Ezekiel 44-46 Bible Class

Introduction:

Read Ch 37:22-28

Read: Ch 40:1-5

- What had happened to the land of Israel? Destroyed, S,F, P. The city and land has been in drought, and burned up. Destruction.

- Now 40-48 Its hope and blessings to come. They are going to get to come out of captivity. They will receive their land back. They will be able to be in the presence of God again. But also, blessings to come to the land. It will be prosperous once again.

- Compare Ezekiel with Exodus!! Captivity- given demensions of tabernacle. A pattern-

- Some people want to teach that this temple is not the one talked about in Ezra.

- We do not know the exact dimensions of Ezra’s temple other than the Bible says in Ezra 6:3 the foundation was to be 60 cubits tall, and 60 cubits wide. This is just for the temple itself and we are not given any length.

- A lot of people are so focused on dimensions and not the message itself.

- I however believe the Bible is talking about that very temple: as we will see through the text that we are talking about sacrifices, feast days, the sabbath day, all of these things which are part of the old covenant.

- I do believe however its all pointing to a much bigger picture. Ever been hunting?????

- When we look at Isaiah 2, Joel 2, Daniel 2, Micah 4 or any other messianic prophesy look.

- Like Isaiah 2:2-3 We read about the mountain of the Lord that all nations shall flow to, and out of Zion shall go forth the law. Isaiah was a prophet before Ezekiel and now we have Ezekiel standing on a mountain overlooking then city which Isaiah give us the location.

- One thing I have learned from my studies in Ezekiel 40-48 is the emphasis on Holiness:

- The Hebrew word “Ko-desh”; which is translated holy, most holy, sanctuary, most holy thing, holy portion, and even holy land.

- In fact in these 9 Chapters it is mentioned 56 times.

- in chapter 44-46 27 times!!! 26 of those are in ch 44-45 only 1 in 46

- With the word being repeated so many times should really draw our attention.

- Because- temple ch 8-11??? Defiled, abomination,

- What book talks about holiness the most?? Lev

- God has always wanted his people to be holy, live holy lives.

- What is definition of being holy? “To Cut”; Separate. to be pure

Think about the purpose of Gods Law- to keep people away from sin and alive to God, to live holy lives.

Ezekiel 44

I. Commands: for the East Gate (44:1-4).

a. Vs. 1-2 The East Gate to stay shut, for the Lord entered it (Ezekiel 43:1-5).

b. Vs. 3 Only the prince shall enter that gate.

c. Vs. 4 Read!

i. The Glory of the Lord. All 3 visions: ch 1, 8, 40

1. Ezek 1: by river of Chebar.

2. Ezek 10: Glory of the Lord departs the temple

3. Ezek 11:23 Glory of the Lord stood upon the mountain which is on the East side of city.

4. 43:4 Glory of the Lord came into the gate toward the East.

5. Now 44:4 The Glory of the Lord fills the House of the Lord.

II. Commands: for the Rebellious People (Ezekiel 44:5-9).

a. Vs. 5-9 Commands given by the Lord:

i. 1st Commands for the Sanctuary.

1. Vs 5A Mark well, behold with your eyes and hear with thine ears.

2. Vs 5B Mark well the entrance and exits of the sanctuary.

ii. Vs. 7-8 What the Rebellious people had done:

1. They had brought strangers in my sanctuary.

2. They had brought uncircumcised hearts in my sanctuary.

3. They had brought uncircumcised flesh in my sanctuary.

4. They had polluted my house.

5. They had broken His covenant with their abominations.

6. They had not kept charge of His holy things.

7. They had set keepers in charge of the sanctuary.

b. Read vs. 9

c. Are we to be circumcised today? Col 2:11-13 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

III. The Rebellious Priest (Ezekiel 44:10-14).

a. Vs. 10A The Levites that rebelled:

i. They had gone away far from the Lord.

ii. They went astray after Israel’s idols.

b. vs. 11 The Levites punishment

i. They shall bear their iniquity.

