Elders with Heart-Idols Receive a Direct Answer

Elders sit before him, and idols are in their heart

Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto him, and sat before him. The word: Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?

Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols.

A prophet deceived shares the accountability

That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say, Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

If the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. They shall bear the punishment of their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; that the house of Israel may go no more astray from him, neither be polluted any more, but that they may be my people, and I may be their God. Heart-idol language does not authorize mind reading, forced confession, or assuming every unanswered question hides secret sin.