Ezek. 43:1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:
Ezek. 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
Ezek. 43:3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
Ezek. 43:4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
At this point Ezekiel is given a vision of the Lord coming into the temple through the eastern gate to assume His throne. Ezekiel immediately identifies the Lord from His previous experience as related in chapters 10-11 when he saw the glory of the Lord leave the temple. At that time the Lord was leaving the city to execute judgment. Again, the voice of the Lord is equated to the sound of “many waters.” This same comparison is made by the psalmist and by the apostle John in Revelation.
Psa. 29:3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
Rev. 1:13-15 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
When the Lord enters the temple through the eastern gate, Ezekiel falls upon his face in worship and reverence.
When I looked at JFB, I was reminded that we are never told that the rebuilt temple after the Babylonian captivity was blessed with God’s presence (except when Jesus was present). This is the first time God’s presence will have returned to Jerusalem since leaving it before it was destroyed by Babylon.
Ezek. 43:5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.
Ezek. 43:6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.
Ezek. 43:7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit into the inner court as the glory of the Lord fills the house. Ezekiel is standing outside the house in the company of “the man.” I would assume this to be the same man that has been with him since the beginning of chapter 40. From his position he hears the Lord speak to him. God’s message would be a wonderful message to the ears of the priest Ezekiel. The Lord tells Ezekiel that the place of His throne (the temple in Jerusalem), the place of the “soles of my feet” (denoting His physical presence), would forevermore be His place of dwelling among the children of Israel. Never again would the people of Israel defile His holy name. Never again would they fall into spiritual adultery through the leadership of their kings.
Ezek. 43:8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.
Ezek. 43:9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
These verses are basically saying that the past is past. From now on the people of Israel will enjoy sweet fellowship in the presence of the Lord. They have been judged according to their sin, but that will never again be necessary.
Ezek. 43:10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
Ezek. 43:11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
God is giving this message to Ezekiel to share with the “house of Israel,” the whole nation. It is intended to cause them to be ashamed of their sin. It is supposed to remind them of all that they had lost by rebelling against the Lord.
Instruction is given for them to “measure the pattern.” This would seem to indicate to me that maybe Ezekiel was able to draw a pattern of what he had seen. He was also given “ordinances and laws” as to the proper administration of the temple activities.
Ezek. 43:12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
Point is made that the laws concerning the temple activities are to be strictly obeyed and that the whole temple mount is designated as holy. When the Lord comes to take His earthly throne, holiness and righteousness are going to dominate His reign. There will be no such thing as political correctness. He will be a loving, but firm ruler. Again, the psalmist and the Revelator declare this truth.
Psa. 2:6-9 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Rev. 19:11-15 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:
Ezek. 43:13 And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.
Ezek. 43:14 And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.
Ezek. 43:15 So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.
Ezek. 43:16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.
Ezek. 43:17 And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.
Now the prophet gives a detailed description of the altar. The altar is square in shape and each section building from the base gets a bit smaller. The top of the altar has a horn in each corner. The wording from the NLT gives a much clearer picture: “These are the measurements of the altar: There is a gutter all around the altar 21 inches wide and 21 inches deep, with a curb 9 inches wide around its edge. And this is the height of the altar: From the gutter the altar rises 3.5 feet to a ledge that surrounds the altar; this lower ledge is 21 inches wide. From the lower ledge the altar rises 7 feet to the upper ledge; this upper ledge is also 21 inches wide. The top of the altar, the hearth, rises still 7 feet higher, with a horn rising up from each of the four corners. The top of the altar is square, measuring 21 feet by 21 feet. The upper ledge also forms a square, measuring 24.5 feet on each side, with a 21-inch gutter and a 10.5-inch curb all around the edge. There are steps going up the east side of the altar.”
The NIV commentary notes that this altar is very large—“approximately thirty-one and one-half feet square at the base by approximately nineteen and one-quarter feet high!”
One of the commentaries made note that steps to the altar were forbidden to access the altar in the previous temples.
Ex. 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
The question arises as to why the difference for the millennial temple. I found this explanation at http://www.yashanet.com/library/temple/temples.htm.