ii. They shall minister in the Lord’s sanctuary.

iii. They shall have charge of the gates.

iv. They shall minister to the house.

v. They shall slay all the sacrifices.

vi. They shall stand before the people to minister to them.

c. Vs. 12-14 Why they are being punished:

i. Because they ministered unto them before their idols.

ii. They caused the children of Israel to fall into iniquity.

iii. Therefore, The Lord’s hand is against them, and they shall bear their iniquity.

iv. They shall not come near me.

v. They shall not be a priest unto me.

vi. They shall not come near the holy things in most holy place.

vii. They shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.

viii. They shall be keepers in charge of the house and services thereof.

d. Read vs. 13

e. What will happen if we fall away for idols? Matt 7:23 “I never knew you, depart from me.”

How would we feel to be told we can no longer be Gods priest?

IV. Commending: the Righteous Priest (Ezekiel 44:15-31).

a. Read vs. 15-16

b. “But” contrast.

c. What kind of priest are we to be today? 1 Peter 2:5-12 A Holy Priesthood, a Holy Nation.

d. Commands regarding the Righteous Priest: (44:17-26).

i. They shall be clothed with linen while ministering the inner courts and within.

ii. They shall wear linen bonnets on their head.

iii. They shall have linen breeches on their loins.

iv. They shall not wear anything that will cause them to sweat.

v. They shall leave their linen in holy chambers when leaving.

vi. They shall not wear them to sanctify the people.

vii. They shall not shave their heads, nor let it grow long, but trim it.

viii. They shall not drink wine entering the inner court.

ix. They shall not take wife that is a widow or divorced.

x. They can only marry a maiden of seed of Israel or widow of priest.

xi. They shall teach my people between holy and unholy; clean and unclean.

xii. They shall judge according to my judgements.

xiii. They shall keep my laws and statues in all mine assemblies.

xiv. They shall hallow my sabbaths.

f. Read vs. 23

g. What are we to teach people today? 2 Tim 2:15, 4:2

h. How do we treat the Lords day? Vs 24 end

xv. They shall not come in contact with the dead unless its immediate family.

xvi. If Defiled:

1. They shall be cleansed.

2. They shall be reckoned 7 days.

3. Then offer sin offering upon entering the sanctuary.

Application:

Contacting the dead defiled them from being holy and they had to be sanctified?

If we defile our selves with sin in any way, what are we to do?

e. The Reward of Righteous Priest: (44:27-31).

i. The offerings are an inheritance for them.

ii. I am their inheritance.

iii. I am their possession.

iv. They shall eat the meat of the offerings.

v. Every dedicated thing in Israel is theirs.’

vi. They shall eat all the first fruits of all things.

vii. All offerings belong to them.

viii. The first of dough is theirs.

ix. They shall not eat anything that died or killed by beast or fowl.

i. Read vs. 28

j. What is our inheritance today?

Ezekiel 45

I. Commands regarding set apart Land (Ezekiel 45:1-7).

a. They were to offer a portion of land as a holy district.

b. I gave a chart I plotted to give an idea of size of this holy land allotted.

i. Vs. 1-4 The Holy portion:

1. 25,000 reeds X 10,000 reeds: for the priest of the sanctuary (vs. 4)

a. 1 Reed= 6 Cubits

b. 1 Cubit= 21 Inches

c. 1 Reed= 10.5 ft

d. 5280 ft= 1 mile

e. 262,500 ft X 105,000 ft

2. The Holy Portion= 49.72 Miles X 19.89 Miles= 1000 square miles.

3. Distance from Jorden to Mediterranean Sea roughly 50 Miles.

4. Vs. 2 Of This: For the Sanctuary: 500 X 500 with 50 extra cubits around it.

a. Be 1 square mile: with 88 ft surrounding building!

