Spiritual Gems for the Week of January 4-10, 2027

Ezekiel 12:24. How has this prophecy been fulfilled in our day? (rr p. 100 par. 15; p. 105 par. 27).

Ezekiel 12:24 — For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

Answer 1: This prophecy has been fulfilled through the removal of false religious teachings and practices among God’s people. In the late 19th century and the early 20th century, faithful Christians began meeting in small groups and abandoning those practices. This was not simply a matter of forming religious groups but of restoring pure worship based on the Bible and free from contamination by false religion.

Answer 2: One specific aspect of the fulfillment was the rejection of teachings that had no Scriptural basis. Faithful Christians came to understand that the Trinity, the immortality of the soul, and hell had their roots in false religion. So they stopped accepting them. Thus, the restoration of pure worship involved not only abandoning certain customs but also cleansing their beliefs of doctrines that did not come from God’s Word.

Answer 3: The prophecy has also been fulfilled in connection with the use of images. Faithful Christians exposed the fact that using images to worship God is idolatry. In this way, they identified as a practice of false religion something that many people considered part of their devotion. Abandoning images was a concrete expression of the religious cleansing that accompanied the restoration of pure worship.

Answer 4: Another detail of the fulfillment involves the cross. God’s people gradually came to understand that using it in worship is also idolatry. Therefore, the cleansing did not end with rejecting certain doctrines or stopping the use of particular images. As this matter became clearer, the cross was also abandoned. This shows that the removal of false religious practices took place progressively.

Answer 5: The fulfillment is part of a broader restoration—the restoration of pure worship. Jehovah had promised that the exiles would return to worship him without the contamination of idolatry and other disgusting practices. In our day, that promise is reflected in the religious cleansing of God’s people. This was the fundamental blessing, because the other promised blessings depended on first restoring worship that Jehovah could accept.

What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading have you enjoyed?

Spiritual Gems for EZEKIEL 11

Ezekiel 11:2 — Then He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who are scheming evil and giving wicked advice in this city.

Comment 1: Ezekiel 11:2 shows that advice can be harmful even when it comes from influential people. Those men were directing the people in a bad way. This reminds me that before accepting advice, I should compare it with what Jehovah teaches. The position or confidence of the person speaking does not make his words good guidance.

Ezekiel 11:4 — “So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”

Comment 2: At Ezekiel 11:4, Jehovah commanded the prophet to speak against those who were giving bad advice. It was not an easy message to deliver, but Ezekiel was not to change it to avoid an unpleasant reaction. In the ministry, this encourages me to explain respectfully what the Bible says, even when it does not agree with someone’s beliefs. Being kind does not require hiding the truth; it requires communicating it tactfully and faithfully.

Ezekiel 11:5 — Then the spirit of Jehovah came upon me, and he said to me: “Say, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “What you have said is correct, O house of Israel, and I know what you are thinking.

Comment 3: Ezekiel 11:5 highlights that Jehovah knew what those men were thinking. He was not misled by appearances or limited to listening to their words. This helps me examine my motives, not just my outward conduct. I can ask myself why I do things and what desires I am feeding. Rather than being satisfied with appearing spiritual, I want my thoughts also to reflect love and respect for Jehovah.

Ezekiel 11:12 — and you will have to know that I am Jehovah. For you did not walk in my regulations and carry out my judgments, but you have acted in harmony with the judgments of the nations around you.’”

Comment 4: At Ezekiel 11:12, Jehovah pointed out that the Israelites had replaced his standards with those of the surrounding nations. The problem was not that they did not know who their God was, but that they had adopted other criteria for acting. This makes me think about my daily decisions. The fact that conduct is common or well-regarded does not mean that it is right. I need to check whether my decisions reflect Bible principles or simply the customs around me.

Ezekiel 11:13 — As soon as I prophesied, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died, and I fell facedown and cried with a loud voice: “Alas, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Are you going to exterminate the remaining ones of Israel?”

Comment 5: Ezekiel’s reaction in chapter 11, verse 13, shows how deeply concerned he was about the people. When he saw Pelatiah die, he did not rejoice but expressed his anguish to Jehovah. His example reminds me that speaking about God’s judgments should not make me insensitive. In the ministry, I want to take a genuine interest in people and desire that they listen to Jehovah, rather than adopt an attitude of superiority.

Ezekiel 11:15 — “Son of man, your brothers, those of your brothers with the right of repurchase, along with the entire house of Israel, have been told by the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Keep far away from Jehovah. The land is ours; it has been given to us as a possession.’

