Ezekiel Chapter 40 Vs. 38-43

The Angel Measured the Inner Court

Ezekiel 40:38-43


At the sides of the inner gates tables were set up for slaughtering the sacrifices. Four tables were on one side of the gate and four on the other — eight tables in all. These chambers, where the priests stayed, were near the place of the offering of the burnt offering. Each offering must be washed, before it was acceptable for sacrifice. This symbolically means that what we offer to God must be clean. The sacrifices prepared on these tables would then be offered on the altar in the inner court.

Many have objected to the thought of animal sacrifices being reinstituted during the Millennium. Since these sacrifices, it is argued, revert back to the Levitical sacrificial system, they would seem to be out of place in the Millennium. This has caused some to take the passage symbolically rather than literally. However, no difficulty exists if one understands the proper function of these sacrifices. First, animal sacrifices never took away human sin; only the sacrifice of Christ can do that (Heb. 10:1-4, 10:10). In Old Testament times Israelites were saved by grace through faith, and the sacrifices helped restore a believer’s fellowship with God. Second, even after the church began, Jewish believers did not hesitate to take part in the temple worship (Acts 2:46; 3:1; 5:42) and even to offer sacrifices (Acts 21:26). They could do this because they viewed the sacrifices as memorials of Christ’s death. These four tables were just outside on the porch, where the animals were slain. This is just saying, there were 4 tables at this location, as well. Four tables are on either side of the inner court’s North gate, used for commemorating the death of Christ by slaying burnt, sin, and trespass offerings.

These were made, not of wood, but stone. Each table was 2 ¼ feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide. They were 1 1/2 foot high. These were like chop blocks. The instruments were laid on the table, also.

Hooks means a two pronged hook for flaying animals on. It, also, means a stall. A stall just about 3.648 inches wide would not be wide enough to put an animal in. I believe this is speaking of a hook attached to the wall to hang them on. The hand broad is speaking of 3.648 inches. Hand breadth is the width of the palm of the hand. It would have to be big like this to be strong enough to hold a heavy animal.

Until the time of Jesus' sacrifice, sacrifice would go on in the temple. All of these sacrifices symbolized something that Jesus fulfilled for us on the cross. The burnt offering symbolizes the giving of all to God. Perhaps, the resuming of the sacrifice in the temple, is telling us that our salvation must continue, and not stop after we are saved.

We must not stop living for God, but continue on in the salvation He provided for us. It does not mean that there is another sacrifice for the Christian.

We are just to continue in our walk with God, after we have begun. Jesus gave His body on the cross to abolish sin for the Christian. We must, however, remember His great sacrifice, and continue in the salvation we receive.

Levitical sacrifices were connected with Israel’s worship of God. When the church supplanted Israel in God’s program (cf. Rom. 11:11-24) a new economy or dispensation began. The Levitical sacrificial system, which looked forward to Christ, was replaced by the Lord’s Supper, which looked back to His death and forward to His second coming (1Cor. 11:24, 11:26).

At Christ’s second coming Israel will again assume her place of prominence in God’s kingdom program (cf. Rom. 11:25-27). The Lord’s Supper will be eliminated, because Christ will have returned. It will be replaced by animal sacrifices, which will be memorials or object lessons of the supreme sacrifice made by the Lamb of God. The slaughtering of these animals will be vivid reminders of the Messiah’s suffering and death.



The millennial sacrifices will differ from the Levitical sacrifices though there are some similarities (see Eze. 45:18-25). Other passages also refer to a sacrificial system in the Millennium (Isa. 56:7; 66:20-23; Jer. 33:18; Zec. 14:16-21; Mal. 3:3-4).