Ezekiel 14 & 15 - They have set up idols in their hearts. What does that mean? 2019

Ezek 14:1
Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.

The elders come to Ezekiel and pretend they really want to listen to him. They come to tell him that they haven't constructed any idols, that he must be mistaken in his judgment. They are tell him what wonderful fellows they really are. Elohim will not allow Ezekiel to be fooled.

Ezek 14:2
And the word of the LORD came to me saying,

Ezek 14:3
"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?

These men the elders of Israel. Elohim said they have set up idols in their hearts. What does that mean? It means they have been influenced by pagan thoughts and pagan practices. The elders of Israel were largely responsible for the success and acceptance of the false prophets. Elohim says, "Do they have any right to talk to me??"
Ezek 20:3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

Prov. 28:9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

Zech 7:12-13 “And they made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 13“And it came about that just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the LORD of hosts;
Chapter 14 can be broken up into 2 parts. Ezekiel is going to prophesy against the elders in the first section of this chapter. In the last section, he is going to tell how certain is the destruction of Jerusalem.

In chapter 15, Israel is symbolized by a vine in a parable for the people to remember.