Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

This verse reminds me of Ephesians 2:8-9, which tells us that even the faith in Christ that saves us is not of our own doing, but is a gift from God. (It has to be that way, since all humans are sinful by nature, and incapable of coming to God by their own will.)

In the same way, God was also promising through Ezekiel to turn the Israelites back to Him from the idolatry and disobedience into which they had fallen, and to give them a new mindset (for which the "heart" is a metaphor) that would not be resistant to His guidance (as stone would repel attempts to penetrate it), but would instead be "flesh", and thus receptive to His commandments and laws.

11 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Donna Williams Supporter

In this particular passage, the Lord is making a new covenant with the house of Israel by stating that He would give them a new heart and a new spirit.

God's purpose was that the children of Israel would follow Him by making them anew to walk in total submission and obedience to all of His commandments and statutes. 

In verse 27, it is evident that He would perform it by the power of the Holy Spirit in order for them to walk in all of His ways. There would be a joining of the two, the Spirit of God with the spirit of man.

It is the same for us today who are New Testament believers of God's grace. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience and to further the ministry of Jesus Christ in the earth. 

I believe that Ezekiel 36:26, is a foreshadow of the new covenant of grace, and that mankind would experience being born again. 

In John chapter 3, Jesus speaks about being born of water and of the Spirit which is the same as what the Holy Spirit revealed in Ezekiel chapters 11 and 36.

The new birth is the washing of regeneration (water or the washing of the Word) and the renewing (fire) of the Holy Spirit. See Titus 3:5

In Matthew 3:11, we see the water and the Holy Spirit. The word fire was added, however the fire is a part of the new birth, because it signifies purification or being refined by fire.

May I encourage you to read these verses that I have shared so that you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and that He will lead you and guide you into all truth.

10 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Yes, I agree with Donna's answer. "Being born of water and of the Spirit" in the Bible, particularly in John 3:5, is directly linked to the imagery in Ezekiel chapters 11 and 36, where God speaks of cleansing and renewal through "water" symbolizing the Holy Spirit's work of spiritual transformation, essentially signifying a new birth or regeneration of the heart and spirit; meaning that just as water cleanses physically, the Holy Spirit cleanses one spiritually, creating a new life in God. 

While there isn't a direct, explicit connection between "being born of water and the Spirit" in John 3:5 and imagery in Ezekiel 11, the concept of cleansing and renewal through the Holy Spirit, represented by "water" in John, aligns with Ezekiel's theme of spiritual transformation, where God promises to "sprinkle clean water" upon his people, signifying a spiritual rebirth and cleansing from sin; thus, both passages speak to the idea of a spiritual renewal through divine action.

10 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Ezekiel 36:26: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

From the beginning of the creation, Noah and his sons overspread the earth and were all of one language after the floods. Lord came down to see what they did as nothing would restrain what they imagined doing. The Lord confounded their language and scattered them. (Gen 7:6/9:19/11:6-8) Lord appeared to Abram and he was told he would be the Father of many nations, and he shall be called Abraham. (Gen 17:1-6) When Abraham departed from his father’s house in Haran, his first son was Ishmael born to Hagar the Egyptian. He sent Hagar and the child Ishmael away, and they went into the wilderness of Beersheba, that is before Egypt, and towards Assyria. Ishmael then had a wife from Egypt and became the father of a great nation. (Gen 17:20/21:14,21/25:18) The Lord visited Sarah, Abraham's wife and she conceived and bore Isaac. (Gen 21:1-2) After Sarah died, Abraham took a wife named Keturah, who bore him sons and then were sent eastward to the east country. This land was the Arabian Peninsula of “Midian, Sheba, Dedan” named after Abraham's sons and grandsons. Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in this land of Midian and married the daughter of the priest in Midian. (Gen 25:1-6/Exo 2:15,21) 

The children of Israel dwelt in their land, then were scattered among the heathen and were dispersed through the countries when they profaned the Holy name of the Lord. (Eze 36:17-21) Just as all nations who scattered from the time of Abraham, the Lord shall bring a sword upon these nations of the land. There will come a time “Where there shall be enemies of high places set against these nations claiming the ancient high places are ours.” (Eze 36:2) "Behold, the Lord will be for you, and He will turn you to be tilled, and sown, for then they shall set a man on their coast to be their watchman. These watchmen, who see the the sword coming upon the land, shall blow the trumpets and warn the people." (Eze 33:1-6/36:9) Sheba and Dedan shall say, "Are thou come to take a spoil?" For the Lord shall rain against Gog and his bands overflowing with rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. (Eze 38:13,22) For there will be people who will be then taken up in the lips of talkers who will be infamy of the people. Those who hear the trumpet and take not the warning his blood shall be upon him, but he that taketh warning shall save his life. (Eze 33:1:7) 

Those who save their lives will remember the detestable things they have done and will be given a “new heart and a new spirit” that will lead them to walk in His ways and save them from all uncleanness. On the day of the second coming of the Lord, for His Holy Name's sake, they will all be gathered from all countries and will be brought into the land of their forefathers. (Eze 36:27-28,35,37) For His Name shall be sanctified before the eyes of the heathen. There shall be the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth who will be sent and shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth. (Zec 4:14/Rev 11:3) And it shall come to pass that in all the land two parts therein shall be cut and die but the third shall be left, who will be brought through the fire, and he will refine them and give them a new heart. During that time all nations shall gather against Jerusalem to battle and shall ravish them, then shall the Lord go forth and fight against the nations as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zec 13:8-9/14:2-5)

Ezekiel 18:31: Cast away from you all your transgression, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel.

8 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report