John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 20:16

"because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols." — Ezekiel 20:16 (ASV)

Moses expresses the reason for the previously mentioned oath: because, frightened by a false report, they wished to return to Egypt (Numbers 13:32–33 and Numbers 14:1-3). But here, in this passage, a cause is assigned for their superstitions.

This explanation applies well to both situations, for if they had been sincerely obedient to God, they would never have refused to move their camp and fearlessly proceed where He commanded them.

Since they first detested the land, and then terror and despair seized their minds so that they rejected God's inestimable blessing, it is clear that not a drop of piety existed in their hearts. Therefore, although the specific reason they did not enter the land of Canaan was their refusal to obey God's call, the Prophet also adds their superstitions.

For impiety and contempt for God were the reason they so boldly, proudly, and furiously rejected God's grace, wished even to stone Moses, and then, when penitent, encouraged each other to return to live again under the tyranny of Egypt. We see, therefore, how the Prophet here presents general causes from which their impious dislike of the land proceeded, as well as their rejection of God's grace.

Therefore, he says, because they had despised my judgments and had not walked in my statutes. Here he inverts the order: he had formerly said that they had not walked in His statutes and had despised His judgments; but now he begins with the contempt: and have polluted my Sabbaths, because their hearts went after their idols.

The meaning is that they always treated God deceitfully. Although they maintained that He was to be worshipped formally, they were always addicted to various superstitions, just as Stephen also reproves them (Acts 7:40–43), for he agrees entirely with our Prophet.

Since he uses "Sabbaths" in the plural, I do not interpret this as strictly as some do, who think that the Prophet means Sabbaths of years and then the jubilee. For there were three kinds of Sabbaths among the Jews: namely, every seventh day was consecrated to God, every seventh year, and every fiftieth year.

Although it is true that years were sabbatical as well as days, I do not think that the Prophet is making any subtle distinctions here; instead, I understand "Sabbath" here to mean the seventh day.