Comment 6: Ezekiel 11:15 shows that the inhabitants of Jerusalem despised the exiles and considered the land to belong to them. They were using their situation to feel superior to their brothers. This teaches me not to judge someone’s relationship with Jehovah by his outward circumstances. A person going through difficulties does not deserve less respect. In the congregation, I want to avoid comparisons and treat with dignity those who are going through painful times.

Ezekiel 11:16 — Therefore say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Although I have removed them far away among the nations and I have scattered them among the lands, for a little while I will become a sanctuary for them in the lands to which they have gone.”’

Comment 7: At Ezekiel 11:16, Jehovah promised to be a sanctuary for the exiles in the countries where they were. Although they were far from their land, they were not beyond his reach. It comforts me to see that Jehovah could care for them even there. If a change in circumstances distances me from familiar places and people, I can continue drawing close to him in prayer. His help is not limited to the setting in which I once felt secure.

Ezekiel 11:17 — “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “I will also collect you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Comment 8: Ezekiel 11:17 contains a very specific promise: Jehovah would gather those who had been scattered and return them to their land. For the exiles, their situation may have seemed difficult to change, but Jehovah had not forgotten his purpose. This helps me not to measure his promises by what I can see at the moment. My hope does not have to depend on circumstances appearing favorable but on the trustworthiness of the One who gave his word.

Ezekiel 11:18 — And they will return there and remove from it all its disgusting things and detestable practices.

Comment 9: Ezekiel 11:18 shows that returning to the land would not be enough. Those who returned would have to remove the things and practices that Jehovah detested. The restoration of pure worship required actions, not merely good feelings. This encourages me to examine whether I retain any religious custom that is not in harmony with the Bible. If I discover one, love for Jehovah should move me to abandon it, even if it has sentimental value for me.

Ezekiel 11:19 — And I will give them a unified heart, and I will put a new spirit in them; and I will remove the heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh,

Comment 10: At Ezekiel 11:19, the contrast between a heart of stone and a heart of flesh highlights the need to leave hardness behind and be receptive to Jehovah. He was not looking only for outward changes. This makes me think about how I react when I receive Bible-based counsel. Do I close myself off immediately, or am I willing to reconsider my attitude? I want to ask Jehovah to help me keep my heart sensitive to his guidance and willing to change.

Ezekiel 11:20 — in order that they may walk in my statutes and observe my judgments and obey them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.”’

Comment 11: Ezekiel 11:20 explains why the people needed a changed heart: so that they could obey Jehovah’s regulations. Thus, a good inner disposition had to be reflected in conduct. This verse helps me evaluate my personal study. It is not enough for an idea to seem beautiful or interesting to me; I need to think about how to put it into practice. Obedience is a concrete way to show that I value my relationship with Jehovah and want to belong to his people.

Ezekiel 11:25 — And I began to tell the exiled people all the things that Jehovah had shown me.

Comment 12: Ezekiel 11:25 says that the prophet told the exiles everything that Jehovah had shown him. He did not keep the information to himself or choose only what was easiest to communicate. His example teaches me to share faithfully what I learn from the Bible. When commenting at meetings or teaching in the ministry, I want to explain the message clearly, without adding personal ideas as though they were teachings from Jehovah or omitting what the listener needs to know.

Spiritual Gems for EZEKIEL 12

Ezekiel 12:2 — “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but they do not see, and ears to hear, but they do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Comment 1: Ezekiel 12:2 shows that the people’s problem was not a lack of eyes or ears but their rebelliousness. They could receive the message and still refuse to accept it. This reminds me that listening at a meeting involves more than being present. I need a humble attitude, willing to recognize what I must change and to act accordingly.

Ezekiel 12:3 — As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself luggage for going into exile. Then, during the day while they are watching, you must go into exile. Go into exile from your home to another place while they are watching. Perhaps they will take notice, even though they are a rebellious house.

Comment 2: At Ezekiel 12:3, I am struck by the fact that Jehovah still offered the people an opportunity to pay attention, even though he described them as rebellious. He asked Ezekiel to portray the exile in a visible way. This reveals his willingness to continue warning them. In the ministry, it encourages me not to give up on someone simply because he showed no interest before. I can look for a clear and respectful way to help him understand the Bible’s message.

Ezekiel 12:7 — I did just as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my luggage as luggage for going into exile, and in the evening I bored a hole through the wall by hand. And when it was dark, I took out my belongings, carrying them on my shoulder right before their eyes.

