Ezekiel 42:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He indicated these areas as vaulted halls and chambers on the north and south sides of the separate building, referred to as the holy treasuries, where the priests who approach the Lord in the holy of holies are sustained. This indicates that there are various types of nourishment available to the priests, some of which might not be consumed by everyone, everywhere, or at all times. The northern and southern treasuries symbolize the richness of both straightforward accounts and deeper spiritual insights, suggesting that we may journey from the north to the south. It is not merely by reading the text literally or extracting historical foundations that we can reach the pinnacle or comprehend the strength of the temple's structure; the priests, who dine in these chambers filled with abundance, draw near to the Lord, just as Scripture attests that Moses approached Him while others could not. Within the framework of the sacramental temple and the Church's sacrament, there are numerous priests and apostolic figures who draw near to the Lord exclusively in the holy of holies. As for the term "sons of Sadok," which signifies the righteous, this is absent from the Hebrew text. It states that the priests shall place the sacred items, such as the burnt offering and the sin offering, ensuring they do not offer continual sacrifices alone, but can seek to appease the Lord at various times and according to the nature of their sins or ignorance, for this place is holy, inhabited by those in the priestly order capable of interceding for others. When they must reach out to those unable to enter the temple and grasp the mysteries of divine truth, the priests are to step into the outer court, shedding their ceremonial garments—those representing divine abundance, as indicated in Colossians 3:12—and the Lord Savior, who inspires the exhortation to “Clothe yourselves with our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). They must refrain from the communications that God equates to exclusivity. The Saviour cautions that they should not deliver sacred things to those unworthy, nor cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). The priests are to set aside their ministerial robes, as these garments signify holiness and should not be worn in the presence of those who lack perfect holiness. Instead, they should don different attire, adopting this approach when addressing the people. Thus, they must communicate in a manner that can be understood by the audience. The apostle also warned the Corinthians, addressing a situation of immorality unknown even among the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 5:1), urging that they should be nurtured with milk rather than solid food, as they were unable to digest mature sustenance (1 Corinthians 3:2). He also expressed a desire for them, stating, “My children, for whom I am again in anguish until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). It is detrimental for young children or infants to partake in solid food intended for adults. It is noteworthy that the addition found in the Septuagint, stating that the priests should not venture into the outer court so that the offerings remain holy, is a point to be remarked upon, as it is not present in the Hebrew text.