Ezekiel 13:23
“Therefore you shall no more see false visions, nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’””
What does Ezekiel 13:23 mean?
God is speaking here to false prophets who claim to receive visions and messages from him, but actually lead people astray with lies and empty promises. He's saying their deceptive practices will come to an end, and the people they've manipulated and controlled will be freed from their grip. When this happens, both the false prophets and the people they've harmed will finally understand that God is real and truly in charge, not the phonies who pretended to speak for him. This matters because it's a reminder that God cares about people being deceived or exploited in his name. Whether in Ezekiel's ancient context or in our own time, he doesn't ignore it when someone uses spiritual authority to manipulate or harm others. There's comfort here if you've ever felt misled by false teaching, and it's a sobering word if you've ever been tempted to use your influence dishonestly.