Ezekiel 43:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You shall describe its layout, appendages, exits, and entrances, and everything within it, along with all its commandments and regulations, and they shall commit to all of my laws and fulfill them. The mark of the house is upon the mountain's peak; all its boundaries are the holy of holies.

It is a significant matter to depict what one observes with both their eyes and their mind, enabling others to visualize it alongside you. Josephus notes that those sent by Jesus, the son of another, to survey the land were geometers, experts in a discipline akin to philosophy. Consequently, to the house of Israel—those who perceive God through their intellect—a temple is revealed, situated on a mountain, not merely on any mountain, but specifically on the summit. This should not be misinterpreted as the structure built by Solomon, mentioned in the books of Kings and Chronicles, as that had a different design and dimensions, and fell short in various aspects. The honor that was given to it, as well as its builder, Solomon, did not safeguard them from sinning and provoking divine displeasure, though Solomon later repented and expressed his regret in the Proverbs, stating, “Afterward I repented: I looked up to choose punishment.”

The vision shown to Ezekiel, and through him to the house of Israel, provides a depiction such that anyone who comprehends it mentally will renounce sin. All shall feel shame and endure the consequences for their actions. Yet, those who turn away from wrongdoing will feel remorse for their past sins. It is profoundly beneficial for a penitent sinner to view the house of God, to understand its complete structure, so they may cease from sin and yearn for holiness, proclaiming to the Lord, “Lord, I love the beauty of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.” Furthermore, seeking one thing from the Lord, they declare, “I desire to dwell in the house of the Lord all my days,” anticipating a life dedicated to being in the presence of Christ, the very essence of life for believers.

The entrances and exits denote the pathways, where exits connect to those who are outside, while entrances invite those brought in through the teachings of leaders. Likewise, the entirety of its structure incorporates not merely the properties of the temple, but also its instruments and treasures. All its statutes, regulations, and commandments must be shown to those who have experienced anguish due to their sins and who have repented. Yet they must be made aware of how to uphold all that is commanded. Merely knowing the structure and divisions of the house—of which it is written, “In my Father’s house are many mansions”—is insufficient if the commands are ignored. The house and the commandments of God and the city positioned atop the mountain should be recognized as the one of which it is stated: “A city set on a hill cannot be hid,” and the river of God’s delights flows there, which unmistakably refers to the Church. This Church is established upon the apex of all mountains, from which the prince of Tyre was brought low. All the boundaries of that house embody the holy of holies, and within the house—that is, the tabernacle built by Moses and the temple constructed by Solomon—the inner sanctuaries, where the cherubim resided, the purification area, the ark of the covenant, and the altar of incense, were deemed ‘the holy of holies.’ But in the house revealed to Ezekiel, which stands upon the mountain’s summit, all of its confines are recognized as the Holy of Holies. This law of the house pertains either to the previous description or to what shall be articulated subsequently.