Fathers

Ezekiel 2

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He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me. He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me even to this very day. The children are impudent and stiff-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says.’ They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse, for they are a rebellious house, yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them. You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse; for they are most rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I tell you. Don’t be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.” When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was in it. He spread it before me. It was written within and without; and lamentations, mourning, and woe were written in it.

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What the Fathers say

Ezekiel 2:5

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But what means, "It may be they will reverence?" It is not the language of one ignorant, away with the thought! but of one desiring to show the sin to be great; and without any excuse. Since Himself knowing that they would slay Him, He sent Him. But He saith, "They will reverence," declaring what ought to have been done, that it was their duty to have reverenced Him. …

Homilies On The Gospel Of Matthew 68:1 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: If perhaps they will listen, and if perhaps they will be quiet, for the house is provoking, and they will know that there was a prophet among them. Something similar is written in Jeremiah: If perhaps they will listen and do penance. (Jer. XXVI, 3). And in the Gospel: Perhaps they will fear my son. (Matth. XXI, 37). …

Commentary on Ezekiel ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

"If perhaps they themselves may hear, and if perhaps they may be still, because it is a provoking house." While it is established that almighty God knows all things, it is greatly to be wondered why it is said: "If perhaps they will hear, and if perhaps they will be still." Therefore we must know that this doubt in God's speech descends not from ignorance, but from some signification. For who does not know that He who made and sees all things knows all things? …

Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 9 ↗