5 I listened as he went on to address the executioners: "Follow him through the city and kill. Feel sorry for no one. Show no compassion. 6 Kill old men and women, young men and women, mothers and children. But don't lay a hand on anyone with the mark. Start at my Temple." They started with the leaders in front of the Temple. 7 He told the executioners, "Desecrate the Temple. Fill it with corpses. Then go out and continue the killing." 8 So they went out and struck the city. While the massacre went forward, I was left alone. I fell on my face in prayer: "Oh, oh, God, my Master! Are you going to kill everyone left in Israel in this pouring out of your anger on Jerusalem?" 9 He said, "The guilt of Israel and Judah is enormous. The land is swollen with murder. The city is bloated with injustice. They all say, 'God has forsaken the country. He doesn't see anything we do.' 10 Well, I do see, and I'm not feeling sorry for any of them. They're going to pay for what they've done." 11 Just then, the man dressed in linen and carrying the writing case came back and reported, "I've done what you told me."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 9:5-11
Commentary on Ezekiel 9:5-11
(Read Ezekiel 9:5-11)
The slaughter must begin at the sanctuary, that all may see and know that the Lord hates sin most in those nearest to him. He who was appointed to protect, reported the matter. Christ is faithful to the trust reposed in him. Is he commanded by his Father to secure eternal life to the chosen remnant? He says, Of all that thou hast given me, I have lost none. If others perish, and we are saved, we must ascribe the difference wholly to the mercy of our God, for we too have deserved wrath. Let us still continue to plead in behalf of others. But where the Lord shows no mercy he does no injustice; he only recompenses men's ways.