Idolaters Condemned: Ezekiel 14:1-23

https://www.biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/14.htm

The tragedy of Ravi Zacharias is that he became widely known as a Christian apologist and moral voice, but after his death serious allegations and investigations revealed a hidden pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and deceit that deeply damaged victims, his family, and his ministry’s legacy. His story is often described as tragic because the public witness and teachings he offered were overshadowed by the harm he caused behind the scenes.

In plain terms, the contrast between his admired public life and the reported private misconduct, that came to light later, is what made the scandal so devastating to many who had trusted him.

I knew Ravi, I trusted him. I had no idea…but, knowing myself, I could have.

I am certain Ravi was “born again” and is now in Paradise with Christ. After all, Ephesians 2:8–9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

However, without question, he had set up “Idols in his heart,”  with predictable results. Verse 8 from this chapter in Ezekiel says “I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

Ravi is God’s warning to us…

Explanation: Some elders of Israel (likely leaders among the exiles in Babylon) came to the prophet Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord. God revealed their hypocrisy to Ezekiel: they appeared respectful and devout outwardly, but they were not truly seeking Him. 

Key verse (Ezekiel 14:3, various translations): “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” (NIV/ESV similar) Ezekiel 14 tells us our sin can reach a point of “critical mass” and God will step in and handle it Himself. For two reasons; “in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God, declares the Lord GOD” (v. 11). 

It’s all about Idols and Stumbling blocks…

Idols here are not (primarily) physical statues or images, though the exiles had a history of that (see Ezekiel 8 for temple idolatry). Instead, they represent anything that displaces God in a person’s inner life — affections, loyalties, desires, values, or dependencies. 

The Hebrew idea is “taking” or “setting up” these idols in the heart — enthroning them internally, so the person is divided in allegiance. They may outwardly seek God (or a prophet) while secretly cherishing other “gods” like self-reliance, pagan influences, ambition, security, or sinful pleasures. 

Stumbling blocks (Hebrew mikshol) are obstacles that cause someone to trip and fall — metaphorically, sin or practices that lead to spiritual failure or judgment. 

They are often linked directly to the idols: the inner idolatry manifests outwardly as sinful actions, choices, or objects that people “put before their faces” (i.e., they keep it visibly/consciously in front of them and trip over it repeatedly). They can refer to cherished sins, detestable practices, or even physical idols/cult objects that they refuse to abandon. These become barriers to a right relationship with God. 

In short: Idols (wrong loves and attachments) and Stumbling blocks (the sins and obstacles that result from those heart idols and cause downfall) are “Cause and effect.”

God says He will answer such people according to their idolatry — essentially giving them over to the consequences of their divided hearts, to expose and capture them in their sin (v. 4–5). He calls for repentance: “Repent! Turn away from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!” (v. 6).

 The goal is restoration and knowing that “I am the Lord” (vv. 7–11), with a warning of judgment for those who persist.

Application: Nobody likes their Idols and Stumbling Blocks torn down. They are in our lives because we put them there…we love them. Which, of course, is the problem. The first two Commandments are clear;

1. I am Yahweh (“the One that is self-existent and eternal”), your Elohim (The ”Divine”). You shall have no other Gods before me. (Exodus 20)
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them nor serve them; (for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments)”

People rebel against authority; It’s the cardinal understanding of sin. Its why God tells us to honor our parents (Exodus 20) and Honor our civil leaders (Romans 13); its our earthly opportunity to practice honoring Him. But, we hate being told what to do. It’s why so many naturally hate God. The human response can only go one of two ways: “I agree,” or “I don’t agree.”

We know the consequence for those who persist on worshipping other Gods (and erecting Idols). The salient question, for those of us who are Christ-followers, is…”how do we resist the human (sinful) tendency to erect idols and stumbling blocks in our lives?

Principle	What it means for us
Idols in your heart (Ezekiel 14:3–5)	Identify anything that takes God’s place in your priorities—money, success, relationships, approval, comfort, or even good things that become ultimate things
Repentance (Ezekiel 14:6)	Actively turn away from those idols and turn your face away from all abominations; don’t just come to God with divided loyalty
Personal accountability (Ezekiel 14:12–14)	Even righteous people like Noah, Daniel, and Job would be saved only for their own righteousness—not for someone else’s. You can’t rely on a parent’s, spouse’s, or pastor’s faith to save you
Authenticity over appearance  (Ezekiel 14:7)	Don’t be like the hypocritical elders who came to Ezekiel while worshipping idols in their hearts. God sees your heart, not just your outward religious activity
Heed God’s warnings	Pay attention to how God speaks through Scripture and His messengers; let those warnings guide your decisions

Ezekiel 14 reminds us that God desires sincerity and purity in your relationship with Him, and that mercy is available to the repentant. Practical steps we can take:

• Heart check prayer: Ask God to reveal any idols in our life and give courage to remove them
• Prioritize God deliberately: Set aside time for prayer, Bible study, and worship above other demands
• Immediate repentance: When we identify an idol, seek forgiveness and turn away from it now

As I’ve said in the past, “A Christian is a comfortable place for God to dwell” (Scott Peck). God isn’t comfortable with Idols.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father,

I come before You today with a heart that longs for You above all else. Your Word tells me that I am prone to wander and to manufacture idols in my mind. Lord, I confess that I have set up gods in my heart—things I trust, love, and seek for security more than I seek You.

