Eze 44:1 | KingComments | STEP | The empty temple complex of Ezekiel 40-42 comes to life, that is, persons now come forward to serve there. When the LORD has returned to the temple (Ezekiel 43:1-12), His people can draw near to Him there. The laws that demand our attention in Ezekiel 44 underscore that the temple described in Ezekiel 40-42 is not an inanimate monument. That temple is the center of worship and priestly service. Having already focused attention on the altar as the center of worship ( ), Ezekiel now speaks of the worshipers (Ezekiel 44:1-45:8) and the regulations regarding worship (Ezekiel 45:9-46:24). After a brief discussion of the prince’s relationship to the sanctuary ( ), Ezekiel goes on in this chapter to talk about the characteristics of the temple servants ( ), the regulations for the priests ( ), and the provisions for the priests ( ). In the first verses of the next chapter, he speaks further about the allotment of land to the priests ( ). Ezekiel, who is in the inner court, is brought by the Man to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east ( ). That gate appears to be shut. The LORD lets Ezekiel know that that gate is shut because “the LORD God of Israel” has entered through that gate. Therefore, the gate must remain shut ( ; ). The way He goes cannot be gone by anyone else. There remains that holy distance between Him and His people. That shut gate also means that God will never leave His sanctuary again (cf. ). Seeing that shut gate may thus be quite a reassurance to His people. For our personal lives, the Lord Jesus said that He remains with us to the end of the age ( ; ). Although the east gate is shut, it will still have a function ( ). For the prince will sit in the porch of the gate to eat bread before the LORD. By this bread is meant the part of the peace offering that is for him. He will sit there in the porch, which he will reach through the north or south gate. The east gate also remains shut to him, for he cannot enter or exit through that gate. He will have to leave the outer court again through the north or south gate. The person of the prince mentioned here is not the Messiah. Messiah as “Prince” has been spoken of before ( ). He is the Prince of Israel in the realm of peace. The prince, however, whom we meet here in connection with the new temple is mentioned here for the first time. We meet him several times after this. Then we see that his job is to provide the priests with sacrifices to offer on his behalf ( ). That this prince is not the Messiah is evident from some of the characteristics given of him. For example, this prince must offer sacrifices for himself ( ; cf. ). Furthermore, it also appears that he has sons, thus is married and has a family ( ). He also has an earthly domain, a piece of land that is his ( ). He dwells on earth, with his own houses and his own pastures.

‏ Ezekiel 44:1

Introduction

The empty temple complex of Ezekiel 40-42 comes to life, that is, persons now come forward to serve there. When the LORD has returned to the temple (Ezekiel 43:1-12), His people can draw near to Him there. The laws that demand our attention in Ezekiel 44 underscore that the temple described in Ezekiel 40-42 is not an inanimate monument. That temple is the center of worship and priestly service. Having already focused attention on the altar as the center of worship (Eze 43:13-27), Ezekiel now speaks of the worshipers (Ezekiel 44:1-45:8) and the regulations regarding worship (Ezekiel 45:9-46:24).

After a brief discussion of the prince’s relationship to the sanctuary (Eze 44:1-3), Ezekiel goes on in this chapter to talk about the characteristics of the temple servants (Eze 44:4-14), the regulations for the priests (Eze 44:15-27), and the provisions for the priests (Eze 44:28-31). In the first verses of the next chapter, he speaks further about the allotment of land to the priests (Eze 45:1-8).

The Shut East Gate

Ezekiel, who is in the inner court, is brought by the Man to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east (Eze 44:1). That gate appears to be shut. The LORD lets Ezekiel know that that gate is shut because “the LORD God of Israel” has entered through that gate. Therefore, the gate must remain shut (Eze 44:2; Eze 43:1-4). The way He goes cannot be gone by anyone else. There remains that holy distance between Him and His people.

That shut gate also means that God will never leave His sanctuary again (cf. Eze 43:7 ; 9). Seeing that shut gate may thus be quite a reassurance to His people. For our personal lives, the Lord Jesus said that He remains with us to the end of the age (Mt 28:20; Heb 13:5b).

Although the east gate is shut, it will still have a function (Eze 44:3). For the prince will sit in the porch of the gate to eat bread before the LORD. By this bread is meant the part of the peace offering that is for him. He will sit there in the porch, which he will reach through the north or south gate. The east gate also remains shut to him, for he cannot enter or exit through that gate. He will have to leave the outer court again through the north or south gate.

The person of the prince mentioned here is not the Messiah. Messiah as “Prince” has been spoken of before (Eze 34:24 ; Eze 37:25). He is the Prince of Israel in the realm of peace. The prince, however, whom we meet here in connection with the new temple is mentioned here for the first time. We meet him several times after this. Then we see that his job is to provide the priests with sacrifices to offer on his behalf (Eze 45:17 ; Eze 46:1-7).

That this prince is not the Messiah is evident from some of the characteristics given of him. For example, this prince must offer sacrifices for himself (Eze 45:22; cf. Heb 5:3 ; Heb 7:27). Furthermore, it also appears that he has sons, thus is married and has a family (Eze 46:16). He also has an earthly domain, a piece of land that is his (Eze 45:7 ; Eze 46:17-18). He dwells on earth, with his own houses and his own pastures.