Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Ezekiel » Chapter 46 » Verse 16

Ezekiel 46:16 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

16 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 If the prince H5387 give H5414 a gift H4979 unto any H376 of his sons, H1121 the inheritance H5159 thereof shall be his sons'; H1121 it shall be their possession H272 by inheritance. H5159

Cross Reference

2 Chronicles 21:3 STRONG

And their father H1 gave H5414 them great H7227 gifts H4979 of silver, H3701 and of gold, H2091 and of precious things, H4030 with fenced H4694 cities H5892 in Judah: H3063 but the kingdom H4467 gave H5414 he to Jehoram; H3088 because he was the firstborn. H1060

Genesis 25:5-6 STRONG

And Abraham H85 gave H5414 all that he had unto Isaac. H3327 But unto the sons H1121 of the concubines, H6370 which Abraham H85 had, Abraham H85 gave H5414 gifts, H4979 and sent them away H7971 from Isaac H3327 his son, H1121 while he yet lived, H2416 eastward, H6924 unto the east H6924 country. H776

Psalms 37:18 STRONG

The LORD H3068 knoweth H3045 the days H3117 of the upright: H8549 and their inheritance H5159 shall be for ever. H5769

Matthew 25:34 STRONG

Then G5119 shall the King G935 say G2046 unto them on G1537 his G846 right hand, G1188 Come, G1205 ye blessed G2127 of my G3450 Father, G3962 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 prepared G2090 for you G5213 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world: G2889

Luke 10:42 STRONG

But G1161 one thing G1520 is G2076 needful: G5532 and G1161 Mary G3137 hath chosen G1586 that good G18 part, G3310 which G3748 shall G851 not G3756 be taken away G851 from G575 her. G846

John 8:35-36 STRONG

And G1161 the servant G1401 abideth G3306 not G3756 in G1722 the house G3614 for G1519 ever: G165 but the Son G5207 abideth G3306 G1519 ever. G165 If G1437 the Son G5207 therefore G3767 shall make G1659 you G5209 free, G1659 ye shall be G2071 free G1658 indeed. G3689

Romans 8:15-17 STRONG

For G1063 ye have G2983 not G3756 received G2983 the spirit G4151 of bondage G1397 again G3825 to G1519 fear; G5401 but G235 ye have received G2983 the Spirit G4151 of adoption, G5206 whereby G1722 G3739 we cry, G2896 Abba, G5 Father. G3962 The Spirit G4151 itself G846 beareth witness G4828 with our G2257 spirit, G4151 that G3754 we are G2070 the children G5043 of God: G2316 And G1161 if G1487 children, G5043 then G2532 heirs; G2818 heirs G2818 of God, G3303 G2316 and G1161 joint-heirs G4789 with Christ; G5547 if so be G1512 that we suffer with G4841 him, that G2443 we may be G4888 also G2532 glorified together. G4888

Romans 8:29-32 STRONG

For G3754 whom G3739 he did foreknow, G4267 he G4309 also G2532 did predestinate G4309 to be conformed G4832 to the image G1504 of his G846 Son, G5207 that G1519 he G846 might be G1511 the firstborn G4416 among G1722 many G4183 brethren. G80 Moreover G1161 whom G3739 he did predestinate, G4309 them G5128 he G2564 also G2532 called: G2564 and G2532 whom G3739 he called, G2564 them G5128 he G1344 also G2532 justified: G1344 and G1161 whom G3739 he justified, G1344 them G5128 he G1392 also G2532 glorified. G1392 What G5101 shall we G2046 then G3767 say G2046 to G4314 these things? G5023 If G1487 God G2316 be for G5228 us, G2257 who G5101 can be against G2596 us? G2257 He that G3739 G1065 spared G5339 not G3756 his own G2398 Son, G5207 but G235 delivered G3860 him G846 up G3860 for G5228 us G2257 all, G3956 how G4459 shall he G5483 not G3780 with G4862 him G846 also G2532 freely give G5483 us G2254 all things? G3956

Galatians 4:7 STRONG

Wherefore G5620 thou art G1488 no more G3765 a servant, G1401 but G235 a son; G5207 and G1161 if G1487 a son, G5207 then G2532 an heir G2818 of God G2316 through G1223 Christ. G5547

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 46

Commentary on Ezekiel 46 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 46

In this chapter we have,

  • I. Some further rules given both to the priests and to the people, relating to their worship (v. 1-15).
  • II. A law concerning the prince's disposal of his inheritance (v. 16-18).
  • III. A description of the places provided for the boiling of the sacrifices and the baking of the meat-offerings (v. 19-24).