Show me my idols. Shine Your light into the deepest crevices of my soul and reveal what I have hidden. Show me how destructive they are and how they grieve Your Spirit. If my heart has set its affections on something that overshadows my love for You, make it plain to me.

Give me courage to throw them down. Like Israel of old, help me to take the idols I’ve hidden, expose them, and throw them at Your feet to be smashed forever. I am too weak to overthrow the idols of the heart on my own. Break the power of Satan over me and grant me the grace to put away my idols so I will not repeat the same sins.

I renounce and revile every idol. If I have unintentionally accepted anything that invites darkness or honors false gods, shine Your light on it and help me destroy it. I give my full affection and devotion to You alone through the power of Jesus’ name.

Help me choose You today. As Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve”. I choose to serve You—in sincerity and in faithfulness. Take away the idols in my life so that, completely undivided, I may serve You, my Savior.

Fill the empty space with Yourself. Where I have trusted in money, success, relationships, approval, or comfort, teach me to trust in You alone. Where I have loved things more than You, re-order my affections.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Live boldly out there today…

Resources:
https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/ezekiel/14.htm
https://www.apostolicfaith.org/daybreak-and-discovery/ezekiel-14-1-23
https://www.preceptaustin.org/ezekiel_141-11
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ezekiel-14/
https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/ezekiel/ezekiel-14.cfm
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Eze/Eze_014.cfm
https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/14.htm
https://www.preceptaustin.org/ezekiel_1412-23
https://www.ajc.com/life/ravi-zacharias-when-sin-destroys-a-legacy/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2020/05/20/ravi-zacharias-popular-evangelical-defender-christian-faith-dies/wNbnN86…
https://cbn.com/news/news/world-renowned-christian-advocate-ravi-zacharias-dies
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2024/12/135_289866.html
https://nickwattssoulfood.com/2021/03/04/the-two-deaths-of-ravi-zacharias/
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-have-you-processed-the-sin-of-ravi-zacharias
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Zacharias
https://www.moodymedia.org/blog/2013/01/prayer-put-away-sinful-practices/
https://www.royalperspectives.com/a-prayer-of-repentance-from-idolatry/
https://www.facebook.com/ReverendBillyGraham/posts/prayer-for-the-day-lord-jesus-christ-take-away-the-idols-in-my-life-so-that-c…
https://www.faithfulfinishlines.com/powerful-prayers-against-idolatry/

 

 False Prophets Condemned: Ezekiel 13:1-23

https://www.biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/13.htm

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”  Luke 1:26-38

James Talarico claims that the Bible justifies abortion because Archangel Gabriel asked the Virgin Mary for her "consent" before she conceived Jesus. He completely made that up…read for yourself;  Gabriel tells Mary it's God's will and she accepts. I’m not picking on James Talarico, I’m calling out every false prophet who purports to explain what God claims and intends. 

God abhors false teachers because they serve only one purpose; confuse His followers.

Explanation: Ezekiel 13 is a warning against false spiritual leaders. God’s judgment on false prophets is severe: He exposes their lies, rejects their messages, and brings destruction on them for misleading people. It shows God condemning prophets and prophetesses who claim to speak for Him but are really spreading their own ideas and giving people a false sense of security.

The chapter uses vivid images to make the point: the false prophets are like people patching a weak wall with bad mortar, and the women are described as deceiving and “hunting souls” through manipulative practices. 

In simple terms, the chapter says that false messages may sound comforting, but they cannot hold up when judgment comes. God promises to expose the lies, judge the deceivers, and rescue His people from being misled

In the wider Bible, The New Testament says false teachers are under condemnation, that their destruction is certain, and that they will be judged for exploiting others with deceptive words. Scripture also warns that they may seem convincing for a time, but God will ultimately expose them.

Plainly, God does not treat false prophecy as a minor mistake. He sees it as dangerous deception that harms people spiritually, so He judges both the lie and the one who spreads it.

