How does the "doorway" in Ezekiel 41:3 symbolize access to God's presence? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel is being led, vision‐style, through the future temple. • Every measurement is deliberate; nothing is ornamental trivia. • Ezekiel 41:3: “Then he went inside and measured the doorposts at two cubits and the doorway at six cubits, and the projecting walls on each side of the doorway at seven cubits.” Noticing the Details in Verse 3 • One doorway, not several—access is focused, not casual. • Six-cubit width (about 10 feet) is broad for an ancient temple, balancing invitation with structure. • Doorposts are stout (two cubits), reminding that the entrance rests on strength God supplies. • Projecting walls (“side pillars”) extend seven cubits, delineating a threshold that separates holy from most‐holy spaces. What the Doorway Represents • Access by Design – God specifies the dimensions; humanity does not negotiate the terms (Exodus 25:40). – Approach is possible, but only the way God indicates. • Boundary and Welcome in One Frame – The doorway both guards and grants entry; holiness is protected yet approachable. – Psalm 24:3-4 underscores that clean hands and a pure heart are needed at this threshold. • Anticipation of Full Access in Christ – The future temple previews the perfect Mediator (Hebrews 9:11). – John 10:9: “I am the door; whoever enters through Me will be saved…” – Hebrews 10:19-20 speaks of the “new and living way” opened through the torn veil. • Assurance of Stability – Thick doorposts picture permanence; God’s invitation is not flimsy or temporary (Malachi 3:6). Tracing the Theme through Scripture • Eden’s gate was barred by cherubim (Genesis 3:24); Ezekiel’s doorway signals restoration. • Tabernacle entrance curtains (Exodus 26:36-37) restricted access to priests; Ezekiel’s broader doorway hints at a coming expansion of worshipers. • Revelation 21:25: gates of the New Jerusalem “will never be shut,” the final fulfillment of unrestricted, holy access. Living the Symbol Today • Confidence—enter by the door God has provided, not by personal ingenuity (Ephesians 2:18). • Reverence—recognize that the same doorway marking welcome also marks holiness; approach with awe (Hebrews 12:28). • Invitation—point others to the single, sturdy doorway of Christ rather than alternative routes (Acts 4:12). |
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