Ezekiel 44:19

19 When they go out to the outer courtyard to the people, they will remove the garments in which they were ministering. They will lay them aside in the holy chambers and wear other clothing. They must not transfer holiness to the people through their clothing.

Ezekiel 44:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:19

And when they go forth into the utter court
Out of the inner court where they minister, when they have done their service: even into the utter court to the people;
out of the church into the world, where the people are, doing their business, whether good men or bad: they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them
in the holy chambers;
the north and south chambers; (See Gill on Ezekiel 42:13), (See Gill on Ezekiel 42:14): and they shall put on other garments;
which are their outward conversation garments, which are proper to appear in before men, for the honour of religion; though not sufficient to appear in before God, and render acceptable unto him: and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments;
the garments of the priesthood were reckoned holy, whatsoever was holy, that which it touched accounted holy also; and therefore, to preserve a difference between the priests and the common people, they were not to wear their holy garments but in the time of service; or lest any superstitious notion should obtain among the people, that they were sanctified by touching their clothes; as the Papists give out, that if a man is buried in a monk's cowl, he shall be saved: or the sense is, that they should not possess the minds of the people with a notion of any real sanctity in their garments; or that their conversation garments, or good works, can be of any service to them: this may be opposed to works of supererogation.

Ezekiel 44:19 In-Context

17 When they come through the gates to the inner courtyard, they will wear linen garments. They won't wear any wool when they minister at the gates of the inner courtyard or in the temple.

18 They will have linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They won't wear anything that makes them sweat.

19 When they go out to the outer courtyard to the people, they will remove the garments in which they were ministering. They will lay them aside in the holy chambers and wear other clothing. They must not transfer holiness to the people through their clothing.

20 They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow long, but they will trim the hair on their heads.

21 None of the priests should drink wine when they come into the inner courtyard.