14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
14 But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out.
14 But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out.
14 But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my name before the nations who had seen my power in bringing Israel out of Egypt.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:14
Commentary on Ezekiel 20:10-26
(Read Ezekiel 20:10-26)
The history of Israel in the wilderness is referred to in the new Testament as well as in the Old, for warning. God did great things for them. He gave them the law, and revived the ancient keeping of the sabbath day. Sabbaths are privileges; they are signs of our being his people. If we do the duty of the day, we shall find, to our comfort, it is the Lord that makes us holy, that is, truly happy, here; and prepares us to be happy, that is, perfectly holy, hereafter. The Israelites rebelled, and were left to the judgments they brought upon themselves. God sometimes makes sin to be its own punishment, yet he is not the Author of sin: there needs no more to make men miserable, than to give them up to their own evil desires and passions.