Ezekiel Chapter 46
Ezekiel 46
Worship at Ezekiel’s Future Temple
Ezekiel 46 continues the ordered worship of the future temple. After the glory of the LORD has returned, the east gate has been shut because the LORD entered through it, and the priestly regulations have been established, this chapter explains Sabbath worship, New Moon worship, feast-day movement, the prince’s offerings, daily offerings, inheritance laws, and the temple kitchens. The chapter shows that worship in Ezekiel’s future temple is public, orderly, priestly, sacrificial, and communal. The prince worships before the LORD, the people worship at the gate, the priests prepare offerings, movement through the temple is regulated, and even the preparation of sacrificial meals is assigned to holy places. From a literal, dispensational, premillennial viewpoint, this chapter belongs to the millennial kingdom order, where restored Israel worships in the land under the reign of Messiah, with sacrifices functioning as memorials and ceremonial instruction pointing back to the finished work of Christ. The uploaded notes emphasize the Sabbath and New Moon opening of the east inner gate, the prince’s worship, feast-day order, voluntary offerings, daily offerings, inheritance safeguards, and the kitchens for sacrificial meals.
A. Worship at the temple.
1. Ezekiel 46:1-8, The prince and the offerings.
Ezekiel 46:1, Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Ezekiel 46:2, And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
Ezekiel 46:3, Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.
Ezekiel 46:4, And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.
Ezekiel 46:5, And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
Ezekiel 46:6, And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.
Ezekiel 46:7, And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
Ezekiel 46:8, And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.
The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days introduces the regulated use of the eastern inner gate. This is not the same as the outer east gate of Ezekiel 44, which is shut because the LORD entered by it. Here the inner east gate is normally shut during the six working days but opened on appointed worship days.
The eastward direction remains significant because the glory of the LORD returned from the east.
Ezekiel 43:1, Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:
Ezekiel 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.
But on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened shows the Jewish and temple setting of the passage. Sabbath and New Moon worship are part of this kingdom temple order. This is not the church’s Lord’s Day worship being described. It is restored Israel’s worship in the millennial temple.
The Sabbath was given as a sign between the LORD and Israel.
Exodus 31:16, Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Exodus 31:17, It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
New Moon observance was also part of Israel’s worship calendar.
Numbers 28:11, And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without means the prince has regulated access through the gate complex. He does not enter casually or independently. His worship is ordered by the LORD.
The prince was introduced in the previous chapter.
Ezekiel 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 prince is best understood as a ruler in restored Israel, likely David serving as prince under the supreme reign of Messiah. He is not Christ Himself, because Ezekiel later speaks of the prince offering for himself and having sons.
Ezekiel 45:22, And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.
Ezekiel 46:16, Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.
Shall stand by the post of the gate means the prince stands at his appointed place. He is privileged, but not unregulated. Even leadership worships under divine order.
The priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings means the prince provides the offerings, while the priests perform the priestly work. The prince does not replace the priesthood.
He shall worship at the threshold of the gate shows the prince as a worshiper. He is not only a ruler or administrator. He worships before the LORD.
Then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening means the open gate remains associated with the day’s worship until evening.
Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons shows that worship is not limited to the prince and priests. The people also gather before the LORD. The temple is the center of national worship.
The prophets speak of nations coming to worship the LORD in the kingdom.
Isaiah 2:2, And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isaiah 2:3, And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways; and we will-walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
The burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish describes the Sabbath offerings connected with the prince. The animals must be without blemish because all acceptable sacrifice points to the perfection of Christ.
Christ is the true spotless Lamb.
1 Peter 1:18, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain-conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Peter 1:19, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
The meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram uses KJV language where meat offering refers to the grain offering. This offering accompanies the burnt offering.
And the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give shows that the prince gives according to ability in connection with the lambs.
And an hin of oil to an ephah gives the oil portion. Grain and oil together recall consecration, provision, and worship.
In the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram gives the New Moon offering.
They shall be without blemish repeats the requirement of unblemished offerings.
He shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto again shows the prince’s duty to provide the grain offering.
And an hin of oil to an ephah repeats the oil measure.
When the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof gives the ordered movement of the prince. His entrance and exit are regulated by God’s command.
These offerings do not take away sin in competition with Christ. Hebrews is clear that animal sacrifices never actually removed sin.
Hebrews 10:4, For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Christ’s offering is once for all.
