Ezekiel 44:1 says, Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Matthew Henry says Ezekiel was now brought back to review what he had seen just as we should go back to God’s word often to see what He has to say to us. Ezekiel said God first brought him back to the east gate which was shut. This was the third time Ezekiel had been brought to the east gate, and it was the only one closed.
Verse two adds, Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. Ezekiel was told that this gate was to be closed because it was the one that the Lord, the God of Israel, had entered through. I believe that this would indicate that God would be in the temple at all times and not coming in and out. Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, this would mean that once we put our faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit indwells us, He will never leave.
Verse three continues, It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same. This seems to say that only the Prince, Jesus Christ, would be allowed to go in and out of this gate as He fellowshipped with others. The gate to provide salvation is closed to all but Jesus Christ, and He is the only way of entry to God’s kingdom and still calls people to Himself today.
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