Ezekiel 40:5 - Meaning and Application

The measuring rod in the surveyor’s hand was mentioned earlier (Ezekiel 40:3). Here we are told its exact length, and that matters because the whole house was measured by it. It was six cubits long, measured not by the ordinary cubit, but by the sanctuary cubit, the sacred standard that was proper for this holy house. That sacred cubit was a handbreadth, about four inches, longer than the common cubit, so the common cubit was eighteen inches and this one twenty-two, see (Ezekiel 43:13). Some scholars argue that the rod was six ordinary cubits long, with one handbreadth added to the total, but the first view seems more likely.

This passage first describes the outer wall of the house, which went all the way around it. It was about three yards thick and three yards high, showing the clear separation between the church and the world, and the divine protection over the church. If a wall that strong does not keep it safe, then God himself will be a wall of fire around it. Anyone who attacks it will do so at their own peril.

Then the vision turns to the gates and the rooms beside them. There is no mention here of the outermost court, often called the court of the Gentiles. Some think that, in gospel times, so many Gentiles would come to the church that this court would be left unmeasured, to show that its worshippers would be beyond counting, (Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:11, Revelation 7:12).

The vision begins with the east gate, because that was the usual entrance into the lower part of the temple. The holy of holies stood at the west end, in contrast with the pagan nations, who often faced the east in worship. He went up to this gate by steps, which shows that the gospel church is lifted higher than the Old Testament church. When we come to worship God, we should rise upward in heart and mind, as the call in (Revelation 4:1) says, “Come up here.” In other words, lift your hearts.

The rooms beside the gates were small, about ten feet square. They were made for those who stayed there to serve in the house. Those who serve God as spiritual priests should be content with small rooms and should not seek great things for themselves. If we may have any place within the borders of God’s court, we have reason to be thankful, even if it is only a little room or a lowly place, even if we are only doorkeepers there.

These rooms were square, showing firmness, proper shape, and full agreement with the rule, since each one was a reed long and a reed wide. They were all the same size, showing fairness and equality among those who served in the house. There were many rooms, for in our Father’s house there are many homes, both in heaven and in the church on earth (John 14:2). Those who long to dwell in the Lord’s house all their days will be hidden in the secret place of his tabernacle and kept safe in his shelter (Psalm 27:4, Psalm 27:5). Some understand these rooms to stand for the local churches of believers, which are parts of the great temple, the universal church. These churches must all be shaped by the line and rule of Scripture, and Jesus Christ measures them, meaning he knows and watches over them, for he walks among the seven golden lampstands.

It is said, “He made also the posts” (Ezekiel 40:14). The one who now measured them was the same one who made them, because Christ is the builder of his church and is therefore best able to teach us about it. His bringing them into line with the rule is called his making them, because they count for nothing unless they agree with that rule. “To the law and to the testimony” is the standard.

There are posts of sixty cubits, and some think this was literally fulfilled when Cyrus, in his decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, ordered its height to be sixty cubits, that is, more than thirty yards, see (Ezra 6:3). There were also windows to the little rooms, windows to the posts and arches, that is, to the lower colonnades, and windows all around (Ezekiel 40:16). These point to the light from heaven by which the church is taught, guided, and comforted. God’s revelation shines into his house, giving light to work by, light to walk by, and light by which we see ourselves and one another. Even the smallest and least important parts and members of the church will have light given to them. “All your children will be taught by the Lord.” Yet these windows are narrow, like those in the temple (1 Kings 6:4). The knowledge given to the church on earth is still narrow and limited compared with what will be known in the future life, when we shall no longer see only dimly.

Several courts are mentioned here: the outermost, then an outer court, then an inner court, and then the innermost court, where only the priests entered. Some think this may remind us of the different gifts, graces, and offices among the members of Christ’s body on earth, and also of the different degrees of glory in heaven, as there are different stars and different brightnesses in the sky. Some people draw nearer to God than others and have a deeper knowledge of divine things. Yet for a child of God, a single day in any of his courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

These courts had porches, or covered walkways, around them, to shelter those who were serving there from wind and weather. When we are doing our duty before God, we may trust that we are under his special care, and that he will provide for us. More than that, he himself will be a shelter from storm and rain (Isaiah 4:5, Isaiah 4:6). On the posts were carved palm trees (Ezekiel 40:16), showing that the righteous will flourish like the palm tree in the courts of God’s house (Psalm 92:12). The more they are pressed down by trouble, the more strongly they grow, as people say of palm trees.

This also points to the saints’ victory over their spiritual enemies. They have palms in their hands (Revelation 7:9), and because those palms might be dropped or taken away, they are carved here on the temple posts as lasting signs of their honor. Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph. Believers themselves will also become pillars in the temple of our God, will go out no more, and will have his name written on them, which will be their greatest beauty and honor (Revelation 3:12).

Notice also the pavement of the court (Ezekiel 40:17, Ezekiel 40:18). The wording suggests a pavement of porphyry stone, which has the color of burning coals. This teaches that even the brightest and most dazzling glories of this world should be kept under our feet when we draw near to God and serve him.

The stars are like burning coals, or stones with a fiery color, used to pave God’s heavenly temple. If the pavement of the outer court is so bright and shining, how glorious must the rooms of that house be!

The gates that faced north (Ezekiel 40:20) and south (Ezekiel 40:24), with all their parts, were much the same as the east gate, after the same measurements as the first gate (Ezekiel 40:21). The description is repeated in great detail. In the same way, Scripture gives a full account of the tabernacle in Exodus and the temple in Kings and Chronicles. This shows how carefully God notices everything that belongs to his church, and how carefully his ministers should notice it too. He delights in his people. His eye is on them. He knows all who belong to him, all his living temples, and everything that belongs to them.

Notice, first, this temple had a gate to the east, which could receive the children of the east, people known for wealth and wisdom. But it also had gates to the north and south, so that poorer and less civilized nations could come in too. The new Jerusalem has twelve gates, three on each side of the world (Revelation 21:13), because many will come from every direction to sit down there (Matthew 8:11). Second, people went up to those gates by steps, seven steps (Ezekiel 40:22-26). Some have taken this as a reminder that we must keep growing in grace and holiness, adding one grace to another, and going from one step to the next, from strength to strength, always pressing forward toward perfection, upward toward heaven, the temple above.