EZEKIEL’S LAST *VISION EZEKIEL CHAPTER S 40 TO 48 _COMMENTARY: KEITH SIMONS; TRANSLATION: IAN MACKERVOY._ CHAPTER 44 THE EAST GATE – EZEKIEL 44:1-3 V1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate east of the *temple. But the gate was closed. V2 The *LORD said to me, ‘This gate must remain cl... [ Continue Reading ]
The three outer gates of the *temple were alike. But the outer east gate had the most important position. It was in front of the inner east gate. The inner east gate was in front of the *altar for *sacrifices. And that *altar was in front of the *temple building. God’s *glory had entered the *templ... [ Continue Reading ]
The gate was now a closed gate. God told Ezekiel why the gate was closed. God had used that gate, so nobody else could use it. This rule shows God’s royal authority. People used to prepare the roads before the arrival of the king (compare Isaiah 40:3). But anybody could use those roads afterwards. H... [ Continue Reading ]
The prince in this *vision was the ruler of *Israel’s government. He had important duties at the *temple. But he was not a priest. And he did not control what happened at the *temple. Only the prince had the right to use the outer east gate. But he would not walk through the actual gate. He could n... [ Continue Reading ]
It is easy to miss the importance of this verse. Ezekiel wrote often about the *glory of God. And Ezekiel saw so many *visions. But nothing impressed Ezekiel more than the *glory of God. With a *vision of the *glory, Ezekiel began his work as a priest and a *prophet (chapter 1). And a *vision of the... [ Continue Reading ]
God showed his *glory to Ezekiel so that Ezekiel would have the power to do God’s work. This *vision was a message from God to the *Israelites. This chapter contains God’s instructions about three groups of people: * FOREIGNERS (verses 7-9) cannot even enter the *temple gates. They do not obey Go... [ Continue Reading ]
A terrible thing had happened in *Israel. God had specially chosen the people in *Israel. He separated them from the other nations. He gave them his law. And he gave them his promises. But the people had not obeyed him. God had separated them from the other nations. But they wanted to be like those... [ Continue Reading ]
The law of the *temple in the *vision was clear. The *temple belonged to God. He insisted that people should obey him with their bodies. And people should love him with their hearts (or minds). Such people were the only people who could enter this *temple. So the only people who *worshipped at the... [ Continue Reading ]
Among these *Levites were many priests. But God does not call them ‘priests’ here, because they were not still acceptable as priests. Instead he refers to them by the name of their family group, that is, the *Levites. Unlike the priests in verse 15, these ones were not loyal to God. They *worshipped... [ Continue Reading ]
God gives a list of their duties. These are necessary tasks in the *temple. But they are humble tasks. They are the tasks of servants.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse emphasises the serious nature of the *sin. God had to take strong action. He had to act against these *Levites. So God ‘lifted his hand’. That means that he made a serious promise. (Compare chapter 20.)... [ Continue Reading ]
These *Levites must never enter the *temple building. They must not offer the most sacred types of *sacrifices. They must not behave like priests. They must behave like servants who carry out their duties in a humble manner. Then God will allow them to serve him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Please see my notes on 40:44-46. The priests in this *vision were men who were loyal to God. Because they were loyal, they were already humble. And that was the right attitude to have as they carried out the most important tasks at the *temple. Their special duties were in two places: the *altar and... [ Continue Reading ]
The priests were loyal to God, but they were still human. And because of that, they were *sinners. Everyone comes from Adam, who *sinned. So all people are *sinners. Because of *sin, people cannot come near to God (Genesis 3:22-24). But these priests come near to God. That is their duty. So the rest... [ Continue Reading ]
The priests wore clothes round their bodies, underneath their main clothes. It would be wrong if people saw their bodies. But even the clothes that other people did not see were linen. Of course, a person sweats (becomes damp) when he is hot. And the priests would become hot as they worked. Unlike... [ Continue Reading ]
However, these special clothes were not for permanent use. The priest had to remove them after he left the inner area. It would not be proper for the public to handle these sacred clothes. The main purpose of these rules was that the priests must wear their special clothes in the inner area. So the... [ Continue Reading ]
The priests must behave in a careful manner. It is interesting to compare the instructions for Christian leaders in 1 Timothy 3:2-7.... [ Continue Reading ]
A priest had to marry a virgin. (In other words, a woman who has not yet had sex.) This has always been the rule for the chief priest (Leviticus 21:13-15). But these rules also allowed a priest’s widow to marry another priest.... [ Continue Reading ]
By their lives, the priests would show what was *holy. They would show what was *clean. They would teach God’s standards to the *Israelites. In particular, the priests would show people how to separate *holy things from things that are not *holy.... [ Continue Reading ]
The priests would teach (verse 23), but they would also issue judgements. But they would not decide these things by their own standards. God’s law would be the only standard for his people. And God’s law would be their guide for their own lives.... [ Continue Reading ]
A priest who touched a dead body was not *clean. He had to do special things before he became *clean (Numbers 19:11-13). A priest could take proper care of his family. So he could bury his closest relatives. But he could not serve God at the *temple again until he was *clean.... [ Continue Reading ]
The priests would not own land. But they would have something better than land. God himself would be their possession. A small farmer or gardener provides for himself by means of his land. But God would provide for the priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is how God would provide for the priests. The *Israelites would give gifts to God. And God would allow the priests to have many of these gifts. The priest could eat many parts of the *sacrifices which the *Israelites offered. And there were other gifts too. For example, at the beginning of th... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the same rule as Leviticus 22:8. VISION ~ something that God shows to a person but not with the physical sight. Visions are often in the form of dreams. TEMPLE ~ a special building for the worship of God or other gods. The Jews had one in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God. WORSHIP ~... [ Continue Reading ]