Ezekiel Explained: A Bible Study

Bible Explained
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Who wrote the Book of Ezekiel? What is the Book of Ezekiel about? The Book of Ezekiel contains some of the most striking visions and severe warnings in all of Scripture. Written to exiles in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel emphasizes the absolute sovereignty and holiness of God. When God's glory departs from a rebellious Jerusalem, all hope seems lost—until God promises a new covenant, swearing to replace His people's hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. In this verse-by-verse study, we navigate Ezekiel’s prophecies, from the valley of dry bones to the vision of the future temple, seeing how they ultimately point to the restorative work of Jesus Christ. This exposition provides rigorous, biblical depth while remaining accessible for daily Christian living. Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary. Dr. Holt's sermons have reached over 1.9 million listeners on SermonAudio. He focuses on clear, verse-by-verse teaching that makes the Bible easy to understand. Support New Geneva: To support Dr. Holt's ministry at the seminary, please visit: newgeneva.org/give.

Episodes

  1. The Vision Of A Wheel

    05/06/2025

    The Vision Of A Wheel

    What was Ezekiel’s vision of the wheels? In Ezekiel 1, the book opens with a dazzling vision of living creatures, “wheels within wheels,” and the glory of God. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains what this strange vision reveals about God. By a river in exile, the priest Ezekiel sees four living creatures and gleaming wheels full of eyes, with the glory of the Lord enthroned above. Dr. Holt explains the meaning: the wheels that can move in any direction picture God’s presence everywhere — proof that God was with His people even in Babylon, not confined to the temple. The eyes picture His all-seeing knowledge. And it is God who comes to Ezekiel, not the other way around — a God who pursues His people, even in exile. Questions this study answers: 1. What does the chariot-like vision signify? God’s majestic, mobile presence. He is not tied to one place but reigns over all the earth. 2. What did the wheels and eyes represent? The wheels picture God’s presence everywhere; the eyes picture His complete knowledge. He is everywhere and sees everything. 3. What does this teach us about God? That He is present even in our exile and hardship, all-knowing and all-powerful — and that He comes to seek His people. “Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” — Ezekiel 1:28 (NKJV) Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Ezekiel Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

    31 min
  2. The Prophet And The Scroll

    29/05/2025

    The Prophet And The Scroll

    Why did God tell Ezekiel to eat a scroll? In Ezekiel 2:1 through 3:15, God commissions the prophet by handing him a scroll — and telling him to eat it. Dr. Toby Holt explains this strange command and what it teaches about God's Word. God calls Ezekiel to preach to a stubborn, rebellious people who likely will not listen. He gives him a scroll filled with "lamentations and mourning and woe," and commands him to eat it — to take God's Word fully into himself before speaking it. Amazingly, the scroll tastes sweet as honey. Repeatedly called "son of man," Ezekiel foreshadows Christ — sent to His own people, and rejected. Questions this study answers: 1. Why did God tell Ezekiel to eat the scroll? To picture taking God's Word deep within himself before proclaiming it. A true messenger must first internalize the message. 2. Why did the scroll of "woe" taste sweet? Because God's Word, even when it warns of judgment, is good and life-giving. Its truth is sweet to those who receive it. 3. How is Ezekiel like Christ? Both are called "son of man" and sent to God's own rebellious people. Ezekiel's hard calling foreshadows the Savior who would also be rejected. "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." — Ezekiel 3:1 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    29 min
  3. The Watchman Of God

    22/05/2025

    The Watchman Of God

    What is a spiritual watchman? In Ezekiel 3:16-21, God appoints the prophet as a "watchman" for His people. Dr. Toby Holt explains the watchman's solemn duty — and what it means for us. A watchman had two jobs: to watch and to warn. If he saw danger and stayed silent, the people's blood would be on his hands. God tells Ezekiel the danger is not a foreign army but God's own judgment on sin, and he must warn both the wicked and the righteous. A faithful minister is measured by his faithfulness in speaking the truth, not by how people respond. Questions this study answers: 1. What was a watchman? A guard who watched for danger and sounded the alarm. To stay silent when danger approached was to fail in his duty. 2. What were the consequences of failing to warn? The watchman shared the guilt; the people's "blood" was on his hands. Faithfulness required speaking up. 3. How does this apply to us? Each of us is called to warn and care for others with the truth. We are responsible to be faithful, even when people will not listen. "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me." — Ezekiel 3:17 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    30 min
  4. You Will Know That I Am The Lord