Application: You and I must repudiate and “call out” false teachers. There is a world of seekers  (“The field is ripe for harvest” John 4:35) who could be completely fooled…at the cost of their eternal welfare. We may be the only voice of truth they hear but, we need to “Study to shew ourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Here’s a practical biblical checklist we can use to test any teacher or ministry:

1. The Gospel Test

• ✅ Do they teach salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, apart from works?
• ✅ Do they present the gospel clearly: Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (1 Cor 15:1–4)?
• ❌ Warning signs:

• goog_1603222255Adding requirements for salvation (signs, wealth, specific experiences, extra revelations).
• Preaching a “different gospel” and acting like it’s acceptable (Gal 1:8–9).

2. The Jesus Test (Doctrine)

• ✅ Do they affirm that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the incarnate Son of God?
• ✅ Do they uphold His sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and return in judgment and glory?
• ❌ Warning signs:

• Denying or downplaying Jesus’ deity, humanity, or resurrection (1 John 4:1–3; 2 John 9).
• Treating Jesus as a great teacher but not Lord and Savior

3. The Scripture Test

• ✅ Do they treat the Bible as the final authority and submit to its teaching?
• ✅ Do they add to or remove from Scripture to control people or justify sin?
• ❌ Warning signs:

• Claiming “God told me” messages that contradict or override Scripture (1 Cor 14:37–38).
• Using emotions, dreams, revelations, or other books as equal to or above the Bible (][).

4. The Fruit Test (Character and Life)

• ✅ Do they show fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22–23)?
• ✅ Is their life marked by humility, integrity, and obedience to Christ?
• ❌ Warning signs:

• Pride, greed, manipulation, sexual immorality, or unrepentant sin (Matt 7:15–20; Jude 1:11 ).
• Exploiting people financially or emotionally ().

5. The Message Test (What They Actually Preach)

• ✅ Do they call people to repentance, faith, and obedience?
• ✅ Do they preach Christ crucified and risen, not just blessings, success, or comfort?
• ❌ Warning signs:

• Message always flatters and never challenges.
• Health-and-wealth as a guaranteed promise.
• Fear-based control or secret knowledge only they have.

6. The Community Test

• ✅ Do they encourage accountability, unity, and respect for other faithful pastors/teachers?
• ❌ Warning signs:

• Isolation from other churches or leaders.
• Claiming they alone have the truth or special insight 

Prayer: “Heavenly Father,

Because of Your Word, I come before You recognizing how dangerous false teachers are. You command us to “beware of false prophets, who come to us in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Lord, give me the grace to obey that warning.

Open my eyes to see deception clearly. Give me Discernment to test every teaching against Your Scripture. Give me Humility to admit when I’m wrong and to learn from faithful teachers. Give me Strength to hold the truth of the gospel, which alone saves by grace through faith in Christ.

Help me remember that false teachers are not just mistaken; they are dangerous, and I must not expose my mind or heart to their deceptive words.

Lord, I confess that I often stay silent when I should speak. Challenge me to: Warn Your people gently but firmly, especially when the error is serious, the audience is large, and the people are vulnerable. Speak the truth in love, without bitterness or pride, but with boldness and clarity.

Teach me to balance strong boldness in Your truth with love for those who are deceived, knowing that many are trapped by false teachings and need to be rescued.

Above all, Father, I pray: That false teachers themselves would repent, come to true faith, and escape the devil’s snare (2 Timothy 2:25–26). That those who have been deceived would be set free by the power of the true gospel. That Your name would be honored and Your truth would shine brighter than any lie.

Let Your truth be so beautiful and powerful in my life that I can recognize error before it infects me, and that others will see Christ in me and turn from deception to You.

In the name of Jesus, who is the Truth,

Amen.”

Live boldly out there today…

Resources:

https://www.gotquestions.org/fields-are-white-for-harvest.html

https://www.billmounce.com/monday-with-mounce/%E2%80%9Cwhite%E2%80%9C-or-%E2%80%9Cready-harvest%E2%80%9D-john-4-35

https://radical.net/podcasts/pray-the-word/lift-up-your-eyes-and-see-john-435/

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A15-20&version=NIV

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:15

https://up.uncommonpursuit.net/t/matthew-7-15-16-false-prophets/6153

https://www.jeffrandleman.com/2-timothy-2-25-26/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/passage/?q=2+timothy+2%3A25-26

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-do-we-discern-false-teachers

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/should-we-call-out-false-teachers-or-ignore-them

https://www.masters.edu/thinking_blog/beware-of-false-teachers/

https://www.gotquestions.org/false-teachers.html

https://churchanswers.com/blog/five-warning-signs-of-false-teachers/

https://www.forthegospel.org/read/how-should-you-pray-for-false-teachers

https://theaquilareport.com/how-should-you-pray-for-false-teachers/

https://ltw.org/read/my-devotional/beware-of-false-teachers/