Bible Commentaries

Ezra 10:13

Many lessons may be learned from the few simple words of the text.

I. The first is the ease with which people can fall into sin. The people before us had fallen into sin easily and gradually through being left to themselves. It is the first step which gives pain, but take that, and the rest is easy. It is like setting off down a steep hill. Just take the first step, and presently you are off with a run and a rush, and cannot stop yourself if you will. Take heed to the first step, lest it place you in a moment in such a position that not the work of a day, nor of a week, nor of a year, nor of a lifetime may free you from its consequences.

II. If you do take a false step, take means immediately to undo it. That is what the people in the street of the house of the Lord did. They saw that there was no time for delay; they saw that it was a work which would take time; so they decided to begin at once, and vigorously put away the evil from them. If you should commit any sin whatever, take the readiest and justest way to undo it. The longer you leave the matter alone, the harder it will be to rectify it, and it may even happen that you are unable to rectify it at all, and then it will tend to become a sad burden to your conscience to your dying day.

III. The text teaches a lesson of perseverance. Nothing worth having is to be obtained without labour and perseverance. A thing that quickly grows quickly withers. Things which men desire can only be got by striving after them. The first thing to do is to make sure that what you desire is good and right; then work towards it with all your might.

G. Litting, Thirty Sermons for Children, pp. 96, 105.

References: Ezra 10:4.—Clergyman's Magazine, vol. viii., p. 287. Ezra 10:13.—G. T. Coster, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xiv., p. 245.