    15/05/2025

    You Will Know That I Am The Lord

    What does Ezekiel 6 teach us in You Will Know That I Am the Lord? In this expository sermon on Ezekiel, Dr. Toby Holt of New Geneva Theological Seminary teaches that God brought covenant judgment upon His own people, Jerusalem, so that a surviving remnant would 'know that I am the Lord' — the most repeated phrase in Ezekiel. Holt shows that Israel's abominations and idolatry, after centuries of patient warning, provoked God's just wrath, yet the covenant discipline never severed His relationship with His people. The sermon's Reformed conclusion is that God's justice against sin and His covenant faithfulness stand together: He disciplines those He loves without casting them away. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What is the main issue in this passage? In this expository sermon on Ezekiel, Dr. 2. How does this text point us to Christ? It shows the need for God's grace and the hope fulfilled in the gospel. 3. How should Christians respond? With faith, repentance, and renewed trust in the Lord's Word. "Take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself." - Ezekiel 4:9 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    30 min
  5. The Glory Of God Departs

    08/05/2025

    The Glory Of God Departs

    What does Ezekiel 10 teach us in The Glory of God Departs? In this sermon on Ezekiel 8-11, Dr. Toby Holt of New Geneva Theological Seminary teaches that the glory of the Lord departed from the Jerusalem temple because God's covenant people had defiled His house with idolatry and spiritual adultery. Holt shows that God's judgment was not surprising but long-delayed by His patience, that only those marked by God are spared His wrath, and that even in exile God remains a sanctuary to His people, promising a new heart and ultimate restoration. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What is the main issue in this passage? In this sermon on Ezekiel 8-11, Dr. 2. How does this text point us to Christ? It shows the need for God's grace and the hope fulfilled in the gospel. 3. How should Christians respond? With faith, repentance, and renewed trust in the Lord's Word. "You shall have no other gods before Me." - Exodus 20:3 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    33 min
  6. False Prophets, Dead Prophets

    01/05/2025

    False Prophets, Dead Prophets

    How can you spot a false teacher? In Ezekiel 13, God confronts the false prophets who tell people what they want to hear. Dr. Toby Holt explains how to recognize false teaching — and why it is so dangerous. These prophets spoke "out of their own heart" while claiming, "Thus says the LORD." They cried "Peace, peace" when judgment was coming, like men whitewashing a flimsy wall that cannot stand the storm. The mark of a true minister is faithfulness to God's written Word, not clever words of his own. A teacher who sets the Bible aside to "speak from the heart" is the most dangerous of all. Questions this study answers: 1. What was the job of a prophet? To speak God's words faithfully — not his own opinions. A true prophet delivered what God said, even when it was unwelcome. 2. Why were there so many false prophets? Because people "love to have it so" — they prefer comforting lies to hard truth. False prophets supplied the message the crowd wanted. 3. How can we recognize false teaching today? By testing it against Scripture. The mark of faithful teaching is God's Word opened and obeyed, not feelings or flattery. "Because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace." — Ezekiel 13:10 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    31 min
  7. The Serpent And The City

    24/04/2025

    The Serpent And The City

    Why does pride lead to a fall? In Ezekiel 26-28, God pronounces judgment on the proud, wealthy city of Tyre — and in doing so, gives a startling glimpse of the devil himself. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt traces the deadly path of pride. Tyre gloated over Jerusalem’s fall and trusted in its wealth and island fortress. God judges the “prince of Tyre,” a human ruler who claimed, “I am a god.” Then, describing the “king of Tyre” as a perfect cherub cast out of Eden, the passage reaches behind the human king to Satan himself — whose downfall, like Tyre’s, was pride. Dr. Holt notes how history fulfilled the prophecy precisely: Tyre was scraped bare and left a place for fishermen’s nets, exactly as God said. Questions this study answers: 1. Why did Tyre deserve God’s wrath? Because it gloated over Jerusalem’s fall and exalted itself in pride and greed. God humbles the proud. 2. How does this passage point to the devil? The “king of Tyre” is described as a cherub cast out of Eden — language that reaches beyond the human king to Satan, whose ruin was also pride. 3. What happened to Tyre historically? It was besieged and finally scraped to bare rock, becoming a place to spread fishing nets — exactly as Ezekiel foretold. “Because your heart is lifted up, and you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas,’ yet you are a man, and not a god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god.” — Ezekiel 28:2 (NKJV) Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Ezekiel Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