Hebrews 10:10, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:12, But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Therefore the sacrifices in Ezekiel’s future temple must be understood as memorial, ceremonial, and instructional, pointing back to Christ’s finished sacrifice, just as the Lord’s Supper now memorializes Christ without repeating His sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 11:24, And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which-is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1 Corinthians 11:25, After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the-new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
2. Ezekiel 46:9-11, Feast days and festivals.
Ezekiel 46:9, But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth-in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate;-and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north-gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over-against it.
Ezekiel 46:10, And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when-they go forth, shall go forth.
Ezekiel 46:11, And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock,-and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin-of oil to an ephah.
When the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts shows large public worship gatherings at the future temple. The people come before the LORD, not merely before the priests or the prince.
He that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate establishes traffic flow. With multitudes coming to worship, the LORD gives order even to their movement.
He that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate gives the corresponding rule. Worshipers are not to turn back through the same gate.
He shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it means the flow is forward. The arrangement prevents confusion and disorder. The temple worship of restored Israel is both reverent and practical.
The prince in the midst of them is a beautiful phrase. The prince does not isolate himself from the people on the feast days. He is among them. He worships in their midst.
This fits the shepherdly character of David’s future rule.
Ezekiel 34:23, And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he-shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
Ezekiel 37:24, And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also-walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
When they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth means the prince shares the worship movement of the people. His leadership is not detached from the congregation.
There is also a spiritual principle here. True shepherd leadership does not merely command from a distance. It goes with the people in the worship and service of God.
In the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram gives the offering portions for feast days.
And to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah repeats the measure for the lambs and oil. The worship calendar has ordered offerings, and the prince has responsibility in providing them.
3. Ezekiel 46:12, The prince and the east gate.
Ezekiel 46:12, Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open-him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as-he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the-gate.
When the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD shows that the prince may bring freewill offerings beyond the required Sabbath, New Moon, and feast-day offerings. Worship includes both prescribed order and voluntary devotion.
The law also provided for freewill offerings.
Leviticus 22:18, Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them,-Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation-for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a-burnt offering;
Leviticus 22:19, Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep,-or of the goats.
One shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east means the east inner gate is opened for this voluntary act of worship. The prince’s privilege is real but regulated.
He shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day means the voluntary offering follows the established pattern.
The burnt offering speaks of consecration.
Leviticus 1:3, If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he-shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Leviticus 1:4, And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for-him to make atonement for him.
The peace offering speaks of fellowship with God.
Leviticus 7:11, And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.
Then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate means the gate is opened for the offering and shut afterward. The privilege is not turned into common use. Holiness still governs access.
4. Ezekiel 46:13-15, The daily burnt offerings.
Ezekiel 46:13, Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou-shalt prepare it every morning.
Ezekiel 46:14, And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the-third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual-ordinance unto the LORD.
Ezekiel 46:15, Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt-offering.
Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD means the future temple has regular daily worship. The life of Israel is ordered around continual remembrance and consecration before the LORD.
Of a lamb of the first year without blemish again points to perfection and acceptability. All sacrificial imagery finds its ultimate reality in Christ, the Lamb of God.
John 1:29, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which-taketh away the sin of the world.
Thou shalt prepare it every morning means this daily offering is morning by morning. Each day begins with worship, sacrifice, and consecration to the LORD.
The Mosaic law also had daily offerings, morning and evening.
Numbers 28:3, And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD;-two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
Numbers 28:4, The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
Ezekiel’s future temple order mentions the morning offering here. The emphasis is on regularity and continual worship.
Thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning means the grain offering accompanies the lamb.
The sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour gives the measure of flour and oil.
A meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD means the grain offering is ongoing in the temple order. Again, meat offering means grain offering in KJV usage.
Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering summarizes the daily order. The future temple will be marked by continual worship.
B. Inheritance and offerings.
1. Ezekiel 46:16-18, Inheritance given to sons and to servants.
Ezekiel 46:16, Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof-shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.
Ezekiel 46:17, But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his-to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for-them.
Ezekiel 46:18, Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession;-but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man-from his possession.
If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons shows that the prince has sons. This is one of the reasons the prince should not be identified as the Lord Jesus Christ. The prince is a real ruler in restored Israel with an inheritance and family.
The inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance means land given by the prince to his sons remains theirs as family inheritance.
But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants introduces a different rule. Gifts to servants are not permanent in the same way as gifts to sons.
Then it shall be his to the year of liberty means the servant may hold the gift until the year of liberty, corresponding to the Jubilee principle. Then the land returns.
The Jubilee protected inheritance under the law.
Leviticus 25:10, And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants-thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye-shall return every man unto his family.
