331 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying , 2 "Son of man , speak to the sons of your people and say to them, 'If I bring a sword upon a land , and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman , 3 and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people , 4 then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning , and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head . 5 'He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning ; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning , he would have delivered his life . 6 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned , and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity ; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand .' 7 "Now as for you, son of man , I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel ; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. 8 "When I say to the wicked , 'O wicked man , you will surely die ,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way , that wicked man shall die in his iniquity , but his blood I will require from your hand . 9 "But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way , he will die in his iniquity , but you have delivered your life .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:1-9
Commentary on Ezekiel 33:1-9
(Read Ezekiel 33:1-9)
The prophet is a watchman to the house of Israel. His business is to warn sinners of their misery and danger. He must warn the wicked to turn from their way, that they may live. If souls perish through his neglect of duty, he brings guilt upon himself. See what those have to answer for, who make excuses for sin, flatter sinners, and encourage them to believe they shall have peace, though they go on. How much wiser are men in their temporal than in their spiritual concerns! They set watchmen to guard their houses, and sentinels to warn of the enemies' approach, but where the everlasting happiness or misery of the soul is at stake, they are offended if ministers obey their Master's command, and give a faithful warning; they would rather perish, listening to smooth things.