The Altars in the previous Tabernacle/Temples were equipped with a ramp facing south. However, most all bible translations state that in Ezekiel's temple the altar has stairs leading up to the altar and they face east (Ezekiel 43:17). But, I read one Jewish commentary which said that the Hebrew word actually means ramp. So I presented the following question to an Orthodox rabbi: “... This presents some difficulties since the word for 'steps' (ma'alot) in Ezekiel is the same word used in Exodus 20:26 forbidding ascending the altar by steps. How can this word mean 'ramp' when all the previous temples had ramps?”
This was his response: The Hebrew word in question is maalotehu, which is grammatically related to the Hebrew word maalot, meaning steps. However, the original meaning of both words means "something by which one rises from one level to another." In everyday language that means "steps." However, an equally acceptable translation of maalotehu could be "its riser," which would not contradict the ramp in Exodus 20:26. It is interesting to note that in the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917 the verse is rendered, ". . . and the steps thereof . . . ," following earlier translations (the King James version?). Not so their 1978 translation, "And the ramp shall face east." There is a footnote in the 1978 translation: "Leading up to the altar. Cf. Exod. 20:23.”
[end quote from yashanet.com]
I guess we will have to wait until the Millennium to find out if it is really a ramp or steps. It is interesting to note, however, that many pagans approached their altars via steps from the east to worship the sun. God did not want His Temple to be confused with that of a pagan temple. During the Millennium there will be no pagan temples to worry about. Also, in Ezekiel's Temple when the priests ascend the altar they will be facing the Holy of Holies.
Also, as noted in chapter 41, Lambert Dolphin pointed out that previous altars were accessed from the south, while this one is accessed from the east. Again, why? As I continued to think about this, I thought about the fact that the Lord entered the temple from the east. Our direct access to the throne of grace is possible only through one door, Jesus, the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
As the people enter to sacrifice at the altar in remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice for their sin, it is only appropriate that they follow His footsteps in approaching the altar.
Ezek. 43:18 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
At this point Ezekiel is going to be given specifics in consecrating the altar, making it a holy place approved by God for its use.
Ezek. 43:19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.
Ezek. 43:20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.
Ezek. 43:21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.
As noted in chapter 40, the Levite descendants of Zadok are set apart to minister to the Lord at the altar in the millennium in memory of their ancestors who stood by the Lord when the rest of Israel rebelled. These priests are to be given a young bull for a sin offering and will anoint the four horns of the altar with its blood as well as the four corners and rim of the ledge or drain that surrounds it. This will symbolize the cleansing property of Christ’s innocent blood that was shed as our sacrifice that atones for or cleanses us from sin. Since the altar is representing that sacrifice, it must be declared holy and acceptable for that purpose.
The rest of the bull is to be burned at a designated place outside the sanctuary.
Ezek. 43:22 And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.
Ezek. 43:23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.
Ezek. 43:24 And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
The next day the priests are to offer a “kid of the goats” that has no blemish as an actual sin offering and follow the same process as they did with the bull. I would assume this means that they will anoint the altar in the same way and dispose of the rest of the goat in the same way.
They are then to sacrifice a young bull without blemish and a ram without blemish. During the sacrifice the priests are to throw salt on the meat. This was a directive from God from the establishment of the sacrificial system.
Lev. 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Why the salt? I know salt makes food taste better and is a preservative. Is this a picture to help us understand that Jesus’ sacrifice was most acceptable to the Lord and preserves our righteous standing before Him? The salt is described in Leviticus as representing God’s covenant, which is righteous and enduring. God’s word is sure and unchanging.
Psa. 119:89. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa. 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Ezek. 43:25 Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.
Ezek. 43:26 Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.
These verses indicate that the sacrifices of purification for the altar were to continue for seven days. The obedience of the priests in this process also served to consecrate them as they were consecrating the altar.
Ezek. 43:27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.
On the eighth day the altar would be acceptable for use by the people. They were to bring their burnt offerings to the priests, who would then offer their burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. God states that all those who come with an offering would be accepted. No one would be turned away.