5. Vs. 3 In this land for the sanctuary and Most Holy Place: 25,000 X 10,000

ii. Vs. 5 For the Levites and ministers 25,000 X 10,000

iii. Vs. 6 For the House of Israel: 25,000 X 5,000

iv. Vs. 7-8A For the prince- border the east and west side of land.

v. Vs. 8B The rest of the land for the house of Israel and their tribes.

Notice vs 4 Their homes were in the mdst of the Holy portion for sanctuary.

The center of attention was God, to worship God, to live holy lives.

- What are some ways we can Make God the center of our lives today?

c. What kind of homes are we to have today?

d. What are some things we can do to make our homes more holy?

e. What are some ways we can make our lives more holy?

II. Commands for the Prince and Children of Israel concerning offerings (Ezekiel 45:9-17).

a. Read vs. 9-10

b. Vs. 11-12 Have just measurements:

i. Vs. 11A Ephah- a dry measurement

1. 1 Ephah= 1 Bushel= 64 US pints= 8 gallons

ii. Vs. 11B Bath- liquid measurement

1. 1 bath= 22 Liters= 5.81 gallons

iii. Vs. 11C Homer

1. 1/10th of a Ephah or bath measurement

iv. Vs. 12A 1 Shekel= 20 Gerahs

v. Vs. 12B 60 Shekels = 1 Maneh

c. Commands for children of Israel (Ezekiel 45:13-15).

i. Vs. 13-15 The children of Israel’s offering to the prince:

1. 1/6th part of an ephah of wheat.

2. 1/6th part of an ephah of barley.

3. 1/10th part of bath of the oil

4. Give 1 for every 200 lambs.

d. Commands for the prince (Ezekiel 45:16-17).

i. The prince to offer burnt, meat, drink, feasts, new moons, and sabbaths, sin, peace offering to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

III. Commands for the priests regarding offerings (Ezekiel 45:18-25).

a. Vs. 18-19 1st day of 1st month- Offer a sin offering

i. offer young bullock without blemish.

ii. Put blood upon the posts of the house.

iii. Put blood on 4 corners of altar.

iv. Put blood on posts of inner court.

b. Vs. 20 Repeat for 7th day of every month:

i. For everyone that erreth- sinned (unintentionally or in ignorance NKJV).

c. Vs. 21-24 14th day of 1st month

i. Have the Passover- a feast of 7 days.

ii. Unleavened bread shall be eaten.

iii. The prince to offer a bullock for a sin offering for himself and all the people.

iv. Every day for 7 days he will offer:

1. 7 bullocks

2. 7 rams

3. 1 kid goat

4. All without blemish.

5. A meat offering of an ephah for a bullock.

6. An ephah for a ram.

7. Hin of oil for an ephah.

d. Vs. 25 15th day of 7th month.

i. Repeat vs 21-24 according to sin, burnt, meat, and oil offering!

e. What Kind of sacrifice do we offer today? Romans 12:1

Ezekiel 46

I. Commands regarding different Feast Offerings (Ezekiel 46:1-15).

a. The East Gate (Ezekiel 46:1-3).

i. Ch 43, 44, 46 All start talking with the east gate.

1. Vs. 1 Exceptions for the East gate being shut.

2. Closed 6 days a week.

3. But on sabbath shall be opened.

4. And on day of new moon.

ii. Vs. 2 Prince shall prepare:

1. Burnt offerings.

2. Peace offerings.

iii. Vs. 2B-3 The prince and people shall worship at gate on sabbaths and new moon.

b. Vs. 4 The Sabbath day burnt offering:

i. 6 lambs

ii. 1 Ram

iii. Meat offering- ephah for a ram

iv. Meat offering for lamb- as much as able.

v. A hin of oil each ephah.

c. Vs. 6-7 The New Moon offering:

i. 1 bullock

ii. 6 lambs

iii. 1 ram

iv. Meat offering for bullock- Ephah.

v. Meat offering for ram- Ephah.

vi. Meat offering for lamb- as much as able.

vii. Hin of oil to an ephah.

d. Vs. 8-10 How the Prince and people shall enter:

i. Vs. 8 Prince shall enter:

1. By way of porch. East Gate.

2. He shall exit same gate.

ii. Vs. 9 People of land shall enter:

1. Either north or south gate.

2. But they have to exit opposite gate. If they came in north, they leave south!

iii. Vs. 10 The prince shall:

1. go in when the people go in.

