Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 6

 The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. Eze 43:6

And I heard... We read earlier of this voice that accompanied the glory of the Lord. It is loud, sounding like thunder. He is not speaking to the great masses here. He is speaking specifically to Ezekiel.

Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 4

 

Personal Greetings

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Rom 16:4

Who have for... Paul paid them great praise, calling them my fellow workers in Christ Jesus and revealing that they risked their lives for me (lit., “they lay down their own neck for my soul”). In what way they risked their lives is not known. All the Gentile churches, Paul added, were grateful to them. Paul also sent greetings to the church that met at their house. The Christians in Rome apparently worshiped in numerous homes such as Priscilla and Aquila’s. This couple had had a house church in Ephesus (1Cor. 16:19) and probably wherever they lived. Other churches in homes are mentioned in Col. 4:15 and Phlm. 1:2.

laid down their... Here we see Paul giving a glowing report on the sincerity of these two who had helped him. Paul says that they even put themselves in danger to save him.

They had probably risked their lives for Paul at Corinth or Ephesus, but the details are not known.

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 5

 The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. Eze 43:5

So the spirit... Ezekiel, in this vision, is shown the glory of the LORD coming into the Most Holy Place and taking up residence.

the glory of... The future kingdom glory of God will fill His temple (Zec. 2:5), as He filled the tabernacle (Exo. 40:34) and later Solomon’s temple (1Kgs. 8:11; Psm. 29:9).

The glory of the Lord (cf. see on Eze. 1:28) entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted Ezekiel up (cf. Eze. 3:14; 8:3; 11:1, 11:24; 37:1) and brought him into the inner court in front of the temple proper, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 3

 

Personal Greetings

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Rom 16:3

Greet Priscilla and... They perhaps had gone back to Rome and had a church in their house (Rom. 16:3-4). They are always mentioned together as man and wife (Acts 18:2, 18:18, 18:26; Rom. 16:3; 1Cor. 16:19; 2Tim. 4:19). We know that these two had befriended Paul before. In fact, Paul lived with them and worked as a tentmaker while he ministered.

Acts 18:2-3 “And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.” “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”

These two had been fellow workers with Paul on several occasions.

This list of greetings (Rom. 16:3-16) that Paul wanted conveyed to friends in Rome is the longest in any of his epistles. He mentioned 26 people by name, and referred to many others (Rom. 16:5, 16:10-11, 16:13-15). Several women are included in the list: Priscilla (Rom. 16:3), Mary (Rom. 16:6), Tryphena and Tryphosa (Rom. 16:12), Persis (Rom. 16:12), Rufus’ mother (Rom. 16:13), and Nereus’ sister (Rom. 16:15). Two others are possibly women — Junias (Rom. 16:7) and Julia (Rom. 16:15).

Paul first met Priscilla and Aquila when he arrived in Corinth on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:2) and worked with them at their trade of tentmaking. They had come to Corinth from Rome because of Claudius’ decree that all Jews must leave Rome. They accompanied Paul when he left Corinth (Acts 18:18), but stayed in Ephesus when the party stopped briefly (Acts 18:19). There they ministered to Apollos (Acts 18:26) and undoubtedly to Paul during his stay in Ephesus on his third journey, because they sent greetings to the Corinthian Christians (1Cor. 16:19). Shortly after that, they must have moved back to Rome and still later returned to Ephesus (2Tim. 4:19).

Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 4

 The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. Eze 43:4

glory of the... We saw, just before the fall of Jerusalem, that the presence of the Lord went out this very same gate. He had judged Jerusalem, and the temple would be destroyed. This same God who judged it then, now comes back full of forgiveness and grace.

In a dramatic reversal of the departure of the Lord’s glory (chaps. 10-11) Ezekiel saw the glory of… God returning from the east to dwell once again in His nation. The glory of the Lord (cf. see on Eze. 1:28) entered the temple through the gate facing east.

Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 2

 

Personal Greetings

That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Rom 16:2

been a succourer... Greek: prostatis, protector. Athenian writers use the word of those that take in strangers (cp. Rom. 12:8; 1Tim. 5:9-10). She no doubt entertained the apostles and ministers who came to Cenchrea.

Succourer means a patron, protector. In many of Paul’s writings, such as this, we see that many women ministered with him. Paul calls her his sister; she is not his sister in the flesh, but in the ministry.

in whatsoever business... Notice that Paul says to help her in her business. In the first verse, he had told us that her business was as servant in the church. We see from this that, Paul is saying to help her in her ministry. She had been a great help to Paul, as well as others. Notice in this next Scripture in Jesus’ own words what He feels toward these workers:

Mat. 10:40 “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” You see when you receive a servant of God (male or female) you are, in fact, receiving the God that sent them.

Paul not only officially commended her (cf. 2Cor. 3:1), but also asked the Roman Christians to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help (lit., “and to stand by her in whatsoever matter”) she may need from you. Paul explained, for she has been a great help (prostatis, “a protectress, succourer”) to many people, including me. So they should help her since she had helped others.

Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 3

 The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. Eze 43:3

to the appearance... The vision appearance of God to Ezekiel is glorious, just as the vision (in chapters 8-11), which pictures His coming, by angels, to judge Jerusalem (9:3-11; 10:4-7).

by the river... God’s appearance is also glorious as in the vision of (1:3-28).

and I fell... Just as in the other visions of God’s glory (1:28; 9:8; Rev. 1:12-17). This presence of God has an awe inspiring effect on Ezekiel. He fell on his face before the presence of God.