That is the beautiful truth associated with Jesus’ sacrifice. He is not willing that any should perish. He wants everyone to come to repentance and be saved. No on that comes to Him in faith will be turned away.
I remember reading through many types of offerings when reading through scripture. It would seem that only the burnt offering and peace offering will be offered at the millennial temple. The burnt offering must be without blemish and is burned completely upon the altar. The peace offering does not have to be perfect and is basically an offering of thanksgiving. Again, I turned to the internet for help and found some good input at http://chezkneel.blogspot.com/2006/06/burnt-peace.html.
“The Burnt Offering was principally for the benefit of God…. None of it was saved for eating by men. Every single bit of it was for God and for him alone. This is significant. The offerings that come later are directed toward the needs of man, but this one is God’s, because only God can fully comprehend what it meant for Christ to offer himself.
The Burnt Offering represents the perfect offering to God; it represents Messiah offering himself without spot or blemish to God. Jesus the Christ is the only one who’s ever existed that was capable of being a perfect, just-right offering to God, because he is the only one who has never sinned. Jesus is the only one that ever kept the whole Law. Jesus is the only one that has ever been without blemish.”
In Leviticus 1, we joined the ancient Israelites in receiving the privilege of marveling at the sublime perfection of the Messiah’s offering of himself to God, as represented by the Burnt Offering. The flaying (removal of the outer skin), the cutting into small pieces (and the inspection enabled thereof), and the washing of the legs and innards, all painted a picture of a pure, clean, and yes, perfect sacrifice, one that passed and excelled each and every criterion of a holy God.
The Peace Offering is not about the ultimate perfect offering; that is not the requirement. Rather, the Peace Offering described in Leviticus 3 celebrates the end of war. It celebrates the advent of peace, reconciliation and fellowship between the former bitter enemies: God and man. Another name for the Peace Offering is the Thanksgiving Offering, thanksgiving for the costly initiative taken by God to effect restoration.
The Peace Offering does not have to be perfect, so it does not need to be inspected for perfection to the same minute degree as the Burnt Offering. No flaying, no cutting into pieces, and no washing of the innards and legs. And the animal to be sacrificed does not need to be a male; either male or female will do.
The offering is meant to be the basis of fellowship, and it is not solely for God. The celebration of the coming of peace is for both God and humanity. Thus, not all of the offering is burned for a soothing aroma for God. Some of it is allocated for the men and women of redeemed humanity to enjoy, as represented by the ancient priests.
[end blog quote]
Ezek. 44:1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
Ezek. 44:2 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.
All my life I have heard it taught that the Eastern Gate which is now sealed shut will stay that way until the Lord comes to enter the temple through that gate. This study of Ezekiel has now changed my acceptance of that teaching. This temple complex is being built after the fact and is going to cover much more ground than the current area allows. The current gate is a good object lesson and focal point for thinking about the Lord’s return to Jerusalem to rule from the temple, but I do not believe it is the gate being referenced here.
When the Lord returns to the temple, it will be to the new millennial temple, and it will be for good. The emphasis during the Lord’s reign will be on righteousness and holiness. Though God is choosing to dwell with His people in the person of His Son at that time, men must understand that God/Jesus is holy in and of Himself. Man’s righteousness or holiness is only attainable through the Son. This entrance of the Lord is to be distinctly for the use of the Lord.
Why the east? My reasoning--The sun rises in the east, and the sun represents light and goodness and life and the dawning of a new day. The Son will assume His throne from the east, and He too represents light and goodness and life and the dawning of a new age on planet earth.
Ezek. 44:3 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.
The prophet here introduces “the prince.” Previous reading has already shown me that this person is going to raise some questions. I’m content to recognize him as God’s designee to represent Him in matters of the kingdom as instructed. As the Lord’s representative, he will be allowed to enter and exit through a door that accesses the porch that is part of the Eastern Gate entry to the temple complex—but not through the gate proper. The prince will use this entrance to “eat bread before the LORD.” This raises many other questions, mostly trivial, that I am not going to consider at this time. I accept this person to be sovereignly chosen for special relationship to the Lord during the Kingdom age.
