Do all who practice lawlessness not understand, who eat up My people as they eat bread and do not call on the Lord?
Here the Lord addresses a question to those who practice lawlessness, exposing their spiritual blindness and cruelty. The phrase “They eat My people as they eat bread” is a strong poetic image. It shows that they oppress and exploit God’s people in such an ordinary and merciless way, as if they were eating daily bread. The suffering of others does not stop them, and in their conduct sensitivity to sin has almost disappeared. Directly connected with this cruelty is the fact that they “do not call on the Lord.” They do not seek God, do not rely on Him, and do not submit their life to His authority. Therefore, in their attitude toward people they do not acknowledge the righteousness established by God. The question “Do they not understand?” shows their foolishness: they act as though God does not see the injustice done to His people and will not demand an answer for it. The verse reminds us that knowing God and acting justly toward people are inseparable. A heart that does not seek God easily becomes hardened also toward people, whereas the Lord is not indifferent to the exploitation and suffering of His people.