Ezekiel 40:24

Ezekiel 40:24 says, After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.  Ezekiel was then brought to the gate on the south side and shown the posts and arches and the size of the gate and arches.

Verse twenty-five adds, And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.  The arches of the gate also had windows in it, which would imply that a person could either get inside the arch or there was a walkway behind it so they could see out.  This would allow them to see who was at the gate if it was closed.  When Jesus stands at the gate of our heart and knocks, faith is the window that allows us to see Who He is.

Verse twenty-six continues, And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.  Matthew Henry points out that all the gates had seven steps leading up to them, which he says some see as indicating that we move up step-by-step in grace, but I believe that we are completely under God’s grace when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We may then grow in our spiritual life one step at a time.   \