Ezek. 44:4 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.
Ezekiel is then taken to the north gate “before the house.” I would assume that this means he is in the outer court facing the temple proper. Ezekiel then witnesses a wonderful sight. The glory of the LORD again fills His house. What a wonderful hope for the prophet who witnessed the sad exit of God’s glory from the house much earlier in his ministry. The sight causes Ezekiel to fall on his face in worship.
Ezek. 44:5 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.
The Lord now instructs Ezekiel to make careful note of all that He is going to see and hear concerning the ordinances and laws associated with the administration and function of the temple, the house of the Lord. He is to make special note of the rules concerning entering and exiting the sanctuary.
This speaks to me of God’s sovereign right to control access to His presence. Jesus is the only door of access for mankind. As long as sin is present on planet earth, the strict rules of access to the temple will serve as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and of His provision for man’s righteousness through salvation only by faith in His Son. It is only through His imputed righteousness that we can access God’s presence. In other words, God sovereignly makes the rules; we can only fellowship with Him according to His rules.
Ezek. 44:6 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,
Ezek. 44:7 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.
Ezek. 44:8 And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
The Lord now gives the prophet a message of rebuke for the people of Israel. He is tired of the disgusting ways they had profaned His holy things. They had managed the temple according to their own desires and convenience. They had brought strangers into His temple. These strangers are identified as “uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh.” The NIV Commentary made note that the Israelites had utilized foreigners in temple service under Joshua and David and that this was common among ancient religions of the Near East. Though they had started out as water carriers and servants to the Levites, it would seem that they had gradually been allowed to assume some of the priestly duties.
I think more to the point is the phrase “uncircumcised in heart.” Circumcision in the flesh of the Jewish people was supposed to represent a circumcised heart, a heart yielded to God as Lord. Most of the priests of the Lord during Isaiah and Ezekiel’s times had become uncircumcised in their heart. They were no longer serving as unto the Lord, but as unto themselves and to court the pleasure of the people. They had broken covenant with God.
Ezek. 44:9 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.
This verse would indicate that no one will enter the temple who is uncircumcised in the flesh or uncircumcised in the heart. It would seem that all men will be expected to circumcise the flesh as evidence of a circumcised heart if they want to have access to the temple.
Ezek. 44:10 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.
Ezek. 44:11 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.
Ezek. 44:12 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.
Ezek. 44:13 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.
Ezek. 44:14 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.
This is another sobering section of scripture. Just as the sons of Zadok are going to be rewarded for the faithfulness of their ancestors, the rest of the Levites are going to be limited in service because of the rebellion of their ancestors. The Levites had been privileged to be chosen as priests before the Lord. They had failed miserably in their responsibilities. They had not taken a stand before the people against idol worship and had not led them away from their sin, but deeper into it. Because of that heritage, the Levites would be limited to serving at the gates and other tasks necessary for upkeep of the temple as well as slaughtering the sacrifices. They would no longer be allowed to serve as priests. Still to serve in any capacity in the house of God is a privilege. I am reminded of a verse in Psalms.
Psa. 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Ezek. 44:15 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:
Ezek. 44:16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
As learned earlier, only the Levites descended through Zadok would be allowed to serve as priests in the millennial temple in honor of the faithfulness of their faithful ancestors. Again, this is another wow statement. God will have no problem identifying those who qualify as a result of their ancestry—even though there have been no genealogical records of the nation as a whole kept since they were destroyed with the temple in AD70.
Ezek. 44:17 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.
Ezek. 44:18 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.
Ezek. 44:19 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.
The priests will wear specific garments as well. They are to be made of linen. Wool is specifically mentioned as not being acceptable. The emphasis seems to be that the garments do not cause the priest to sweat. This, I believe, is a statement regarding our position before the Lord. Nothing that we have done contributes to our salvation in any way. Jesus has done all the work required for our redemption. Our service before Him is a privilege and not a burden. The priests are to picture that truth as they serve before the Lord in the millennial temple.
