Ezekiel Chapter 40 Vs. 14

 The East Gate to the Outer Court

He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate. Eze 40:14

of threescore cubits... Sixty long cubits would be 105 feet.

He described the gate in detail, with its steps… threshold, guards’ alcoves… portico facing the temple…

Romans Chapter 12 Vs. 8

 

Gifts of Grace

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Rom 12:8

he that exhorteth... Greek: parakaleo, to call aside; make an appeal to by way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, or instruction (Acts 4:36; Heb. 10:25). Is the gift which enables a believer to effectively call others to obey and follow God’s truth. It may be used negatively to admonish and correct regarding sin, or positively to encourage, comfort and strengthen struggling believers.

he that giveth... This refers to the rich that give help to others (2Cor. 8:2; 9:11-13). Denotes the sacrificial sharing and giving of one’s resources and self to meet the needs of others.

it with simplicity... Greek: haplotes (Rom. 12:8; 2Cor. 1:12; 8:2; 9:11, 9:13; 11:3; Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22). Do not give with outward show or pride. This means liberality. Simplicity, single-mindedness and openhearted generosity. The believer who gives with a proper attitude, does not do so for thanks and personal recognition, but to glorify God.

He that ruleth... Greek: proistemi, the leader; pastor; superintendent; the one over any business of the church (Rom. 12:8; 1Thes. 5:12; 1Tim. 3:4, 3:5, 3:12; 5:17; Tit. 3:8, 3:14). He that ruleth or leads is a gift Paul calls “administration”, a word that means “to guide” and is used of the person who steers a ship. In the New Testament, this word is used to describe only leadership in the home and the church. Again, the church’s leaders must exercise this gift, but it is certainly not limited to them.

with diligence; he... Greek: spoude, haste (Mark 6:25); diligent (Rom. 12:8; Heb. 6:11; 2Pet. 1:5; Jude 1:3); earnest (2Cor. 8:16); carefulness (2Cor. 7:11).

he that sheweth... Those who visit the sick and work for charity must be cheerful and sympathetic. This is one who actively shows sympathy and sensitivity to those in suffering and sorrow, and who has both the willingness and the resources to help lessen their affliction. Frequently, this gift accompanies the gift of exhortation.

with cheerfulness... Is an attitude crucial to ensure that the gift of mercy becomes a genuine help, not a discouraging commiseration with those who are suffering.

We see in all of this, that God calls each of us to do a specific job. Whether God has called you to be pastor of a church or a teacher in a Christian school, God will not call you to do a job that He will not equip you to do. What the Scriptures above are saying is that any job God calls you to do, you should do it through the power of the Holy Spirit and not in your own strength.

Eph. 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

Ezekiel Chapter 40 Vs. 13

 The East Gate to the Outer Court

He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door. Eze 40:13

He then measured this gate area from door to door.

five and twenty... This would be 43 feet 9 in. This refers to the distance from the chambers of the outer court wall to those of the inner court wall.

He described the gate in detail, with its steps… threshold, guards’ alcoves… portico facing the temple…

Romans Chapter 12 Vs. 7

 

Gifts of Grace

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Rom 12:7

Or ministry, let... Greek: diakonia, service rendered by a diakonos, a deacon. See 1Tim. 3:8-13; see, Mat. 20:26.

he that teacheth... The teacher (Greek: didaskalos was an instructor of others (see, Acts 13:1).

Again ministry is from the same Greek word as “deacon,” “deaconess”, come from, it refers to those who serve. This gift, similar to the gift of helps, has broad application to include every kind of practical help.

Again, teaching is the ability to interpret, clarify, systematize, and explain God’s truth clearly. Pastors must have the gift of teaching, but many mature, qualified laymen also have this gift. This differs from preaching (prophecy), not in content, but in the unique skill for public proclamation.

Contributing to people’s needs is to be done with generosity (en haplotēti), not skimpily (cf. 2Cor. 8:2; 9:11, 9:13). Managing, leading, or administering (proistamenos, lit., “standing before”; cf. proistamenous, “who are over,” 1Thes. 5:12) is to be done diligently (en spoudē, “in eagerness, earnestness”), not lazily or halfheartedly.

Ezekiel Chapter 40 Vs, 12

 The East Gate to the Outer Court

The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. Eze 40:12

space also before... The barrier, border, or parapet.

was one cubit... A long cubit was 21 inches.

and six cubits... This would be 10 feet 6 inches

These areas in front of the chambers were 1.9 feet on each side and the little chambers were 10 ft. by 10 ft.

This was one of three gates leading into the outer court. Since it faced east, it was the most important gate.

Romans Chapter 12 Vs. 6

 

Gifts of Grace

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Rom 12:6

gifts differing according... This refers to the spiritual gifts of 1Cor. 12:4-11, 12:27-31. They are given and to be exercised according to grace and the measures of faith (Rom. 12:3, 12:6).

whether prophecy, let... Means speaking forth and does not necessarily include prediction of the future or any other mystical or supernatural aspects. This gift is that of speaking to people to edify and exhort them (1Cor. 14:3-6).

according to the... Undeserved and unmerited. The gift itself, the specific way in which it is used, and the spiritual result are all sovereignly chosen by the Spirit completely apart from personal merit (see 1Cor. 12:5; 12:11). Literal “the faith,” or the full revealed message or body of Christian faith. The preacher must be careful to preach the same message the apostles delivered.

Or, it could also refer to the believer’s personal understanding and insight regarding the gospel.

So what exactly is this proportion of faith?

The meaning is, that the utterances of the “prophet” were not to fluctuate according to his own impulses or independent thoughts, but were to be adjusted to the truth revealed to him as a believer, i.e., were to be accordance with it. In post-Reformation times this phrase was used as meaning that all Scripture was to be interpreted with reference to all other Scripture. I.e., that no words or expressions were to be isolated or interpreted in a way contrary to its general teaching. This was also called the “analogy of faith.”

Paul then applied what he had just said (Rom. 12:3-5) to the exercise of God-given abilities for spiritual service (Rom. 12:6-8). He built on the principle, We have different gifts (cf. Rom. 12:4, “not all have the same function”; cf. 1Cor. 12:4). The grace-gifts (charismata) are according to God’s grace (charis). He listed seven gifts, none of which — with the possible exception of prophesying — is a sign gift. The Greek text is much more abrupt than any English translation; let him is supplied for smoother English. One’s “prophesying” is to be done in proportion to his faith; a better translation would be “in agreement to the (not ‘his’) faith.” That is, prophesying — communicating God’s message, to strengthen, encourage, and comfort (1Cor. 14:3) — is to be in right relationship to the body of truth already revealed (cf. “faith” as doctrine in Gal. 1:23; Jude 1:3, 1:20).

Ezekiel Chapter 40 Vs. 11

 The East Gate to the Outer Court

And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. Eze 40:11




the breadth of... The breadth of the gate entry was 10 cubits, or 17 feet 6 inches.

the length of... The length of the gate was 13 cubits, or 22 feet 9 inches.

This entry is about 18 feet wide, and the length was about 23 feet.



He described the gate in detail, with its steps… threshold, guards’ alcoves… portico facing the temple…