John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 12:1-2

"The word of Jehovah also came unto me, saying, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, that have eyes to see, and see not, that have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious house." — Ezekiel 12:1-2 (ASV)

Because God was about to give a command to His servant, He wished to inspire him with fortitude of mind, so that when he saw that he was spending his labor in vain, he would not withdraw from his course. For we know how severe that temptation is to God’s servants when they speak to the deaf, and not only is their teaching rejected but even refused with disgrace.

They think, therefore, that nothing is better than silence, because where their word is so despised it only exposes the name of God to the reproaches of the ungodly. Now then we understand for what purpose God admonishes His Prophet about the stubborn rebellion of the nation. The Prophet had experienced enough, and more than enough, how unmanageable the Israelites were, but God confirms by His judgment what the Prophet had discovered sufficiently in practice.

Then we must observe another reason, for God not only commanded His Prophet what to say, but He also added an outward symbol, as we shall see. But the Prophet might object that it would be ridiculous to take a staff, a traveler's bag, and a hat, like a traveler about to begin a journey. Nor is it doubtful that the Israelites, out of perversity, derided what he was doing as a childish game.

So that the Prophet would not think what he was commanded to do was absurd, God instructs him and gives him the reason for His plan. He says, therefore, the house of Israel is rebellious, and then He expresses the greatness of their stubborn rebellion, namely, that they are deaf, though equipped with ears: that they are blind, and yet do not lack eyes. God here shows that the Israelites could not defend their error, as if they had sinned without consideration; but He attributes their neither hearing nor seeing to their obstinacy.

And this must be diligently noted, because hypocrites, when convicted, grasp as much as possible at this excuse: that they fell through error or ignorance. But God, on the contrary, here pronounces that the Israelites were blind and deaf, and shows that their blindness was voluntary.

When, therefore, unbelievers pretend that they have not been illuminated by the Lord, it may be conceded to them that they are blind and deaf. But we must often proceed beyond this, since their own obstinacy is the source of their blindness and deafness; and God blinds them because they will not admit the light offered them, but stop their ears.

Indeed, in God’s judgments, the causes do not always appear, for we sometimes see a whole nation blinded without any reason apparent to us. But as far as the ten tribes are concerned, there can be no excuse for their error, since they were brought up from childhood in God’s law, so that their pride and contempt caused God to reject them.

Hence they were so stupefied that they neither saw with their eyes nor heard with their ears. And this the Prophet expresses significantly: they hear not, he says, since they are a rebellious house; He does not say it is because their senses do not penetrate to the secrets of God, are not sufficiently acute, or are not equipped with such great prudence; but because they are a rebellious house, that is, because they have stupefied themselves. Therefore, it happens that they neither hear nor see.