The linen also represents purity. Although the word for linen used here is not specific, the Hebrew for the word “linen” used in Exodus regarding the garments for Aaron and his sons indicates “bleached stuff, i.e., white linen.” This also emphasizes the holiness and purity that the Lord imputes to each of us as part of a “holy priesthood.”
1Pet. 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
It is also specified that the priests not wear their garments outside the inner court of the temple; they are to be left in “the holy chambers.” This makes sense to me in that they are still ministering on an earth in which man still possesses the sin nature at birth.
“they shall not sanctify…garments.” – This indicates that touching a garment would produce a change in anyone it touched. The NIV Commentary states the following: “Contact with a holy thing consecrates. A person or object enters into the state of holiness by touching a holy thing and thus becomes subject to the restrictions of holiness to which other holy people or objects are subject.”
Ex. 29:37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
Lev. 6:26-27 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
[end quote from NIV Commentary]
This is still confusing to me. I understand the importance of emphasizing the difference between what is holy and what is not. I understand why the Lord guarded the tree of life so as to protect man from eating of it and remaining in his sinful state eternally. I don’t understand why being made holy would be a bad thing, unless it would mean that one would have to be put to death rather than be allowed to go back and live among the unholy. I tried to find some commentary from a Jewish perspective, but struck out.
Ezek. 44:20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
Ezek. 44:21 Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
Ezek. 44:22 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.
Regulations for the priests continue.
They are not to shave their heads.
They are not to grow long hair.
They are to keep their hair cut.
They are not to drink wine while in the inner court.
They may not marry widows or divorcees.
They are only to marry Israeli virgins or widows of a priest.
I don’t really see why the length of the hair matters, except as an act of obedience and submission. Commentaries make note that shaving the head was a sign of mourning and long hair is associated with pagan societies. Thus, maintaining a clean-cut appearance identifies one as happy in his service and proud to be identified with service to the Lord.
Obviously, wine impacts one’s ability to function properly.
In the millennium the nation of Israel will function as she was intended from the beginning. The priests that serve in the temple are to be Israeli from a specific line of descent—as established by God in the beginning for service in the tabernacle. Their wives are to be Israeli. Their wives are to be distinctly set apart as being virgins or as having already been married to a priest. This ensures that the God-ordained purpose for marriage as a pure relationship is depicted rightly before the people.
Ezek. 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
I think this verse sums up the purpose for all the rules and regulations pertaining to the priests—to teach the people to discern between what is holy and what is not, between what is clean and what is not.
Ezek. 44:24 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.
This verse tells us that the priests are also to serve as judges. They will make the final ruling regarding any disputes that may arise regarding God’s laws and statutes. These judgments are to be according to God’s judgments—not according to their own reasoning. This tells me that they will be given specific guidelines and instruction themselves as to how to judge correctly. The Hebrew for the word assemblies shows that it is referencing the feasts of Israel. In the millennium, the Sabbath will again be recognized as a day holy unto the Lord. Unlike their past history, the priests of Israel will once again lead their people in right relationship before the Lord.
Ezek. 44:25 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.
Ezek. 44:26 And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
Ezek. 44:27 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.
As a general rule, priests will not be present at funeral homes or funerals since it would render them unclean. They are allowed, however, to attend to father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or unmarried sister. It will require that they go through a 7-day cleansing process before reassuming their duties as priest. The priest will be required to offer a sin offering in the inner court on the day he returns to service to complete his process of purification.
Ezek. 44:28 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.
Ezek. 44:29 They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
Ezek. 44:30 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.
Ezek. 44:31 The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
As in Old Testament times, the priests will have no land inheritance allotted to them. They will need no land to farm or work since they will be provided for through their service to the Lord. They will benefit from the firstfruits and offerings that are brought by the people in obedience to the Lord. Those who give accordingly will be blessed with rest, peace, and comfort (all from the Hebrew).
Point is made that the priests are not to eat any meat that has died naturally or been killed other than through the process of sacrifice to the Lord. Again, this emphasizes that everything associated with God’s name and His provision for the people is to be clean and holy.