Ezekiel, Chapter 36, verses 23-28
21 and shall be restored without their desert, 25 The blessings of Christ's kingdomMatthew, Chapter 22, verses 1-14
1 The parable of the marriage of the king's son, 9 The vocation of the Gentiles, 12 The punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment22
22:1 Jesus answering, spake - That is, spake with reference to what had just past.
22:2 A king, who made a marriage feast for his son - So did God, when he brought his first - begotten into the world.
22:3 Them that were invited - Namely, the Jews.
22:4 Fatlings - Fatted beasts and fowls.
22:5 One to his farm, another to his merchandise - One must mind what he has; another, gain what he wants. How many perish by misusing lawful things!
22:7 The king sending forth his troops - The Roman armies employed of God for that purpose. Destroyed those murderers - Primarily the Jews.
22:8 Go into the highways - The word properly signifies, the by - ways, or turnings of the road.
22:10 They gathered all - By preaching every where.
22:11 The guest - The members of the visible Church.
22:12 A wedding garment - The righteousness of Christ, first imputed, then implanted. It may easily be observed, this has no relation to the Lord's Supper, but to God's proceeding at the last day.
22:14 Many are called; few chosen - Many hear; few believe. Yea, many are members of the visible, but few of the invisible Church. Mat 20:16.
36 A promise of the restoration of Israel, from their present deplorable condition, Eze 36:1-15.
They are reminded of their former sins, and God's judgments, Eze 36:16-20.
A promise of pardon, Eze 36:21-24.
And sanctification, Eze 36:25-38.
36:23 I will sanctify my great name - They gave the heathen occasion to think meanly of me, but I will shew I am as great as good.When God performs what he hath sworn by his holiness, then he sanctifies his name.
36:25 Sprinkle - "This signifies both the blood of Christ sprinkled upon their conscience, to take away their guilt, as the water of purification was sprinkled, to take away their ceremonial uncleanness and the grace of the spirit sprinkled on the whole soul, to purify it from all corrupt inclinations and dispositions."
36:26 A new heart - A new frame of soul, a mind changed, from sinful to holy, from carnal to spiritual. A heart in which the law of God is written, Jer 31:33. A sanctified heart, in which the almighty grace of God isvictorious, and turns it from all sin to God. A new spirit - A new, holy frame in the spirit of man; which is given to him, not wrought by his own power. The stony - The senseless unfeeling. Out of your flesh - Out of you. Of flesh - That is, quite of another temper, hearkening to God's law, trembling at his threats, moulded into a compliance with his whole will; to forbear, do, be, or suffer what God will, receiving the impress of God, as soft wax receives the impress of the seal.
36:27 My spirit - The holy spirit of God, which is given to, and dwelleth in all true believers. And cause you - Sweetly, powerfully, yet without compulsion; for our spirits, framed by God's spirit to a disposition suitable to his holiness, readily concurs.Ye shall keep - Be willing; and able to keep the judgments, and to walk in the statutes of God, which is, to live in all holiness.
36:28 Ye shall dwell - Observe: then, and not before, are these promises to be fulfilled to the house of Israel. And I will be your God - This is the foundation of the top - stone of a believer's happiness.