Comment 3: Ezekiel 12:7 highlights the prophet’s careful obedience. He prepared the luggage, bored a hole with his hands, and carried out his belongings just as he had been instructed. This required effort and exposed him to the gaze of others. His example encourages me not to limit my obedience to what is comfortable or discreet. When I understand what Jehovah asks in his Word, I want to put it into practice, even if it requires work or makes me feel watched.

Ezekiel 12:9 — “Son of man, did not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’

Comment 4: At Ezekiel 12:9, the question about what the prophet was doing led to an explanation of the message. His actions had made visible something the people needed to understand. This makes me think about the value of arousing interest when teaching. Instead of giving a great deal of information all at once, I can use a simple question or an appropriate example and then explain its connection with the Bible. The objective is not to impress but to make understanding easier.

Ezekiel 12:10 — Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “This pronouncement concerns the chieftain in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel within the city.”’

Comment 5: Ezekiel 12:10 indicates that Jehovah’s pronouncement included both Jerusalem’s chieftain and the house of Israel that was there. Responsibility before God did not disappear because someone occupied an important position. This reminds me that Bible principles apply to everyone. If I have a responsibility in the family or in the congregation, I should not think that I need less counsel. On the contrary, I want to be the first to take Jehovah’s guidance seriously.

Ezekiel 12:13 — I will cast my net over him, and he will be caught in my hunting net. Then I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it; and there he will die.

Comment 6: At Ezekiel 12:13, Jehovah announced that he would catch Jerusalem’s chieftain as in a net. Even if he tried to escape, he could not evade divine judgment. This passage reminds me that hiding conduct or preventing others from discovering it does not solve the problem before Jehovah. If I have done something wrong, the sensible course is not to make excuses or cover it up but to acknowledge it and correct myself. I am better off being concerned about being right with Jehovah than about preserving appearances.

Ezekiel 12:16 — But I will spare a few of them from the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, so that they may tell about all their detestable practices among the nations where they will go; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.”

Comment 7: Ezekiel 12:16 shows that some survivors would tell the nations about the detestable practices they had committed. Their account was not to hide the causes of what had happened. This teaches me the value of acknowledging mistakes sincerely. If I have to explain a situation in which I acted wrongly, I should not mention only the details that favor me. Admitting my responsibility, instead of blaming others or the circumstances, shows respect for Jehovah’s standards.

Ezekiel 12:18 — “Son of man, you should eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with agitation and anxiety.

Comment 8: Ezekiel 12:18 shows the prophet representing the anguish with which the people would eat and drink. The warning described not only material losses but also made emotional suffering visible. This reminds me that a person may have food and still be experiencing deep anguish. In the congregation, I want to take an interest not only in my brothers’ practical needs but also in how they feel, listening to them patiently and without minimizing their fears.

Ezekiel 12:19 — Say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says to the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, for their land will become completely desolate because of the violence of all those dwelling in it.

Comment 9: Ezekiel 12:19 connects the desolation of the land with the violence of its inhabitants. Jehovah did not consider violence an insignificant matter, and its consequences would deeply affect people’s lives. This moves me to examine how I treat others, especially when I am upset. I do not want to justify aggressive conduct because I am tired or under pressure. I want my words and actions to help make my home a place of peace, not fear.

Ezekiel 12:22 — “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in Israel that says, ‘The days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?

Comment 10: At Ezekiel 12:22, a popular saying expressed the idea that visions never came true. Repeating that phrase could make disbelief seem reasonable. This reminds me that an opinion does not become true because many people repeat it. If I hear comments mocking Jehovah’s promises, I need to return to what his Word says. I do not want the confident tone of others to replace the reasons I have for trusting him.

Ezekiel 12:25 — ‘“For I, Jehovah, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be done without any more delay. In your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and carry it out,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.’”

Comment 11: Ezekiel 12:25 presents Jehovah as a God who not only speaks but also carries out what he announces. On that occasion, he assured them that he would execute his word during the lifetime of those listening to him. This strengthens my confidence in his faithfulness. I do not need to add personal dates or calculations to his promises in order to regard them as certain. What gives them value is that they come from Jehovah, who has the ability to fulfill what he says.

Ezekiel 12:27 — “Son of man, this is what the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for a long time from now, and he is prophesying about the distant future.’

Comment 12: At Ezekiel 12:27, some did not directly deny the prophecy, but placed it in such a distant future that they felt no need to react. That attitude could produce the same result as disbelief: continuing unchanged. It helps me ask myself whether I am putting off some change that I know I need to make. I do not need to know how much time remains in order to decide to obey Jehovah. What matters is responding to his guidance now, because I already know that it is right.

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