What does Psalm 118:20 mean by "the gate of the LORD"? Text and Immediate Translation “‘This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.’ ” (Psalm 118:20) Literary Context within Psalm 118 Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving psalm celebrating Yahweh’s covenant love (ḥesed). Verses 19-20 form the climactic plea and response of a worship procession approaching the temple. Verse 19 requests, “Open to me the gates of righteousness,” while v. 20 identifies the specific gate now swinging open. The shift from plural “gates” to singular “gate” spotlights one definitive point of entry that belongs uniquely to the LORD. Historical Setting and the Temple Gates Second-Temple worshipers entered the 35-acre platform through a series of monumental gates. The eastern “Beautiful Gate” (Acts 3:2), the Nicanor Gate separating Court of Women from Court of Israel, and Solomon’s Colonnade have all left archaeological footprints (e.g., Warren’s Trench, Wilson’s Arch). Josephus (Ant. 15.412-430) describes these gates plated in Corinthian bronze, visually reinforcing exclusivity and holiness. Psalm 118 likely accompanied Passover pilgrims (cf. Mishnah, Pesachim 5:7). As priests opened the inner gate, singers chanted vv. 19-24, identifying that inner threshold as “the gate of the LORD.” Levitical and Liturgical Use The gate was not mere architecture; it was a liturgical threshold. Only covenant-clean worshipers advanced beyond it (cf. Leviticus 22:3-7). The psalmist’s declaration therefore served both as priestly confirmation and congregational assurance that their sacrifice was accepted. The Gate as Symbol of Covenant Access Ancient covenants featured controlled access: suzerains determined when vassals approached. Likewise, Yahweh alone authorizes entry into His presence (Exodus 19:12-24). Psalm 118:20 declares that the LORD Himself provides and regulates that access, prefiguring the New Covenant reality. Messianic Fulfillment in Jesus Christ Psalm 118 is the most frequently cited psalm in the New Testament. Verses 22-23 (“the stone the builders rejected”) are applied to Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7). The gate of v. 20, standing immediately before the stone motif, is inseparable from Christ’s identity. By conquering death, He becomes the once-shut but now-opened gate for humanity. Christology: Jesus as the Exclusive Gate Jesus appropriates the metaphor directly: “I am the gate. Whoever enters through Me will be saved” (John 10:9). He links salvation to exclusive entrance, echoing Psalm 118’s singular gate. The resurrection validates His claim, as documented by the minimal-facts approach (empty tomb, post-mortem appearances to individuals and groups, conversion of hostile witnesses). Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions Isaiah 26:2—“Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter,” and Revelation 21:25-27—gates of New Jerusalem admit only those “written in the Lamb’s book of life,” extend the motif forward. The ultimate fulfillment is eschatological: everlasting communion with God in a restored creation. Archaeological and Manuscript Attestation The Great Psalms Scroll (11QPs a) from Qumran preserves Psalm 118 virtually identical to the Masoretic Text, underscoring textual stability. Surface surveys along the eastern Temple-Mount wall have located the sealed “Golden Gate,” dating at least to Herodian foundations, correlating to public memory of a messianic entry point. Comparative Scriptural Cross References • Psalm 24:7-10 – “Lift up your heads, O gates… the King of Glory shall come in.” • Psalm 100:4 – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” • Isaiah 60:11 – “Your gates will always stand open.” • Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter through the narrow gate.” All advance the identical theological contour: one God-ordained access route. Practical and Devotional Application Believers approach God with humility and confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Corporate worship mirrors the ancient procession: confession (vv. 1-18), approach (vv. 19-20), celebration (vv. 21-29). Evangelistically, the verse challenges every person to decide whether to stand outside or enter through God’s sole gate—Christ. Conclusion “The gate of the LORD” in Psalm 118:20 is the sacred, exclusive, God-appointed access point to His presence, historically situated in the temple, prophetically fulfilled and permanently opened by the crucified and risen Messiah. The righteous—those justified by faith—enter through Him alone, now and forever. |
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