³⁰ “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ 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. ³² Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Summary

Basically, this short passage illustrates a people who listen to the Word of God spoken through this prophet but don’t obey the laws or act on what they are being taught.

Reflection

This is still extremely relevant today. Many people grow up in a church, and go through the motions of worship. However, once the church service is over or they are around different people, everything they have been taught goes out the window. This is something I’ve seen firsthand, and it pushed me away from the church. It was impossible for me to take them seriously, as their individual and collective actions would often conflict with the sermons being preached. Overall, this seems like an issue “Christians” will face until the end of time. God calls us not just to hear the Word, but to obey it as well (Luke 11:28).