441 Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary , which faces the east ; and it was shut . 2 The Lord said to me, "This gate shall be shut ; it shall not be opened , and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut . 3 "As for the prince , he shall sit in it as prince to eat bread before the Lord ; he shall enter by way of the porch of the gate and shall go out by the same way ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 44:1-3
Chapter Summary
This chapter contains ordinances relative to the true priests. The prince evidently means Christ, and the words in verse 2, may remind us that no other can enter heaven, the true sanctuary, as Christ did; namely, by virtue of his own excellency, and his personal holiness, righteousness, and strength. He who is the Brightness of Jehovah's glory entered by his own holiness; but that way is shut to the whole human race, and we all must enter as sinners, by faith in his blood, and by the power of his grace.