And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights a striking disconnect: they sit as God's people and hear the prophet's words, but their "heart is set on their gain." This reveals how one can present an image of piety, even appearing attentive, while inwardly driven by self-interest, completely missing the transformative power of God's message.
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel has just been warned about his duty to proclaim God's message, and now he sees a stark contrast between outward religious behavior and inner reality. People are flocking to hear him, sitting attentively as if they were God's true people, yet their hearts are far from God, filled with greed and insincere words. This passage reveals the superficial devotion of many who hear God's word but refuse to obey it, prioritizing personal gain over spiritual transformation.
Have you ever gone through the motions of faith without truly feeling it? These people did. They showed up, they looked the part, but something was missing.
Ezekiel describes people who come to him in droves, sitting before him as if they are God's true people. They adopt the posture of disciples, attentive and seemingly devout. This outward display creates an illusion of commitment, making them appear to be God's own. It's a performance of faith, a mimicking of true worship without the genuine heart behind it.
What truly captures your attention when you hear God's Word? For these people, it wasn't God's commands, but their own desires.
The core of the problem lies in their hearts. They 'hear what you say but they will not do it' because their affections are elsewhere. Their mouths might profess love or agreement, but their hearts are captivated by 'gain' – a deep-seated greed and desire for personal advantage. This isn't just about money; it's about anything that pulls their ultimate allegiance away from God.
Understand the original words
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‘am · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to those who claim covenantal status with God. It signifies belonging to God's chosen community, which carries the responsibility of obedience and living according to His law.
leḇ · Hebrew Noun
A fundamental biblical concept referring to the inner life of a human being—the seat of thought, will, desire, and moral decision-making. It is the core of a person’s being from which conduct flows.
beṣa‘ · Hebrew Noun
Biblically, this often refers to covetousness, greed, or unjust profit. It describes the pursuit of material wealth or selfish advantage at the expense of others or God's commandments.
This verse describes a recurring problem: people presenting themselves as God's people, hearing His word, but ultimately refusing to obey. Ezekiel, ministering during the Babylonian exile, witnessed firsthand how people could outwardly perform religious acts while inwardly clinging to their greed and desires, a pattern that continued even after the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many Judean nobles and craftsmen were exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II. This marked the beginning of the end for the kingdom of Judah.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its glorious Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This event was a catastrophic fulfillment of prophetic warnings.
c. 593-571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Ministry in Exile
Ezekiel prophesied to the exiles in Babylon, delivering messages of judgment and future restoration. He confronted their complacency and false hopes.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus's Decree Allowing Return
King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The Second Temple was completed and dedicated in Jerusalem, a significant milestone for the returned exiles.
This passage highlights the superficiality of some listeners, who hear the Word with initial joy but lack deep roots, allowing worldly cares and desires to choke out genuine fruitfulness, mirroring Ezekiel's description of those who hear but do not do.
James 1:22James directly confronts the disconnect between hearing God's word and failing to act on it, a core issue in Ezekiel 33:31, emphasizing that true faith requires obedience, not just passive reception.
Matthew 7:21Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of His Father, directly challenging the kind of outward profession without inner commitment described in Ezekiel's prophecy.
1 Samuel 16:7This verse reminds us that while people may look at outward appearances or listen to eloquent words, God looks at the heart, which is precisely where the hypocrisy of Ezekiel's audience is exposed – their hearts are far from God and focused on gain.
Colossians 3:5Paul identifies covetousness as idolatry, a concept that resonates deeply with Ezekiel's prophecy where the people's heart is set on their gain, showing how misplaced desires for worldly things ultimately displace devotion to God.
barnesEzekiel 33:31: "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
As the people cometh - literally, as in the margin, i. e., in crowds. Render it: they shall come "unto thee" like the coming of a people," and" shall "sit before thee as My people" etc., i. e., they assume the attitude of God's people listening to His pro…
jfbEzekiel 33:31: "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
- as the people cometh—that is, in crowds, as disciples flock to their teacher.sit before thee—on lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (De 33:3; 2Ki 4:38; Lu 10:39; Ac 22:3).as my people—though they are not.hear … not do—(Mt…
The text highlights a striking disconnect: they sit as God's people and hear the prophet's words, but their "heart is set on their gain." This reveals how one can present an image of piety, even appearing attentive, while inwardly driven by self-interest, completely missing the transformative power of God's message.
Ezekiel has just been warned about his duty to proclaim God's message, and now he sees a stark contrast between outward religious behavior and inner reality. People are flocking to hear him, sitting attentively as if they were God's true people, yet their hearts are far from God, filled with greed and insincere words. This passage reveals the superficial devotion of many who hear God's word but refuse to obey it, prioritizing personal gain over spiritual transformation.
Ezekiel has just been warned about his duty to proclaim God's message, and now he sees a stark contrast between outward religious behavior and inner reality. People are flocking to hear him, sitting attentively as if they were God's true people, yet their hearts are far from God, filled with greed and insincere words. This passage reveals the superficial devotion of many who hear God's word but refuse to obey it, prioritizing personal gain over spiritual transformation.
"And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain." — The text highlights a striking disconnect: they sit as God's people and hear the prophet's words, but their "heart is set on their gain." This reveals how one can present an image of piety, even…
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Last reviewed October 2026