Eze 46:1-15

Whether the rules for public worship here laid down were designed to be observed, even in those things wherein they differed from the law of Moses, and were so observed under the second temple, is not certain; we find not in the history of that latter part of the Jewish church that they governed themselves in their worship by these ordinances, as one would think they should have done, but only by law of Moses, looking upon this then in the next age after as mystical, and not literal. We may observe, in these verses,

  • I. That the place of worship was fixed, and rules were given concerning that, both to prince and people.
    • 1. The east gate, which was kept shut at other times, was to be opened on the sabbath days, on the moons (v. 1), and whenever the prince offered a voluntary offering, v. 12. Of the keeping of this gate ordinarily shut we read before (ch. 44:2); whereas the other gates of the court were opened every day, this was opened only on high days and on special occasions, when it was opened for the prince, who was to go in by the way of the porch of that gate, v. 2, 8. Some think he went in with the priests and Levites into the inner court (for into that court this gate was the entrance), and they observe that magistrates and ministers should join forces, and go the same way, hand in hand, in promoting the service of God. But it should rather seem that he did not go through the gate (as the glory of the Lord had done), though it was open, but he went by the way of the porch of the gate, stood at the post of the gate, and worshipped at the threshold of the gate (v. 2), where he had a full view of the priests' performances at the altar, and signified his concurrence in them, for himself and for the people of the land, that stood behind him at the door of that gate, v. 3. Thus must every prince show himself to be of David's mind, who would very willingly be a door-keeper in the house of his God, and, as the word there is, lie at the threshold, Ps. 84:10. Note, The greatest of men are less than the least of the ordinances of God. Even princes themselves, when they draw near to God, must worship with reverence and godly fear, owning that even they are unworthy to approach to him. But Christ is our prince, whom God causes to draw near and approach to him, Jer. 30:21.
    • 2. As to the north gate and south gate, by which they entered into the court of the people (not into the inner court), there was this rule given, that whoever came in at the north gate should go out at the south gate, and whoever came in at the south gate should go out at the north gate, v. 9. Some think this was to prevent thrusting and jostling one another; for God is the God of order, and not of confusion. We may suppose that they came in at the gate that was next their own houses, but, when they went away, God would have them go out at that gate which would lead them the furthest way about, that they might have time for meditation; being thereby obliged to go a great way round the sanctuary, they might have an opportunity to consider the palaces of it, and, if they improved their time well in fetching this circuit, they would call it the nearest way home. Some observe that this may remind us, in the service of God, to be still pressing forward (Phil. 3:13) and not to look back, and, in our attendance upon ordinances, not to go back as we came, but more holy, and heavenly, and spiritual.
    • 3. It is appointed that the people shall worship at the door of the east gate, where the prince does, he at the head and they attending him, both on the sabbath and on the new moons (v. 3), and that, when they come in and go out, the prince shall be in the midst of them, v. 10. Note, Great men should, by their constant and reverent attendance on God in public worship, give a good example to their inferiors, both engaging them and encouraging them to do likewise. It is a very graceful becoming thing for persons of quality to go to church with their servants, and tenants, and poor neighbours about them, and to behave themselves there with an air of seriousness and devotion; and those who thus honour God with their honour he will delight to honour.
  • II. That the ordinances of worship were fixed. Though the prince is supposed himself to be a very hearty zealous friend to the sanctuary, yet it is not left to him, no, not in concert with the priests, to appoint what sacrifices shall be offered, but God himself appoints them; for it is his prerogative to institute the rites and ceremonies of religious worship.
    • 1. Every morning, as duly as the morning came, they must offer a lamb for a burnt-offering, v. 13. It is strange that no mention is made of the evening sacrifice; but Christ having come, and having offered himself now in the end of the world (Heb. 9:26), we are to look upon him as the evening sacrifice, about the time of the offering up of which he died.
    • 2. On the sabbath days, whereas by the law of Moses four lambs were to be offered (Num. 28:9), it is here appointed that (at the prince's charge) there shall be six lambs offered, and a ram besides (v. 4), to intimate how much we should abound in sabbath work, now in gospel-time, and what plenty of the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise we should offer up to God on that day; and, if with such sacrifice God is well-pleased, surely we have a great deal of reason to be so.
    • 3. On the new moons, in the beginning of their months, there was over and above the usual sabbath-sacrifices the additional offering of a young bullock, v. 6. Those who do much for God and their souls, statedly and constantly, must yet, upon some occasions, do still more.
    • 4. All the sacrifices were to be without blemish; so Christ, the great sacrifice, was (1 Pt. 1:19), and so Christians, who are to present themselves to God as living sacrifices, should aim and endeavour to be-blameless, and harmless, and without rebuke.
    • 5. All the sacrifices were to have their meat-offerings annexed to them, for so the law of Moses had appointed, to show what a good table God keeps in his house and that we ought to honour him with the fruit of our ground as well as with the fruit of our cattle, because in both he has blessed us, Duet. 28:4. In the beginning, Cain offered the one and Abel the other. Some observe that the meat-offerings here are much larger in proportion than they were by the law of Moses. Then the proportion was three tenth-deals to a bullock, and two to a ram (so many tenth parts of an ephah) and half a hin of oil at the most (Num. 15:6-9); but here, for every bullock and every ram, a whole ephah and a whole hin of oil (v. 7), which intimates that under the gospel, the great atoning sacrifice having been offered, these unbloody sacrifices shall be more abounded in; or, in general, it intimates that as now, under the gospel, God abounds in the gifts of his grace to us, more than under the law, so we should abound in the returns of praise and duty to him. But it is observable that in the meat-offering for the lambs the prince is allowed to offer as he shall be able to give (v. 5, 7, 11), as his hand shall attain unto. Note, Princess themselves must spend as they can afford; and even in that which is laid out in works of piety God expects and requires but that we should do according to our ability, every man as God has prepared him, 1 Co. 16:2. God has not made us to serve with an offering (Isa. 43:23), but considers our frame and state. Yet this will not countenance those who pretend a disability that is not real, or those who by their extravagances in other things disable themselves to do the good they should. And we find those praised who, in an extraordinary case of charity, went not only to their power, but beyond their power.

