Ezekiel 46:8
When the prince enters, he shall go in through the portico of the gateway, and he shall go out the same way.
When the prince enters
The term "prince" in Ezekiel often refers to a leader or ruler, distinct from the high priest or king. In the context of Ezekiel's vision, the prince is a significant figure in the restored temple worship. This prince is not the Messiah but a leader who plays a role in the temple's administration. The prince's entrance signifies his authority and responsibility in worship, reflecting the order and reverence required in the temple.

he shall go in through the portico of the gateway
The portico, or vestibule, of the gateway is a specific architectural feature of the temple described in Ezekiel's vision. This entrance is reserved for the prince, indicating a special status and function. The gateway's design reflects the sacredness and order of worship, emphasizing the separation between the holy and the common. The prince's use of this entrance underscores his unique role in leading the people in worship.

and he shall go out the same way
The instruction for the prince to exit the same way he entered highlights the orderliness and reverence required in temple worship. This practice ensures that the prince's movements are deliberate and respectful, maintaining the sanctity of the temple. It also symbolizes consistency and faithfulness in leadership, as the prince's actions are to be predictable and aligned with God's commands. This mirrors the broader biblical theme of walking in God's ways and the importance of obedience in leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Prince
In Ezekiel 46, the prince is a central figure in the temple worship. He is not a king but a leader with specific roles in the temple rituals. His actions symbolize leadership and responsibility in worship.

2. The Portico of the Gateway
This is the entrance through which the prince enters and exits. It signifies a designated path for leadership and order in worship practices.

3. The Temple
The setting of this passage is the temple, which represents the presence of God among His people and the center of worship and sacrifice.

4. Ezekiel
The prophet who received this vision. His role is to communicate God's instructions and visions to the Israelites during their exile.

5. Israelites in Exile
The original audience of Ezekiel's prophecies, who were in Babylonian captivity and needed hope and guidance for future restoration.
Teaching Points
Order in Worship
The prince's specific entrance and exit through the portico highlight the importance of order and reverence in worship. Worship should be approached with a sense of structure and respect for God's instructions.

Leadership Responsibility
The prince's role signifies the responsibility of leaders to guide worship according to God's commands. Leaders today should model integrity and obedience in spiritual practices.

Symbolism of the Temple
The temple represents God's presence. Believers are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, maintaining purity and dedication in their lives.

Consistency in Worship
The prince's consistent path in and out of the temple symbolizes the need for consistency in our worship and spiritual disciplines.

Hope for Restoration
Ezekiel's vision provided hope for the Israelites. Similarly, believers can find hope in God's promises of restoration and future glory.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the role of the prince in Ezekiel 46:8 teach us about leadership in worship today?

2. How can the order and structure of worship in Ezekiel's vision be applied to our personal and corporate worship practices?

3. In what ways does the temple in Ezekiel's vision foreshadow the role of Jesus as our High Priest and the presence of God in our lives?

4. How can we ensure consistency in our spiritual disciplines, as symbolized by the prince's path in and out of the temple?

5. What aspects of Ezekiel's vision provide hope and encouragement for believers facing difficult circumstances today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 23
This chapter outlines the appointed feasts and offerings, connecting to the structured worship and sacrifices mentioned in Ezekiel 46.

Isaiah 9:6-7
This passage speaks of a future leader, the Prince of Peace, who will establish justice and righteousness, paralleling the role of the prince in Ezekiel's vision.

Hebrews 10:19-22
This New Testament passage discusses entering the Most Holy Place through Jesus, connecting to the theme of entering God's presence in Ezekiel 46.
Distinction and Equality in the Kingdom of GodW. Clarkson Ezekiel 46:2, 3, 10
The Optional and the Obligatory in the Kingdom of GodW. Clarkson Ezekiel 46:4-12
People
Ephah, Ezekiel
Places
Most Holy Place
Topics
Covered, Doorway, Enter, Enters, Forth, Gate, Gateway, Porch, Portico, Prince, Ruler, Thereof, Vestibule
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 46:5-7

     5617   measures, liquid

Library
Chel. The Court of the Women.
The Court of the Gentiles compassed the Temple and the courts on every side. The same also did Chel, or the Ante-murale. "That space was ten cubits broad, divided from the Court of the Gentiles by a fence, ten hand-breadths high; in which were thirteen breaches, which the kings of Greece had made: but the Jews had again repaired them, and had appointed thirteen adorations answering to them." Maimonides writes: "Inwards" (from the Court of the Gentiles) "was a fence, that encompassed on every side,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Things to be Meditated on as Thou Goest to the Church.
1. That thou art going to the court of the Lord, and to speak with the great God by prayer; and to hear his majesty speak unto thee by his word; and to receive his blessing on thy soul, and thy honest labour, in the six days past. 2. Say with thyself by the way--"As the hart brayeth for the rivers of water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God: When shall I come and appear before the presence of God? For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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