Ezra 10:18

First come the names of the priests who had fallen into sin, and these fall into two classes. In verse 18 there are "the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers;" and in verses 20-22 other priests. The first group seem to have been the more guilty, and with reason. By the grace of God, Jeshua and Zerubbabel had led His people in building His house. It shows that these men had lost all conscience about the nature of their sin. "The lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." But here the priests had corrupted the people by their evil ways. When they were dealt with, "they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt." Notice that this is only said of Jeshua's relatives.

The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. The sons of Joshua head the list. What an illustration of what man is! The sons of the high priest had been such great instruments of the Lord, with Zerubbabel, to lead the first captives back — and yet they corrupted themselves with these women.

Nor was this sin confined to any one class of the people. "The hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost in this faithlessness." The record names the priests and the Levites too, as well as the people. It would seem then that the officials and chief men had first set the example, and that the others had only been too ready to follow. "One sinner destroys much good," especially when that one has a place of position and influence. When a standard-bearer faints in the day of battle, the soldiers behind him are often discouraged and easily defeated. In the same way, once Satan has trapped a leader in the church of God, he often finds it easy work to ensnare many who are less noticeable.

And more than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank. Their names follow without respect of persons (vers. 18-44).

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

We know what a scene of grief and pleading this must have been. It was a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel who had been found out in their sin. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain. That is even more true when the sin is not just one sinner's sin, but the sin of the people of God — when they feel deeply that, as God's people, they have brought His name into such contempt.