Eze 46:16-18

We have here a law for the limiting of the power of the prince in the disposing of the crown-lands.

  • 1. If he have a son that is a favourite, or has merited well, he may, if he please, as a token of his favour and in recompence for his services, settle some parts of his lands upon him and his heirs for ever (v. 16), provided it do not go out of the family. There may be a cause for parents, when their children have grown up, to be more kind to one than to another, as Jacob gave to Joseph one portion above his brethren, Gen. 48:22.
  • 2. Yet, if he have a servant that is a favourite, he may not in like manner settle lands upon him, v. 17. The servant might have the rents, issues, and profits, for such a term, but the inheritance, the jus proprietarium-the right of proprietorship, shall remain in the prince and his heirs. It was fit that a difference should be put between a child and a servant, like that Jn. 8:35. The servant abides not in the house for ever, as the son does.
  • 3. What estates he gives his children must be of his own (v. 18): He shall not take of the people's inheritance, under pretence of having many children to provide for; he shall not find ways to make them forfeit their estates, or to force them to sell them and so thrust his subjects out of their possession; but let him and his sons be content with their own. It is far from being a prince's honour to increase the wealth of his family and crown by encroaching upon the rights and properties of his subjects; nor will he himself be a gainer by it at last, for he will be but a poor prince when the people are scattered every man from his possession, when they quit their native country, being forced out of it by oppression, choosing rather to live among strangers that are free people, and where what they have they can call their own, be it ever so little. It is the interest of princes to rule in the hearts of their subjects, and then all they have is, in the best manner, at their service. It is better for themselves to gain their affections by protecting their rights than to gain their estates by invading them.

Eze 46:19-24

We have here a further discovery of buildings about the temple, which we did not observe before, and those were places to boil the flesh of the offerings in, v. 20. He that kept such a plentiful table at his altar needed large kitchens; and a wise builder will provide conveniences of that kind. Observe,

  • 1. Where those boiling-places were situated. There were some at the entry into the inner court (v. 19) and others under the rows, in the four corners of the outer court, v. 21-23. These were the places where, it is likely, there was most room to spare for this purpose; and this purpose was found for the spare room, that none might be lost. It is a pity that holy ground should be waste ground.
  • 2. What use they were put to. In those places they were to boil the trespass-offering and the sin-offering, those parts of them which were allotted to the priests and which were more sacred than the flesh of the peace-offerings, of which the offerer also had a share. There also they were to bake the meat-offering, their share of it, which they had from the altar for their own tables, v. 20. Care was taken that they should not bear them out into the outer court, to sanctify the people. Let them not pretend to sanctify the people with this holy flesh, and so impose upon them; or let not the people imagine that by touching those sacred things they were sanctified, and made any the better or more acceptable to God. It should seem (from Hag. 2:12) that there were those who had such a conceit; and therefore the priests must not carry any of the holy flesh away with them, lest they should encourage that conceit. Ministers must take heed of doing any thing to bolster up ignorant people in their superstitious vanities.