Eze 9:5 | KingComments | STEP | The executors of judgment are commanded to go after the Man in linen ( ). They are to pass through the city and kill without any pity for anyone and without sparing anyone. The judgment is without regard to persons; age and gender are not considered either ( ; cf. ). However, they are not allowed to even touch anyone who has the mark applied by the Man in linen. The mark is the sure protection from judgment because He has applied it. The LORD also says where the six men are to begin. According to the Divine principle, they are to begin where the worst sins have happened and that is in the place where the greatest privileges were given. It is precisely in that place that His people have despised them and replaced them with the greatest abominations. It is an illustration of the saying: the corruption of the best is the worst corruption. Therefore, they must start from God’s sanctuary. Those who are in the closest relationship to God and serve in His house are most responsible to live in accordance with this great privilege. If they do not, they are the most guilty. That is what the two oldest sons of Aaron experienced. They drew near to God in His dwelling place in a self-willed way. For this, God had to judge them. As the reason for this judgment He pronounces: “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy” ( ). According to this principle, God also acts with His New Testament house, the church: “For [it is] time for judgment to begin with the household of God” ( ). When the men start to judge, they also start with the most responsible, “the elders”, the twenty-five who worship the sun ( ). They are commanded to “defile the temple” by filling the courts with the slain ( ). This is no different than making visible what had long been the condition of temple. This is how God makes visible the hidden transgressions.

‏ Ezekiel 9:5

Judgment Begins With the Household of God

The executors of judgment are commanded to go after the Man in linen (Eze 9:5). They are to pass through the city and kill without any pity for anyone and without sparing anyone. The judgment is without regard to persons; age and gender are not considered either (Eze 9:6; cf. 2Chr 36:17). However, they are not allowed to even touch anyone who has the mark applied by the Man in linen. The mark is the sure protection from judgment because He has applied it.

The LORD also says where the six men are to begin. According to the Divine principle, they are to begin where the worst sins have happened and that is in the place where the greatest privileges were given. It is precisely in that place that His people have despised them and replaced them with the greatest abominations. It is an illustration of the saying: the corruption of the best is the worst corruption. Therefore, they must start from God’s sanctuary. Those who are in the closest relationship to God and serve in His house are most responsible to live in accordance with this great privilege. If they do not, they are the most guilty.

That is what the two oldest sons of Aaron experienced. They drew near to God in His dwelling place in a self-willed way. For this, God had to judge them. As the reason for this judgment He pronounces: “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy” (Lev 10:3). According to this principle, God also acts with His New Testament house, the church: “For [it is] time for judgment to begin with the household of God” (1Pet 4:17).

When the men start to judge, they also start with the most responsible, “the elders”, the twenty-five who worship the sun (Eze 8:16). They are commanded to “defile the temple” by filling the courts with the slain (Eze 9:7). This is no different than making visible what had long been the condition of temple. This is how God makes visible the hidden transgressions.