How does Ezekiel 41:3 connect to the New Testament's depiction of God's dwelling? Setting the Scene - “Then he went inside and measured the doorposts, each two cubits wide; and the entrance was six cubits, and the width of the entrance seven cubits.” (Ezekiel 41:3) - Ezekiel is looking at the doorway that leads from the Holy Place into the Most Holy Place—the exact spot that represents God’s immediate presence on earth. Why the Measurements Matter - Two-cubit doorposts: thick, immovable, signaling firm separation between common space and the throne room of God. - Six-cubit entrance: wider than the Solomonic temple (1 Kings 6:4-5), hinting at increased access still under strict terms. - Seven-cubit gateway width: number of completeness, pointing to a future, perfect dwelling of God with His people. Connecting Threads to the New Testament - God comes out to us • “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) • Jesus calls His body “this temple.” (John 2:19-21) - The barrier removed • “The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51) • Christ entered “the greater and more perfect tabernacle… once for all.” (Hebrews 9:11-12, 24) - New, Spirit-filled doorway • “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19-22) Believers as God’s Present Dwelling - Individual: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) - Corporate: “In Him the whole building is fitted together… you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22) - Living stones: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.” (1 Peter 2:5) The Final Fulfillment - “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.” (Revelation 21:3) - “I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:22) - Ezekiel’s doorway expands until walls disappear; God Himself becomes the temple, and access is complete and everlasting. Key Takeaways - Ezekiel 41:3’s carefully measured doorway foreshadows Christ, the only true entry into God’s presence. - The thick doorposts preserve holiness; the widened entrance hints at grace to come. - In Jesus, the veil is gone, and believers now form a living temple, awaiting the perfect, face-to-face dwelling promised in Revelation. |
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