Ezekiel 44: The Gate, the Temple, and the Priests of the Future
Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord: and I fell upon my face.
And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity.
And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.
But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God:
They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord God.
And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.
They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
Ezekiel 44 offers a fascinating glimpse into the future temple during the millennial kingdom, highlighting specific roles and regulations. This chapter emphasizes the importance of holiness and obedience in approaching God, even in a restored and glorious future. Let's delve into the details of this vision.
The Eastern Gate: A Symbol of God's Glory (Ezekiel 44:1-3)
Ezekiel is led back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faces east, the very gate through which the glory of the LORD had entered (Ezekiel 43:1-5). He notes that this gate is to remain shut. God explicitly states that no one is to enter by it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, entered through it (Ezekiel 44:2). This closed gate serves as a powerful symbol, a perpetual reminder of God's unique and powerful presence.
However, there is an exception. The "prince" is permitted to sit inside the gateway to eat a meal before the LORD (Ezekiel 44:3). The identity of this prince has been the subject of much discussion. Some suggest this is Christ himself, the only one worthy to enter a gate sanctified by God's presence. However, other passages in Ezekiel describe this prince offering sin offerings for himself (Ezekiel 45:22), having children (Ezekiel 46:16), and possessing land in Israel (Ezekiel 46:18), descriptions that do not align with the character of Christ.
A compelling alternative interpretation points to a resurrected King David. In Ezekiel 34:24, God declares, "I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them." This promise is echoed in Ezekiel 37:24-25: "My servant David will be king over them… and [he] will be their prince forever." Given David's role as a type of Christ and Jesus' designation as the "Son of David," this view suggests David will lead God's people in a role subordinate to the Messiah during the millennial kingdom. The meal he eats before the LORD may be a fellowship offering, symbolizing communion and fellowship with God.
A Call to Holiness and Remembrance (Ezekiel 44:4-8)
Ezekiel, in his customary posture of humility, falls facedown as he witnesses the glory of the LORD filling the temple (Ezekiel 44:4). God then instructs Ezekiel to pay close attention to the ordinances and laws of the temple (Ezekiel 44:5). This is a crucial reminder that even amidst the glorious visions of a restored Israel, the people must not forget the importance of adhering to God's holy standards.
God's exhortation serves as a wake-up call to a people who had suffered devastating judgment and exile due to their sins. Ezekiel is to teach these laws to his fellow exiles and record them for future generations, preventing them from repeating the mistakes of their ancestors (Ezekiel 44:5). God declares, "I have had enough of all your detestable practices, house of Israel!" (Ezekiel 44:6).
One of the specific sins highlighted is the introduction of foreigners, uncircumcised in both heart and flesh, into the temple (Ezekiel 44:7). These were not sincere Gentile converts seeking to worship the God of Israel, but rather idolaters who corrupted worship and led the people astray. Shockingly, the Israelites had even entrusted these individuals with responsibilities within the sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:8).
The Levites: Consequences of Unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 44:9-14)
The Levites, who were entrusted with guarding God's holiness and handling sacred objects, also succumbed to idolatry during Israel's apostasy (Ezekiel 44:10). As a consequence of their unfaithfulness, their role in the millennial temple will be diminished. They will serve as guards at the temple gates and perform lesser duties within the temple (Ezekiel 44:11-12). They will no longer function as priests or handle the most holy objects (Ezekiel 44:13-14). Their diminished role serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting one's spiritual responsibilities.
The Priests of Zadok: Rewarded for Faithfulness (Ezekiel 44:15-31)
In stark contrast to the unfaithful Levites, the Levitical priests descended from Zadok are honored for their faithfulness. Zadok was the chief priest during Solomon's reign who remained loyal to God when the rest of Israel turned away. These priests will be appointed to serve God in the priestly role in the millennial temple (Ezekiel 44:16).
They are to adhere to specific regulations, such as wearing linen garments while ministering, changing their clothes before returning to the outer court, abstaining from common signs of mourning (except for close relatives), avoiding wine before priestly duties, and marrying only virgins or widows of priests (Ezekiel 44:17-23). These regulations emphasize the importance of being set apart and wholly dedicated to God's service in every aspect of life.
The priests will also serve as judges in Israel and are permitted to mourn the death of close relatives (Ezekiel 44:24-27). Like the Old Testament priests, they will not receive an allotment of land in Israel; instead, God himself will be their inheritance and possession (Ezekiel 44:28). God will provide for them through the best of the firstfruits and contributions brought to the temple (Ezekiel 44:30). This provision underscores the principle that those who dedicate themselves to God's service will be divinely provided for.
Ezekiel 44 offers a compelling vision of the future temple and the importance of holiness, obedience, and faithfulness in serving God. It serves as a powerful reminder that even in a restored and glorious future, God's standards remain high, and those who honor him will be honored in return.
Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord: and I fell upon my face.
And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity.
And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.
But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God:
They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord God.
And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.
They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
Ezekiel 44 offers a fascinating glimpse into the future temple during the millennial kingdom, highlighting specific roles and regulations. This chapter emphasizes the importance of holiness and obedience in approaching God, even in a restored and glorious future. Let's delve into the details of this vision.
The Eastern Gate: A Symbol of God's Glory (Ezekiel 44:1-3)
Ezekiel is led back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faces east, the very gate through which the glory of the LORD had entered (Ezekiel 43:1-5). He notes that this gate is to remain shut. God explicitly states that no one is to enter by it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, entered through it (Ezekiel 44:2). This closed gate serves as a powerful symbol, a perpetual reminder of God's unique and powerful presence.
However, there is an exception. The "prince" is permitted to sit inside the gateway to eat a meal before the LORD (Ezekiel 44:3). The identity of this prince has been the subject of much discussion. Some suggest this is Christ himself, the only one worthy to enter a gate sanctified by God's presence. However, other passages in Ezekiel describe this prince offering sin offerings for himself (Ezekiel 45:22), having children (Ezekiel 46:16), and possessing land in Israel (Ezekiel 46:18), descriptions that do not align with the character of Christ.
A compelling alternative interpretation points to a resurrected King David. In Ezekiel 34:24, God declares, "I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them." This promise is echoed in Ezekiel 37:24-25: "My servant David will be king over them… and [he] will be their prince forever." Given David's role as a type of Christ and Jesus' designation as the "Son of David," this view suggests David will lead God's people in a role subordinate to the Messiah during the millennial kingdom. The meal he eats before the LORD may be a fellowship offering, symbolizing communion and fellowship with God.
A Call to Holiness and Remembrance (Ezekiel 44:4-8)
Ezekiel, in his customary posture of humility, falls facedown as he witnesses the glory of the LORD filling the temple (Ezekiel 44:4). God then instructs Ezekiel to pay close attention to the ordinances and laws of the temple (Ezekiel 44:5). This is a crucial reminder that even amidst the glorious visions of a restored Israel, the people must not forget the importance of adhering to God's holy standards.
God's exhortation serves as a wake-up call to a people who had suffered devastating judgment and exile due to their sins. Ezekiel is to teach these laws to his fellow exiles and record them for future generations, preventing them from repeating the mistakes of their ancestors (Ezekiel 44:5). God declares, "I have had enough of all your detestable practices, house of Israel!" (Ezekiel 44:6).
One of the specific sins highlighted is the introduction of foreigners, uncircumcised in both heart and flesh, into the temple (Ezekiel 44:7). These were not sincere Gentile converts seeking to worship the God of Israel, but rather idolaters who corrupted worship and led the people astray. Shockingly, the Israelites had even entrusted these individuals with responsibilities within the sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:8).
The Levites: Consequences of Unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 44:9-14)
The Levites, who were entrusted with guarding God's holiness and handling sacred objects, also succumbed to idolatry during Israel's apostasy (Ezekiel 44:10). As a consequence of their unfaithfulness, their role in the millennial temple will be diminished. They will serve as guards at the temple gates and perform lesser duties within the temple (Ezekiel 44:11-12). They will no longer function as priests or handle the most holy objects (Ezekiel 44:13-14). Their diminished role serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting one's spiritual responsibilities.
The Priests of Zadok: Rewarded for Faithfulness (Ezekiel 44:15-31)
In stark contrast to the unfaithful Levites, the Levitical priests descended from Zadok are honored for their faithfulness. Zadok was the chief priest during Solomon's reign who remained loyal to God when the rest of Israel turned away. These priests will be appointed to serve God in the priestly role in the millennial temple (Ezekiel 44:16).
They are to adhere to specific regulations, such as wearing linen garments while ministering, changing their clothes before returning to the outer court, abstaining from common signs of mourning (except for close relatives), avoiding wine before priestly duties, and marrying only virgins or widows of priests (Ezekiel 44:17-23). These regulations emphasize the importance of being set apart and wholly dedicated to God's service in every aspect of life.
The priests will also serve as judges in Israel and are permitted to mourn the death of close relatives (Ezekiel 44:24-27). Like the Old Testament priests, they will not receive an allotment of land in Israel; instead, God himself will be their inheritance and possession (Ezekiel 44:28). God will provide for them through the best of the firstfruits and contributions brought to the temple (Ezekiel 44:30). This provision underscores the principle that those who dedicate themselves to God's service will be divinely provided for.
Ezekiel 44 offers a compelling vision of the future temple and the importance of holiness, obedience, and faithfulness in serving God. It serves as a powerful reminder that even in a restored and glorious future, God's standards remain high, and those who honor him will be honored in return.