Ezekiel 45:19
And the priest is to take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner court.
The priest
In the Hebrew context, the word for "priest" is "kohen," which signifies a person set apart for sacred duties. The priest's role was crucial in mediating between God and the people, symbolizing holiness and dedication. In the New Testament, this role is fulfilled in Christ, our High Priest, who intercedes for us.

is to take some of the blood
Blood in the Hebrew Bible, "dam," is a powerful symbol of life and atonement. The act of taking blood from the sin offering signifies the transfer of sin and the necessity of a life given for atonement. This prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, whose blood was shed for the remission of sins.

from the sin offering
The "sin offering," or "chatat" in Hebrew, was a sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for purification. This offering points to the ultimate sin offering made by Christ, who was without sin yet became sin for us.

and put it on the doorposts of the temple
The doorposts, or "mezuzot" in Hebrew, were significant as they marked the entrance to a sacred space. Applying blood here symbolizes the sanctification and protection of God's dwelling place. This act echoes the Passover, where blood on doorposts protected the Israelites, foreshadowing Christ's blood that protects believers.

on the four corners of the altar
The altar, "mizbeach" in Hebrew, was the place of sacrifice and communion with God. The four corners represent the entirety of the altar, signifying complete consecration. This act of applying blood sanctifies the altar, making it a holy place for offerings, much like Christ's sacrifice sanctifies believers.

and on the gateposts of the inner court
The gateposts, or "ayil" in Hebrew, of the inner court were the threshold to a more sacred area within the temple. Applying blood here signifies the purification and sanctification required to enter God's presence. This mirrors the New Testament teaching that through Christ's blood, believers have access to the Father.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Priest
In the context of Ezekiel, the priest plays a crucial role in the sacrificial system, acting as a mediator between God and the people. The priest's duties include performing rituals that symbolize purification and atonement.

2. The Temple
The temple is the central place of worship and sacrifice in Israel. It represents God's presence among His people and is a place of holiness and reverence.

3. The Sin Offering
This offering is a sacrifice made to atone for sin and to purify the people and the sacred spaces. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement.

4. The Altar
The altar is where sacrifices are made. It is a sacred place that signifies the meeting point between God and man, where offerings are presented to God.

5. The Inner Court
This is a specific area within the temple complex, reserved for certain sacred activities and accessible only to those who are ritually clean.
Teaching Points
The Significance of Blood in Atonement
Blood is a powerful symbol of life and purification. In the Old Testament, it is used to cleanse and sanctify, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Role of the Priesthood
The priest acts as an intermediary, highlighting the need for a mediator between God and humanity. This foreshadows Christ's role as our High Priest.

Holiness of Sacred Spaces
The temple and its components are set apart for God. This calls believers to respect and honor places of worship and to live lives that reflect God's holiness.

The Seriousness of Sin
The need for a sin offering underscores the gravity of sin and the necessity of repentance and atonement in our relationship with God.

The Fulfillment in Christ
The Old Testament sacrificial system finds its fulfillment in Jesus, whose sacrifice on the cross provides eternal atonement for sin.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the priest in Ezekiel 45:19 help us understand the function of Jesus as our High Priest in the New Testament?

2. In what ways does the use of blood in the Old Testament sacrificial system point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

3. How can we apply the concept of holiness in sacred spaces to our personal lives and places of worship today?

4. What does the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement in Ezekiel 45:19 teach us about our need for repentance and forgiveness?

5. How can understanding the Old Testament sacrificial system deepen our appreciation for the sacrifice of Christ as described in Hebrews 9?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 16
This chapter describes the Day of Atonement, where blood is used for purification, similar to the actions described in Ezekiel 45:19. It highlights the importance of blood in the atonement process.

Hebrews 9
This New Testament passage discusses the role of Christ as the ultimate high priest and His blood as the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system.

Exodus 12
The Passover event, where blood is placed on doorposts, parallels the use of blood for protection and sanctification, as seen in Ezekiel 45:19.
Sanctity of Time and PlaceJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 45:18-20
Sacred FestivalsJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 45:18-25
People
Ephah, Ezekiel, Levites
Places
Holy Place, Most Holy Place
Topics
Altar, Angles, Blood, Border, Corners, Court, Door, Door-post, Doorposts, Door-posts, Doors, Doorway, Gate, Gateposts, Inner, Ledge, Offering, Post, Posts, Priest, Settle, Shelf, Sides, Sin, Sin-offering, Square, Temple, Upper, Uprights
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 45:19

     5299   door

Ezekiel 45:18-19

     7400   New Year, the

Ezekiel 45:18-20

     7416   purification

Ezekiel 45:18-24

     4615   bull

Ezekiel 45:19-20

     6648   expiation

Library
Of the Third Seal.
The third animated being is the index of the third seal, in a human form, his station being towards the south, and consequently shows that this seal begins with an emperor proceeding from that cardinal point of the compass; probably with Septimius Severus, the African, an emperor from the south, of whom Eutropius writes in the following manner: "Deriving his origin from Africa, from the province of Tripolis, from the town of Leptis, the only emperor from Africa within all remembrance, before or since."
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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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