Ezekiel 46:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then, he led me out into the outer court and took me around its four corners, revealing that there were smaller courts at each corner, each measuring forty cubits in length and thirty cubits in width; all four were the same size. Surrounding these courts was a wall, with ovens positioned beneath the galleries adjacent to the dining areas, which various translations describe as either beds or fences. He informed me that this structure served as the cookhouse, where the house servants prepared the offerings for the people.

The guide, who held measuring tools, brought me in through the entrance at the side of the gate, leaving unspecified which gate it was—whether that of the east, south, or another direction. His focus was on directing me to the sanctuary and the storerooms facing both north and west, as the Jewish understanding typically associates the west with the sea due to the geography of their land. The area where the priests dealt with the guilt and sin offerings was situated in the outer court to the north and west, where the cold winds originated and where the sun sets. This positioning emphasizes the necessity of sacrifice related to food, suggesting that even ignorance must be addressed with offerings, and even more so, deliberate transgressions.

For instance, Job consistently offered sacrifices in the morning for his children, fearing they might have sinned unknowingly. It's crucial that these offerings not be taken into the outer court, as shared preparation should not be carelessly given to those who are unclean. This idea aligns with the Gospel's warning against giving holy things to those unworthy, as noted in Matthew 7:6. Consequently, Moses instructed the people to purify themselves for three days from all impurities, including marital relations, before approaching Mount Sinai to receive the sacred practices, as affirmed in Exodus 19.

When preparing to hear God’s commandments, it was required that individuals separate themselves from their spouses temporarily for prayer, reflecting the apostolic guidance in 1 Corinthians 7:5. The guide led me again into the outer court, illustrating that the area from which I came was the priest's designated place, reinforcing the distinction between the priestly quarters and the outer court. Scripture acknowledges the many courts of the Lord’s temple, as indicated in Psalms 134:2, while John notes, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold…” (John 10:16), indicating that there are different realms for God's people.

The four corners of the court, measured at forty cubits by thirty, reveal significant symbolism in biblical interpretation—one aspect representing trials and the other representing completion. Hence, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus fasted for forty days as part of their respective missions. The priestly ministry begins not before the age of thirty, which aligns with Christ's age at baptism, echoing the theological principle that where sustenance is provided, tribulation accompanies it. We are reminded to be content with our bodily needs, as noted in 1 Timothy 6:8 and Genesis 28:20, while longing for the eternal nourishment provided in heaven, as illustrated in John 4:34.

The uniformity in the measures of the four courts signifies the whole world and reminds us that we earn our bread through toil. The surrounding structure, complete with preparation areas for offerings, illustrates that the cookhouse exists to support the priests’ needs and symbolize the ongoing necessity of offering sacrifices for guilt and sin as part of their spiritual sustenance.