Throughout the book, Ezekiel did not mince words when denouncing the rampant idolatry around him…comparing it to infidelity and prostitution. He also didn’t curb his words, accusing the Jews of being stubborn, self-righteous, and rebellious. It got to the point of alienation that God Himself said, “No, I won’t listen to you anymore.” The people were putting their trust in created things like gold and silver… but God warned all that, “Gold and silver will not be able to save them in the day of the Lord’s wrath.” (Ezekiel 7:19)
Tag: stumbling block
Romans 14:13 ” Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.”
The Apostle Paul wasn’t speaking to non-Believers in this passage. Rather, he was directing the faithful to stop judging one another. You probably know someone who has been deeply wounded at Church by some hyper-critical Carnal Christian, and now because of that, has turned their back totally on Christianity and anything to do with God. For them, they can only see hypocrisy in fellow Believers that should be showing the love of Jesus…but instead are negative and critical. Such Carnal Christians are a hindrance and a barrier to the Gospel Message.
Ezekiel 14: 2-3 ” Then the word of the Lord came to me; ‘Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of Me at all ? “
Biblical writers used the term “idol” rather scornfully, denouncing them as “dead beams of wood.” For anytime something is preventing us from seeing the truth and enticing us away from the one true God…it’s all death, decay, and darkness.
Matthew 17:24 ” After Jesus and His Disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, ‘ Doesn’t your Teacher pay the Temple tax?’ “
If you think about it…being the Son of God, Jesus was exempt from the tax. But not wanting to be a stumbling block to the people of Capernaum, Jesus used it to be a faith-building opportunity for Simon Peter. Using Peter’s gift, his talent, his vocation of fishing, Jesus instructed him to go to the lake, cast out his line, and pull in the first fish he hooked. He then told Peter to open its mouth and inside he’d find a four-drachma coin to pay the tax for both of them. By just being obedient with the skills he already had, Peter’s faith was increased greatly, and he was blessed over and above what he could imagined.
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