God gives the people who forget him an ultimatum. Forgetting God means a person is aware that other people are religious and they give the impression that they are religious. However, God is not in their heart nor a consideration in their plans and interactions. God is telling such people to consider what he is saying in this conclusion or they will meet a terrible end. If they do not change their hearts they will be like the ship that runs against a rocky shore. They will be torn to pieces. I consider Jesus’ warning similar to that in Matthew 11:20-24.
The ultimatum is in verse 23. Verse 23 is similar to verses 14 and 15, except it gives a promise. “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” If I express gratitude and honor to God in tangible ways I also prepare the way for God to show me his salvation. I will get to know Jesus the Messiah whom God raised from the dead. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
