Ezekiel 44:17-22
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“And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house. They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.” Ezekiel 17-18
The priests who were faithful to God were instructed to wear comfortable clothing when they entered through the gates of the inner court. Wool would have been very hot and caused a lot of sweating while making atonement for the sin of the Israelites. The linen of that day would have been much cooler, so the priests were instructed to wear linen for all of their clothing from head to toe.
When our Lord Jesus Christ came, He removed all of the hot and uncomfortable clothing of the many laws that the Jewish people were required to live by. Such laws as the requirement of making animal sacrifices to atone for sin. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God who was the final sacrifice and fulfillment of the law to atone for the sin of whoever believes in Him. The clothing we now wear is the Holy Spirit, which is so much more comfortable than the many, many laws once required to live by, as is seen in the book of Leviticus.
“When they go out to the outer court, to the outer court to the people, they shall take off their garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and put on other garments; and in their holy garments they shall not sanctify the people.” Ezekiel 44:19
In the days of Ezekiel, before the coming of Jesus Christ, the general population of the Israelites were not able to enter through the gates of the inner court to atone for their own sin. Only the priests of the Levites could. For that reason, none of the Holy garments of the priests could come into the presence of everyone else, that would have contaminated the sacred ceremony of making atonement for sin. The priests were required to leave their Holy garments in the Holy chambers. When Jesus Christ came, He made it possible for us to be clothed in Holy garments. We are clothed in the Holy Spirit as we come to God through Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
“They shall neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long, but they shall keep their hair well trimmed. No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court. They shall not take as wife a widow or a divorced woman, but take virgins of the descendants of the house of Israel, or widows of priests.” Ezekiel 44:20-22
The priests were not to shave their heads when making atonement for the sin of the Israelites. That’s because shaving the head is an act of showing that someone is in mourning, but the forgiveness of sin is a happy experience of joy and cleansing. We sing praise as we rejoice for the forgiveness of sin that we receive through Jesus Christ. Priests were not to drink wine when entering the gates of the inner courts, in the same way that no one should be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, etc. but should only be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. We are made to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, not a warehouse of drugs, alcohol, etc. The priests were not to marry a divorced woman but to marry virgins of the house of Israel. Today, we are not to bond with those who are separated from Jesus Christ but to bond with those who are faithful to God through Jesus Christ.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11
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