Ezechiël 44:9

9 Alzo zegt de Heere HEERE: Geen vreemde, onbesneden van hart, en onbesneden van vlees, zal in Mijn heiligdom ingaan, van enigen vreemde, die in het midden der kinderen Israels is.

Ezechiël 44:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 44:9

Thus saith the Lord God
This that follows is the law and rule to be observed, and which will be observed by the churches in the latter day, though so little regarded now: no stranger uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall
enter into my sanctuary; of these (See Gill on Ezekiel 44:7) unregenerate men may not be admitted members of a Gospel church; for that is holy, and holiness becomes it; but they are unholy, and as unfit to be received as swine into a king's palace; saints and they cannot talk together, their language being different, they are barbarians to one another; nor can they walk together, being not agreed in sentiment and practice; besides, such persons disquiet the churches of Christ by their quarrelsome behaviour in it, and immoral conversation out of it; and are dangerous and infectious persons, whether heterodox in principle, or immoral in life: and much less should such be admitted to public service, to preach the word, and administer ordinances; since they should be holy that bear the vessels of the Lord, his name, and Gospel; they are blind and ignorant, and so not apt and fit to teach others; they are dumb, and cannot speak to cases they are strangers to, as those of wounded consciences, tempted and deserted, or backslidden ones; they will bring in strange doctrines, foreign to the Scriptures, and the experience of saints; and it is no wonder they are unsuccessful in their ministry, and churches do not thrive under them; to which, among other things, we must impute the great decline of religion, even among Protestant dissenters, who, it is to be feared, have too many of this character among them: but there should not be here of any stranger that is among the children of Israel;
though they are among them, nay, though they are the children of them, and have had a religious education; yet being strangers to the grace of God, should not be admitted members, and much less ministers, of the churches of Christ.

Ezechiël 44:9 In-Context

7 Dewijl gijlieden vreemden hebt ingebracht, onbesnedenen van hart en onbesnedenen van vlees, om in Mijn heiligdom te zijn, om dat te ontheiligen, te weten Mijn huis; als gij Mijn brood, het vette en het bloed offerdet, en zij Mijn verbond verbraken, nevens al uw gruwelen.

8 En gijlieden hebt de wacht van Mijn heilige dingen niet waargenomen; maar gij hebt uzelven enigen tot wachters Mijner wacht gesteld in Mijn heiligdom.

9 Alzo zegt de Heere HEERE: Geen vreemde, onbesneden van hart, en onbesneden van vlees, zal in Mijn heiligdom ingaan, van enigen vreemde, die in het midden der kinderen Israels is.

10 Maar de Levieten, die verre van Mij geweken zijn, als Israel ging dolen, die van Mij zijn afgedwaald, hun drekgoden achterna, zullen wel hun ongerechtigheid dragen;

11 Nochtans zullen zij in Mijn heiligdom bedienaars zijn, in de ambten aan de poorten van het huis, en zij zullen het huis bedienen; zij zullen het brandoffer en het slachtoffer voor het volk slachten, en zullen voor hun aangezicht staan, om hen te dienen;