Leviticus 25:13, In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
After it shall return to the prince means gifts to servants do not permanently alienate the prince’s inheritance.
But his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them repeats that the prince’s family inheritance passes to his sons.
Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression is the key moral rule. The prince may not expand his estate by taking from the people. The abuses of Israel’s past rulers will not be repeated.
Ahab’s seizure of Naboth’s vineyard showed the wickedness of rulers taking the people’s inheritance.
1 Kings 21:2, And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden-of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than-it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
1 Kings 21:3, And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my-fathers unto thee.
1 Kings 21:15, And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel-said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to-give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
The prophets condemned this kind of oppression.
Micah 2:1, Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light,-they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Micah 2:2, And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they-oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
To thrust them out of their possession means the prince may not evict or dispossess the people.
He shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession means the prince must provide for his sons from what belongs to him, not from what belongs to the people.
That my people be not scattered every man from his possession gives the purpose. God protects the inheritance of His people. In the kingdom order, rulers will not scatter the people by unjust confiscation.
This continues the justice theme from Ezekiel 45.
Ezekiel 45:8, In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and-the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
2. Ezekiel 46:19-20, The place offerings were prepared.
Ezekiel 46:19, After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers-of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.
Ezekiel 46:20, Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin-offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify-the people.
After he brought me through the entry means Ezekiel is guided again into a specific part of the temple complex. The vision returns from inheritance regulations to temple service.
Into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north refers to the priestly chambers already described. These chambers are holy because they are connected with priestly ministry, holy offerings, and holy garments.
Behold, there was a place on the two sides westward identifies an area for preparing offerings.
This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering means there were designated places for preparing sacrificial portions. The trespass offering and sin offering were not handled casually. Their preparation occurred in holy space.
Under the law, portions of certain offerings were eaten by priests in holy places.
Leviticus 6:25, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the-place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
Leviticus 6:26, 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.
Where they shall bake the meat offering means the grain offering also had a designated preparation place.
That they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people gives the reason. Holy offerings were not to be carried into the outer court in a way that improperly sanctified or affected the people. The distinction between holy space and common space must be maintained.
This agrees with the garment rule in Ezekiel 44.
Ezekiel 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 future temple is governed by careful separation between holy and common. The LORD’s holiness is not handled casually.
3. Ezekiel 46:21-24, The kitchens of the temple.
Ezekiel 46:21, Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of-the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court.
Ezekiel 46:22, In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these-four corners were of one measure.
Ezekiel 46:23, And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made-with boiling places under the rows round about.
Ezekiel 46:24, Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house-shall boil the sacrifice of the people.
Then he brought me forth into the utter court means Ezekiel is taken back to the outer court.
Caused me to pass by the four corners of the court shows that the guide leads Ezekiel through all four corners. The tour is complete and orderly.
In every corner of the court there was a court means each corner of the outer court contained a smaller enclosed court.
In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad gives the dimensions of these corner courts.
These four corners were of one measure shows symmetry. All four kitchen courts are the same size.
There was a row of building round about in them means each kitchen court had structures arranged around it.
It was made with boiling places under the rows round about identifies their practical function. These were cooking areas.
These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people means these were temple kitchens where sacrificial meals were prepared for the people.
This is important because Israelite worship included eating. The temple was a place of sacrifice, prayer, priestly ministry, and also fellowship meals. The sacrificial meal expressed fellowship with God and with one another.
Peace offerings especially involved eating before the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:6, And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings-of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your-flocks:
Deuteronomy 12:7, And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put-your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
Deuteronomy 12:11, Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there;-thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and-the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
Deuteronomy 12:12, And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your-menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no-part nor inheritance with you.
The temple kitchens show that worship is not merely inward feeling or verbal praise. It includes embodied fellowship, thanksgiving, sacrifice, provision, and shared rejoicing before the LORD.
Ezekiel 46 teaches that worship in the future temple will be holy, public, ordered, and communal. The inner east gate will be opened on the Sabbath and New Moon, the prince will worship at the threshold, the people will worship before the LORD, and the priests will prepare the offerings. Feast-day movement will be ordered from gate to gate, with the prince in the midst of the people. Voluntary offerings will be permitted, daily morning offerings will continue, and the prince’s inheritance will be regulated so that he cannot oppress or dispossess the people. The holy chambers and temple kitchens show that even the preparation of sacrificial meals is governed by holiness. The chapter gives no room for careless worship, unjust leadership, or disorder in the house of God. In the kingdom, Israel’s worship, leadership, inheritance, offerings, and fellowship meals will all be ordered before the glory-filled temple of the LORD.