    32 min
  8. Hearts Of Stone, Hearts Of Flesh

    17/04/2025

    Hearts Of Stone, Hearts Of Flesh

    Can God change a hard heart? In Ezekiel 36, God promises to remove His people's "heart of stone" and give them a "heart of flesh." Dr. Toby Holt explains the great doctrine of regeneration — the new heart only God can give. Israel had broken covenant and disgraced God's name, yet God promises to act — for the sake of His own holy name, not their merit. He will sprinkle them clean, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit within them. This is the new birth: we cannot soften our own hearts any more than we can raise the dead. Regenerating dead sinners cost the blood of God's own Son. Questions this study answers: 1. What is "regeneration"? The new spiritual birth — God replacing a dead "heart of stone" with a living "heart of flesh." It is His work, not ours. 2. Who brings about the new heart? God alone, by His Spirit, for the sake of His own name. We cannot change our own hearts. 3. What happens if we are not regenerated? Without a new heart from God, we remain spiritually dead in sin. The new birth is essential to truly know God. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." — Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    30 min
  9. The Valley Of Dry Bones

    10/04/2025

    The Valley Of Dry Bones

    Can dead, hopeless things live again? In Ezekiel 37, God sets the prophet down in a valley full of dry bones and asks, "Can these bones live?" Dr. Toby Holt unpacks one of the Bible's most vivid pictures of hope. The bones picture God's people in exile, who said, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost." As Ezekiel preaches God's word over them, the bones come together, take on flesh, and the breath of God brings them to life as a great army. God brings spiritual life through the preaching of His truth. The chapter ends with a promise to reunite His divided people under one King, "David My servant," pointing to Christ. Questions this study answers: 1. What did the dry bones symbolize? God's people in exile, who felt dead and without hope. The vision answered their despair with a promise of new life. 2. How did the bones come to life? Only after Ezekiel prophesied God's word over them. It shows the life-giving power of God working through His proclaimed Word. 3. Why was this vision so encouraging? Because it promised that God could revive what seemed beyond hope — and would gather and restore His people under one King. "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.'" — Ezekiel 37:5 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    32 min
  10. The Future Temple Of God

    03/04/2025

    The Future Temple Of God

    Will there be a temple in heaven? In Ezekiel 40-48, the prophet is given a sweeping vision of a vast, measured temple. Dr. Toby Holt explains what that future temple really is — and why it is not a building made of bricks. Taken to a high mountain, Ezekiel sees a glorious temple measured out in detail, and the glory of God returning to fill it. It reads like a guided tour, not a blueprint — a picture, not a construction plan. The apostle John saw the same reality in Revelation, where there is "no temple," because God and the Lamb are the temple. The vision points to God dwelling forever with His people. Questions this study answers: 1. Did the Israelites need a new temple? In the vision, God promised His presence would return — but the deeper promise was God Himself dwelling with His people, not a particular building. 2. Is this a blueprint for a future temple? No. It reads like a tour, not a construction plan. It points to a spiritual reality fulfilled in Christ and His people. 3. What does this teach us about worship? That God's presence, not a place, is the heart of worship. In the end, God and the Lamb are the temple. "Son of man, this is the place of My throne… where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever." — Ezekiel 43:7 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    32 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Who wrote the Book of Ezekiel? What is the Book of Ezekiel about? The Book of Ezekiel contains some of the most striking visions and severe warnings in all of Scripture. Written to exiles in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel emphasizes the absolute sovereignty and holiness of God. When God's glory departs from a rebellious Jerusalem, all hope seems lost—until God promises a new covenant, swearing to replace His people's hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. In this verse-by-verse study, we navigate Ezekiel’s prophecies, from the valley of dry bones to the vision of the future temple, seeing how they ultimately point to the restorative work of Jesus Christ. This exposition provides rigorous, biblical depth while remaining accessible for daily Christian living. Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary. Dr. Holt's sermons have reached over 1.9 million listeners on SermonAudio. He focuses on clear, verse-by-verse teaching that makes the Bible easy to understand. Support New Geneva: To support Dr. Holt's ministry at the seminary, please visit: newgeneva.org/give.

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