. The first story is about a pastor in Chile who, after struggling with a stagna |





