The Reproof of False Prophets
13:1 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own heart, Hear ye the word of Jehovah:
False prophets had always been a problem for Israel, especially for those Jews who were living in the days of Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
It is important to note that there are many false prophets in the modern church today. Satan has infiltrated many of these false prophets into Christian television. Many of these prophets are making up these prophecies in their hearts. Some of these modern prophecies may be demonic in origin.
13:3 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
These prophets of Ezekiel’s day had seen nothing and they knew it. Many of the false prophets today are doing the same thing. They see nothing, but tell others that they have seen or heard from God.
13:4 O Israel, thy prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.
Foxes were destructive animals. They would dig up the crops and destroy the vines.
13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of Jehovah.
The gaps were the holes in a military wall which the enemy would attack. When a breach was found, then the soldiers would pour mortar into the hole to strengthen it and keep the enemy out of the city. The prophets had not strengthened the gaps in the walls. They had no mortar to repair the wall that they had actually damaged.
13:6 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, that say, Jehovah saith; but Jehovah hath not sent them: and they have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed.
Many of the prophets had seen false visions. They claimed that their prophecies came from Jehovah, but these prophecies were actually from demonic sources. Just because a prophet says that his prophecy comes from God, this does not mean that the prophecy is legitimate. The written Word of God is the only source of revelation for the modern church.
13:7 Have ye not seen a false vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, in that ye say, Jehovah saith; albeit I have not spoken?
Ezekiel asked an accusatory question. Have you not seen a false vision? The answer was yes. Have you not spoken a lying divination? The answer was yes. Jehovah had not spoken through these false prophets.
13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye have spoken falsehood, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord Jehovah.
Because of these false prophecies, God would come against these false prophets.
13:9 And my hand shall be against the prophets that see false visions, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.
God would punish these false prophets in three ways. First, these false prophets would lose their influence among the people. Second, they would be excommunicated from the citizens of Israel. Third, they would not enter into the land of Israel. They would not participate in the return. When these three things were fulfilled, then Judah would know that Jehovah is God.
13:10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered mortar: 13:11 say unto them that paint it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
Emphatically, these false prophets had seduced the people of Israel by predicting peace when there would be no peace. Babylon would not bring peace, but would bring death, destruction, and captivity. The walls were crumbling and the prophets were not placing mortar in the wall to strengthen it. Instead, they were painting the walls. The walls may have looked better, but they were not sturdy.
13:12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
When the walls fall down, then the false prophets would be embarrassed. The people would ask these false prophets why their prophecies were not fulfilled. The false prophets would be mocked because of their false prophecies.
13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my wrath; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it.
God would cause a storm that would bring down the walls. The storm was a metaphor for the Babylonian military invasion.
13:14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be uncovered; and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
These false prophets would be alive when the walls fall down. When the Babylonians arrive, the walls would fall. These false prophets would be ridiculed and condemned as false prophets.
13:15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar; and I will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
The prophets painted the wall without mortar. The wall that the false prophets painted would fall.
13:16 to wit, the prophets of Israel that prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and that see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord Jehovah.
The true prophets of God were predicting the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Captivity. The false prophets were predicting peace and victory. God predicted that there would be no peace or victory. There would be death by sword, famine, and disease.
False Women Prophets
13:17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, that prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
Ezekiel condemned the false prophetesses of Judah. These female prophets were making up prophecies out of their own minds. This verse was the first and only mention of female false prophets.
13:18 and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the women that sew pillows upon all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves?
These women prophetesses were using occult practices. The pillows upon their elbows were magical bands that were placed on the wrists of those who were asking questions. The bracelets represented the power in which the female prophet claimed over the questioner.
The kerchiefs were veils or cloaks. They were sewed to perfectly fit those whom they were followers of the female false prophetesses. The bands and the cloak were supposed to protect the Jews from death.
By using these occult practices, the women prophets enslaved their captives. For a price, they claimed that they would keep the Jews alive during the Babylonian siege.
13:19 And ye have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hearken unto lies.
These female false prophetesses were accepting barley and bread as payment for their occultic practices. These occultic practices were enslaving men and keeping them from the One True God. These Jewish men thought that these magical bands and cloaks would protect them from death.
13:20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
God would tear the bracelets away from these false prophetesses. These false prophetesses would no longer enslave the souls of men with their bracelets.
13:21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
God would tear these occult veils and cloaks from the false prophetesses.
13:22 Because with lies ye have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive:
The lies of the false prophetesses had grieved the believing Remnant. God did not intend for His believing remnant to be sad. The occultic practices had strengthened the wicked. Israel must turn away from these occult practices.