Matthew Henry Commentary Ezekiel 8:7-12

"And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. And he said unto me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand; and the odor of the cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land." — Ezekiel 8:7-12 (ASV)

A secret place was, so to speak, opened, where the prophet saw creatures painted on the walls, and a number of the elders of Israel worshipped before them.

No superiority in worldly matters will preserve people from lust or idolatries when they are left to their own deceitful hearts; and those who are soon weary in the service of God often spare no effort or expense when following their superstitions.

When hypocrites screen themselves behind the wall of an outward profession, there is some hole or another left in the wall, something that betrays them to those who look diligently.

There is a great deal of secret wickedness in the world. They think themselves out of God's sight. But those are ripe indeed for ruin who lay the blame of their sins upon the Lord.