Bible Studies
Ezekiel In Light of the New Testament
Series: God Speaks to Our People In ExileIntroduction:
1. The Book of Ezekiel presents a variety of interpretive problems. Such problems result in interpreters resorting to considerable ingenuity in their attempts to understand the text.a. Jewish rabbi, Hananiah ben Hezekiah, was said to have locked himself in his attic and burned 300 barrels of oil before he could reconcile the laws of Moses with the regulations of Ezekiel. Some rabbis gave up altogether saying: Elijah would explain it when he came.
b. Dispensational premillenialists struggle to harmonize their “literal” interpretations with various N.T. teachings. For example, how can the Levitical temple sacrifices be restored if Christ brought an end to such?
2. Ezekiel chapters 40-48 constitute the last section of the book. This section naturally divides itself into two subsections.a. Chapters 40-44 addresses a vision of the temple.
b. Chapters 45-48 addresses a division of the land.
3. How are we to interpret this material?a. Will we follow the Jewish rabbis or the dispensational premillenialists of our day? Or will we add our own ingenuity to the mix?
b. I would propose that we allow the N.T. writers to interpret it for us.
4. First, we will survey chapters 40-48. This will be followed by an examination of some of the related things taught in the N.T. and then we will try to make some relevant applications based on these N.T. interpretations.Discussion:
I. A survey of chapters 40-48.A. Chapter 40 opens with Ezekiel being taken “in the visions of God” to the land of Israel.
1. A man escorts Ezekiel through the temple taking various measurements.
2. The measurements are very detailed both outside and inside measurements are given.
3. In some instances very detailed descriptions are given (ex. 41:15-20).
B. Chapter 43 opens with a vision of the glory of God filling the temple (43:1-12).
1. You may recall that Ezekiel had see the glory of the God departing from the temple in chapters 9-10.
2. While the nation was then taken into captivity God had promised their restoration. What He said is recorded in 11:18-21.
3. The vision of chapter 43 is designed to call the people to repentance (see verses 9-11).
C. Chapter 44 continues the call to repentance (see verses 6-8).
1. Particularly the Levites are called to return to their duties in faithfulness (9ff).
2. They are to purify themselves (17-22).
3. Then resume their duties of teaching the people and judging according to the laws of God (23-24).
D. Chapters 45-48 shift attention away from the temple and to a division of the land.
1. There is a portion for the Lord, for the priests and the servants of the sanctuary.
2. There is a portion for the prince. It is unclear in the text who this prince is. Is it the Messianic king?
3. The rest of the land is divided amongst the various tribes. All of the land is on the western side of the Jordan, not like the division made by Joshua where some tribes inhabited areas east of the Jordan.
4. Chapter 47 speaks of water that flows from the temple. On either side grow all kinds of trees that bear “fruit for food and their leaves are for healing” (47:12).
5. There is a special city in the land named, “The Lord is there.”
E. After reading this text you wonder if 300 barrels of oil would be enough to shed sufficient light on this text for us to understand it.
II. Consideration of what is said by writers in the N.T. may be just enough to help us.A. What they said in regard to the temple.
1. N.T. writers spoke of those that God had raised from the dead as God’s dwelling place (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:4ff).
a. Indeed consideration must be given to these as those given life by God having given them His spirit. Cf. Ezek. 37:14.
b. These are those Paul refers to as have been renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
c. Cf. Rom. 8:9-11.
2. They also spoke of a tabernacle/temple that the tabernacle/temple of O.T. fame was but a copy and shadow (a model) (Heb. 8-9).
a. It was not made with hands. It is not of this creation.
b. It is the true tabernacle. It is in heaven itself.
3. In the new heavens and new earth and in the new Jerusalem there is no temple for God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Rev. 21:22).
4. The temple represents God’s presence with His people in every instance. Can it be that the temple of Ezekiel is calling attention to God’s restored presence with His people? Who are these people? Can it be those repentant ones that He has raised from the dead and dwells in? I know this does not explain all the details of the measurements. It doesn’t identify meaning to the details of the architecture. But we can see the meaning between the holy and the profane (Ezek. 42:20) and the text of Ezekiel is calling people to repentance (43:9-11). It is those who have repented that have advantage of the true tabernacle and it is they who are blessed with the new heavens and new earth and who constitute the new Jersualem.
B. Already we are getting into what they said about the land. Interesting how the concepts overlap. But they said many other things about the land.
1. Joshua brought the nation of Israel into the land of Canaan, but he spoke of another rest after that (Heb. 4:8).
2. The forefathers lived in Canaan, but they were looking for a city with foundations (Heb. 11:10) and an enduring city (Heb. 13:14).
3. Jesus spoke about the meek inheriting the earth (land) (Matt. 5:5 based on Psa. 37:7-11 note that this passage is a call to loyalty to the Lord).
4. It is the people of N.T. faith that have come to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn ones who are enrolled in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23).
5. Jesus admonished us to not store up for ourselves treasures on the earth, but treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20).
6. Ezekiel speaks of a water source from the temple (47:12).
a. On either side of it grow all kinds of trees. Their fruit is for food and their leaves for healing.
b. Jesus spoke of such to the Samaritan woman in Jn. 4:14, a water spring up to eternal life. (Note: It was in this context that he spoke about worship in spirit and truth contra. “worship what we know,” Jewish worship).
c. In Jn. 7:38-39 He also spoke of living water.
d. In Rev. 22:1-2 there is a description of the water of life coming from the throne of God with the tree of life on either side of the river bearing fruit and the leaves are for the healing of the nations.
C. The N.T. writers say things about the people.
1. Ezekiel said the division of the land should include Jews and aliens (47:22).
2. N.T. writers include Jews and Gentiles (nations, aliens) (Eph. 2:11ff).
3. Rom. 9-10-11 graft wild olives in with the native olive.
4. The meek (those who place their faith in Jesus Christ) inherit the land (Matt. 5:5).
Conclusion:
1. So what does all this mean?a. Some have described this as a theology of architecture and a theology of geography.
b. They are suggesting that in Ezekiel’s description of the temple and the land we are to see God’s great plan for restoring His people.
2. It is not to a physical land, nor a physical temple, but land that is spiritual in nature and a temple that is spiritual in nature. 3. It is not any less real because it is spiritual. The people are real and they are a spiritual people who have placed their trust in God. 4. They have turned away from all their idols and to God. He has raised them to spiritual life and caused His spirit to dwell in them. 5. It is evidenced in their manner of life. It is they who inherit the land. They desire a heavenly country and God has prepared a city for them (Heb. 11:16) and they will enter that city by faith (Heb. 11) for their robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 22:14).
