What is the meaning of Ezekiel 45:13? This is the contribution God Himself defines what belongs to Him. He does not leave giving to guesswork. • In Ezekiel’s restored‐temple vision, the Lord outlines a specific “contribution” (terumah) the people must set aside. • Such clarity echoes earlier commands: “All the tithe of the land…is holy to the LORD” (Leviticus 27:30). • By naming the contribution first, the text reminds us that giving is a priority, not an afterthought (Proverbs 3:9). • Whether under Moses, David, or Ezekiel, the pattern is consistent—God provides everything, then asks for a portion back (1 Chronicles 29:14). you are to offer The verb moves from definition to personal responsibility. • Offer means action: gathering, measuring, and delivering the portion. • Obedience is communal; the pronoun “you” is plural, binding every Israelite household (cf. Numbers 18:26–29). • The principle carries into the New Covenant: “Each one should give as he has decided in his heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Voluntary cheerfulness never cancels commanded faithfulness. • The offering tangibly supported temple worship and the priests, ensuring uninterrupted ministry (Malachi 3:10). a sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat Now the Lord specifies the exact figure—one-sixth of an ephah (roughly 3.7 liters) for every homer (about 220 liters). • The ratio is small—about 1.67 percent—showing God’s fairness. He does not burden His people; He trains them to honor Him first (Deuteronomy 14:22–23). • Uniform measurement prevents both stinginess and overreach. Ezekiel later condemns dishonest scales (Ezekiel 45:10). God values integrity even in the granary. • Wheat, being the staple grain, represents daily provision (Matthew 6:11). Setting aside a portion declares, “My survival is in God’s hands, not my hoard.” and a sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley Barley, the common grain of the poor (John 6:9), receives the same proportion. • Equality of rate underscores God’s equal concern for rich and poor. He requires worship from all, yet oppresses none (Exodus 23:3; 23:6). • Barley was the first crop harvested in spring. By offering from the firstfruits, the people proclaimed confidence that later harvests would follow (Proverbs 3:9–10). • The matching measure for wheat and barley anticipates Paul’s words: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little” (2 Corinthians 8:15). Balance, not competition, marks God’s economy. summary Ezekiel 45:13 sets a concrete, reasonable standard for giving: every household brings a small, consistent portion of its produce to the Lord. The command affirms that all provision comes from God, that worship is practical as well as spiritual, and that fairness governs His requirements. By gladly meeting the set measure, God’s people declare His ownership of their fields, their barns, and their hearts. |
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