Ezekiel 44:21

21 Neither shall any priest drink wine when they enter into the inner court.

Ezekiel 44:21 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:21

Neither shall any priest drink wine
That is, to excess, immoderately, so as to be inebriated with it, ( Leviticus 10:9-11 ) , should not be given to it, and greedy of it, and drink it so as to disguise themselves: this is reckoned among the qualifications of a Gospel minister, ( 1 Timothy 3:3 ) , otherwise it is not forbidden good men, or ministers of the word, to drink wine, for health's sake, and for the refreshment of nature, provided it is done in moderation, ( 1 Timothy 5:23 ) , and particularly care should be taken that they drink it in such a manner, when they enter into the inner court:
to attend divine service, since immoderate drinking affects the memory; and such may forget the law and doctrines of the Lord they are to deliver or hear; and may put them upon saying and doing that which is improper and indecent: drunkenness in any Christian professor is abominable, especially in a minister of the word; and when it appears in his ministration, it is scandalous to the last degree.

Ezekiel 44:21 In-Context

19 And when they go forth into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy cells; and they shall put on other garments, that they may not hallow the people with their garments.
20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long: they shall duly poll their heads.
21 Neither shall any priest drink wine when they enter into the inner court.
22 And they shall not take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away; but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that is the widow of a priest.
23 And they shall teach my people [the difference] between holy and profane, and cause them to discern between unclean and clean.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.