2. And shall leave when they leave.

e. Vs. 11 Commands: for Other feast and appointed festivals:

i. They shall offer ephah to a bullock.

ii. Ephah to a ram.

iii. As much as able to give to lamb.

iv. Hin of oil to an ephah.

f. Vs. 12 Voluntary burnt or peace offering:

i. Another exception to east gate opening!

ii. As soon as Prince goes through the gate shall be shut.

g. Vs. 13-14 Daily offerings:

i. Every morning a lamb of first year as burnt offering.

ii. Every morning a meat offering 1/6th part ephah, 1/3rd part hin of oil for flour.

iii. This meat or grain offering is to be done regularly to the Lord.

iv. They shall do continual burnt offerings.

h. Application:

i. Who is the prince? Would be the high priest. Scope- Isaiah 9:6

j. How much should a Christian Give? Vs. 5, 11 1 Cor 16:2; As he hath prospered

II. Commands regarding the Prince Inheritance (Ezekiel 46:16-18).

a. “IF” prince gives gift:

i. To sons- it shall be their passion for inheritance.

ii. To servant- it shall be theirs till year of liberty.

1. Then return to prince.

2. But his inheritance shall be his sons.

iii. The prince shall not:

1. Take of the people’s inheritance.

2. Thrust them out of their possession- (evict them from their property NKJV).

iv. But

1. Give his sons inheritance from his own possession.

2. So that no one is scattered from his possession.

III. Boiling Places for offerings (Ezekiel 46:19-24).

a. Then Ezekiel is brought to holy chambers of priests looking north.

i. Vs. 20 This is place where priest shall boil sin and trespass offerings.

b. Vs. 21 Than Ezekiel brought to 4 corners of the court.

i. Each corner of court:

1. Had a court of 40 cubits.

2. Made for boiling.

3. This is where ministers of the house boil sacrifices of the people.

Application:

Where is the temple located today?

The Church:

2 Cor 6:16-18 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

1 Cor 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

The Christian:

1 Corinthians 6: 18-20“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Knowing our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and knowing the Holy Spirit cannot sin, should really strive us to live Holy Lives. For we were bought, redeemed, justified, and reconciled.

If our purpose is to glorify God in life, than we will srive to live holy lives.

Why are we to be Holy?

1 Peter 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Lev 11:44 “For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Lev. 20:26 “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

Lev 19:2 “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.”

lev 20:7 “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.”

The only way we can live Holy lives is if we understand our Holy God.

We can really see characteristics of God in the old testament: His mercy, compassion, longsuffering, righteousness, justness, wrath.

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God; Imitators.

We need to learn how to imitate God, by being more like Jesus.

The only way we can be more like Him is if we are truly spending time to get to known Him, by being in His Word, and imitating His Word.

We should want to be Holy because our God is Holy.

To Be Holy:

We should flee sin long before its able to take part in our lives.

You don’t have to look for sin it will find you, Satan going around seeking all he may devour..

In order to do that we need to set up guard rails in our life. Those things which keep cars on the road. What that looks like:

- For those who are single- never be alone with the opposite sex.

- Married people should never be alone with opposite sex which is not your spouse.

- Putting the computer in living room so everybody can see what your looking at.

- Using things like vid angel when watching movies.

- Taking out the trash: music, movies, pictures, anything which could cause you to stumble.

- Our homes should be a holy place. A place where we go to and escape the World, a place where we can study the Word, a place of prayer, a place to sing spiritual songs. A place to grow in our faith. The sanctuary was to have holy land surrounding it, we need to surround our selves with holy people, holy things, and always keep in mind the purpose of life..