Ezekiel 44:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The commandments for the priests continue, highlighting that it specifically states, “My sabbaths” rather than simply, “the sabbaths.” As indicated in the Gospel, “The priests in the temple profane the sabbath and are guiltless,” (Matt. 12:5) referring not to God's sabbath but to the actual sabbath, that of the Jews, which is rightly violated by those of the chosen priestly lineage. When we refer to the holy sabbath, we understand it in light of the apostle's teaching that it remains for the people of God, as it is stated, “If they shall enter into My rest” (Psalms 94:11), termed the Sabbath in Hebrew. He who does not carry the weight of sin on the sabbath, nor utters the lament, “The burden is heavy upon me” (Psalm 37:5), keeps God's sabbath sacred. This individual refrains from gathering wood on the sabbath, and, through Jesus Christ, does not labor with wood, hay, or straw (1 Cor. 3); he does not ignite a fire that consumes what is worthless, staying in one place throughout the sabbath, remaining like a pillar in the temple of God. John elaborates in the Revelation: “I will make the one who overcomes a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall never go out from there” (Rev. 3:12). Concerning the directive not to approach a dead man, the priest must avoid contact with the deceased, ensuring that he remains pure as he intercedes for the sins of others. A person is rendered unclean by a deceased father when they abandon their Creator, or by a deceased mother when they turn away from the Church, as well as by a son and daughter, corresponding to thoughts and actions, expressed in Greek as τὰ νοητὰ καὶ αἰσθητα'. If a brother and sister are recognized as spiritually dead by the same Spirit, the priest becomes defiled, though this applies to the sister only if she has maintained her virginity and has not entered into marital union. This highlights the uniqueness of virginity; any contact with a man compromises perfect purity. Whether this perspective holds true or not, we leave it to the discernment of the reader. Additionally, this arrangement aligns with the natural order of love as stated: “Begin to love me” (Song 2:4), whereby after the Father of all things, the earthly father and mother, son and daughter, brother and sister are to be loved, but only the latter if they have not left their family home. Once the priest has undertaken the purification as outlined in the law of Moses, seven days should be counted for him, either as the number of complete repentance, or to indicate that after the culmination of this world and upon attaining the true octuplet, he will enter into the holy of holies (symbolizing the inner court), serve in the sanctuary, and offer sacrifice for the conscience's sin. At all times, he must remember his defilement due to father and mother, son and daughter, brother and sister. For while we are bound in this world, we are compelled to perform numerous acts, prompted either by the desires of the flesh or by the decay of nature. However, anyone who serves faithfully in the sanctuary and enters the inner court, continually offering sacrifices to God, will be a true priest or an imitator of Him symbolized by the words, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalms 109:4). His inheritance shall be God alone, who serves as his inheritance, and he will not receive a portion among the common folk of Israel, but will attain a priestly inheritance, wherein the Lord declares, “I am your inheritance and I am your possession.” Once they have acquired Him, they will proclaim, “I will hold fast to Him and will not forsake Him,” and will rejoice with the prophet, “The Lord is my portion” (Psalm 72:26).