Ezekiel 44:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The regulations for the priests continue, emphasizing that it does not merely state they shall keep the sabbaths holy or refer to Isaiah’s words, “Your new moons and sabbaths my soul hateth,” but specifically declares My sabbaths. Thus, the Gospel states, “The priests in the church profane the sabbath, and they are innocent,” which distinguishes not the sabbath of God but the literal sabbath of the Jews that can lawfully be violated by those of the chosen priestly lineage.

Moreover, when understanding the holiness of the Sabbath, we reference what the apostle teaches was made available to the people of God, as expressed, “If they enter into my rest,” which translates to the Sabbath in Hebrew. He who does not carry the weight of sin on the Sabbath and does not utter, “The burden is heavy upon me,” keeps God's Sabbath holy. Such an individual refrains from gathering wood on the Sabbath and, through Jesus Christ, avoids building with wood, hay, or straw. He does not kindle flames that consume the worthless and remains steadfastly in one place on the Sabbath, akin to a pillar in the temple of God regarding the promise in Revelation, “I will make him who overcomes a pillar in the church of my God, and he shall not be able to go out to that place.”

Addressing the directive not to approach a corpse to avoid defilement, it is understood that the priest must not come into contact with the deceased so that he may minister at the altar in purity while interceding for the sins of others. They are tainted by a deceased parent when they abandon their Creator and by a dead mother when they depart from the Church, and this extends to a son and daughter, reflecting thoughts and actions, which is articulated in Greek as both “the intelligible and the sensible.” If a brother and sister are recognized as spiritually dead by the same Spirit, contact with them renders one unclean, particularly if the sister remains a virgin and is not sullied by marital union. From this, the distinct nature of virginity is revealed; any communion with a man disrupts complete purity.

The interpretation of this matter is left for the reader's discernment, highlighting the divine order of love. As written, “Begin to love me,” after loving the Father of all creation, should follow with love for the earthly father and mother, son and daughter, brother and sister, but only if they remain at home and not entered into another’s care. Following the priest's cleansing in accordance with the prescribed purification rituals in the Law of Moses, seven days are to be counted, perhaps symbolizing perfect repentance or foreshadowing the ultimate fulfillment beyond this world when he enters into the holy of holies, which signifies the inner court, ready to serve in the sanctuary and making atonement for his conscience. He must always keep in remembrance his defilement from father, mother, son, daughter, brother, and sister. While constrained by earthly existence, we often act under obligations to fleshly desire or the corruption inherent in our nature. Yet, those who serve in the sanctuary and enter the inner court while continually offering sacrifices to God become true priests, emulating “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” They will not possess any inheritance but God Himself, who is their inheritance, nor will they gain land among the common people, but rather will have a priestly inheritance, as the Lord declares, “I am the inheritance and I am their possession.” Once they have obtained Him, they will exclaim, “I will cling to Him and not forsake Him,” and will joyfully sing with the prophet, “The Lord is my portion.”