Now as for you, son of man, tell the house of Israel that this is what they have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy upon us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we live?’
Israel complains that their sins weigh them down and they are wasting away, but they twist God's conditional promise into a mockery, as if He had set life out of reach on purpose. They pervert the prophet's word, turning what was meant to drive them to repentance into an excuse for despair. Thus corrupt minds pick quarrels with God's mercy itself.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 33:10-20
Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord,.... The following is the answer returned from the Lord by the prophet to their above complaint and reasoning; to which is premised the oath of God, showing the certainty, reality, and sincerity of what is said, which might be depended on as true: I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, &c.
be upon us--that is, their guilt remain on us. pine away in them--if we suffer the penalty threatened for them in Eze 24:23, according to the law (Lev 26:39). how should we . . . live?--as Thou dost promise in Eze 33:5 (compare Eze 37:11; Isa 49:14).