Ezekiel 33:31 – “My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.”

Extended Explanation of the Verse

Ezekiel 33:31 reveals the disconnect between the people’s outward actions and their inner hearts. They appeared eager to hear God’s word, regularly gathering to listen to Ezekiel’s messages. However, their actions betrayed their true motives. Their words expressed love and devotion, but their hearts were consumed by greed and self-interest.

This verse highlights the danger of superficial faith—hearing God’s word without letting it transform one’s life. The people were interested in listening but unwilling to put God’s commands into practice. Their failure to align their hearts and actions with God’s will exposed their hypocrisy.

Historical Context

During Ezekiel’s ministry, the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, facing the consequences of their rebellion against God. Despite their suffering, many of them continued to cling to sinful attitudes and behaviors. Their outward acts of religiosity, such as listening to Ezekiel’s messages, were not accompanied by true repentance or obedience.

Ezekiel had been warning the people of judgment while also offering hope for restoration if they would turn back to God. However, this verse shows that the people’s hearts were still hardened, prioritizing personal gain over genuine faithfulness.

Theological Implications

This verse communicates several important truths about the nature of faith and obedience:

1. True faith requires action: Hearing God’s word without putting it into practice is meaningless. Faith must be accompanied by obedience.
2. God sees the heart: While the people’s words seemed loving, their hearts were far from God. He desires sincerity, not lip service.
3. Greed and self-interest block true worship: The people’s pursuit of “unjust gain” demonstrated that their priorities were misaligned with God’s will.

This verse challenges believers to examine their motives and ensure that their outward expressions of faith are matched by inward sincerity and godly actions.

Literary Analysis

The verse contrasts the people’s external actions (“sit before you to hear your words”) with their internal realities (“their hearts are greedy for unjust gain”). This contrast emphasizes the hypocrisy of their behavior.

The phrase “Their mouths speak of love” highlights their superficial religiosity, while “their hearts are greedy” exposes the root problem: a divided allegiance. The repetition of contrasting actions and motives reinforces the message that God values genuine faith over empty rituals.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Isaiah 29:13 – “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
• James 1:22-24 – A call to be doers of the Word, not just hearers, comparing those who don’t act to someone who forgets their reflection in a mirror.
• Matthew 7:21-23 – Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of the Father.
• Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
• Matthew 15:8-9 – Jesus rebukes superficial worship, quoting Isaiah: “Their hearts are far from me.”

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

For Christians today, Ezekiel 33:31 is a reminder to align our words and actions with our faith. It challenges us to evaluate whether we are merely going through the motions of worship or genuinely living out God’s commands.

This verse warns against the danger of complacency or hypocrisy in our spiritual lives. Regularly attending church, listening to sermons, or reading the Bible is not enough if those activities do not lead to transformed hearts and actions.

It also calls us to examine our priorities. Are we motivated by self-interest or a sincere desire to honor God?

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s rebuke in this verse reflects His love and desire for a genuine relationship with His people. He doesn’t want empty rituals or superficial devotion; He longs for His people to know Him and live in obedience to His will.

God’s willingness to confront the people’s hypocrisy shows His commitment to their growth and transformation. His love drives Him to call them out of shallow faith into a deeper, more authentic relationship with Him.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus frequently addressed the issue of hypocrisy in His ministry, challenging those who honored God with their lips but not with their lives (Matthew 23:27-28). He called for true discipleship, characterized by obedience, love, and humility.

Through Jesus, we see the perfect example of alignment between words and actions. His life demonstrated complete obedience to the Father’s will, and His teachings encourage us to follow Him wholeheartedly. In Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out our faith authentically (John 14:15-17).

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are there areas in your life where your words and actions don’t align with your faith?
2. How can you move from simply hearing God’s Word to putting it into practice?
3. What steps can you take to ensure your worship and devotion are genuine and not superficial?
4. How does understanding God’s desire for a sincere relationship encourage you to grow in faith and obedience?
5. In what ways can Jesus’ life and teachings inspire you to live a life that reflects true faith?