lectionary.com

Lenten Season · Fifth Sunday of Lent · Year A

If Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Ezekiel 37:12-14

I Will Open Your Graves

March 22, 2026

The Vision of the Prophet Ezekiel, Ditlev Blunck
The Vision of the Prophet Ezekiel, Ditlev Blunck, 1830Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, KMS200
A Danish Romantic painting of the valley: the prophet standing over a plain of bones with a storm coming up behind him.I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people.Ditlev BlunckA Danish Golden Age painter who worked for years in Rome and was later driven out of Denmark by scandal.Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, KMS200Denmark's national gallery, grown out of the royal Kunstkammer and strongest in Danish and northern European painting.Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, KMS200
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 11:1-45Jn 11:1-45 orJohn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45Jn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45Alt. GospelIf Third Scrutiny of the Elect: John 11:1-45If Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Jn 11:1-45 orJohn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45Jn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
Second ReadingRom. 8:8-11Rom 8:8-11Alt. 2nd ReadingIf Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Romans 8:8-11If Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Rom 8:8-11
First ReadingEzek. 37:12-14Ez 37:12-14Alt. 1st ReadingIf Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Ezekiel 37:12-14If Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Ez 37:12-14
Responsorial PsalmPs. 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7)Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7)Alt. PsalmIf Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7)If Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7)

Overview & Insights

"I will open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people, and bring you back to the land of Israel." (Ezekiel 37:12)

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the exiles that he will open their graves, raise them, and put his own spirit in them so that they may live. The image of a national resurrection sits on this Sunday beside a psalm about waiting for dawn and a gospel about an actual grave being opened.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: If Third Scrutiny of the Elect: Ezekiel 37:12-14

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 37:1-14Commentary on Ez 37:1-14 Working Preacher

Working Preacher notes how ruach, breath and spirit and wind at once, occurs nine times in these fourteen verses as the same life-giving force from God.

Ezekiel 37 Commentary: Life to Dry Bones and Unity to God's PeopleEz 37 Commentary: Life to Dry Bones and Unity to God's People Enduring Word

David Guzik's verse by verse notes work through the vision's move from dry bones to restored, spirit-filled life.

Ezekiel 37 CommentaryEz 37 Commentary Precept Austin

Precept Austin's commentary weighs the vision as both national restoration and a figure of bodily resurrection.

Ezekiel 37:12 CommentariesEz 37:12 Commentaries BibleHub

BibleHub stacks several classic commentaries on verse 12's promise to open the graves of God's people.

Ezekiel - Oracles of Salvation and Promised RestorationEz - Oracles of Salvation and Promised Restoration Agape Bible Study

Agape Bible Study's lesson on Ezekiel's oracles of restoration places this vision inside the prophet's larger promise to the exiles.

Background & Word Study

Ezekiel 37:12 Interlinear HebrewEz 37:12 Interlinear Hebrew BibleHub interlinear

The Hebrew interlinear shows the verb behind opening the graves and the word for spirit that runs through the whole chapter.

Ezekiel 37 (Hebrew/English)Ez 37 (Hebrew/English) Sefaria

Sefaria sets the Hebrew text beside an English translation for reading ruach across its several senses.

The Church Fathers

Ezekiel 37 - Catena Aurea / Church FathersEz 37 - Catena Aurea / Church Fathers Catena

Catena collects patristic comment on the chapter, including early readings of the dry bones as a figure of resurrection.

Sermons & Reflections

Ezekiel 37:1-14: Can These Bones Live? - Lent 5AEz 37:1-14: Can These Bones Live? - Lent 5A CEP

CEP's written sermon treats the unusual image of a preacher, Ezekiel, addressing a sermon to a valley of bones.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on John 11:1-45 or John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.