Ye shall also give—the first of your dough— See Leviticus 2:4.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prophet, following his heavenly guide, returns to the east gate; which, in honour of him whose glory entered the temple thereat, was kept shut ever after, only the prince was admitted to eat his part of the peace-offerings in the porch, and to go in and out by the way of the porch of that gate; which some interpreters suppose to represent the church of Christ upon earth, shut against all profane and impenitent sinners, and only open to those who, by the faith of Jesus, become one with him, and so have boldness to enter into the holiest of all.
2nd, Once more we have the prophet prostrate, adoring the great God whose glory he beheld. Deep views of the divine majesty will ever produce the most abasing apprehensions of ourselves.
1. The prophet is charged to take notice of what he saw, and attend to what was told him; for they whom God employs must carefully observe his orders, and be first taught themselves of him, before they can be effectual teachers of others.
2. He is commanded, [1.] To deliver the message that God gave him to the house of Israel, that rebellious house, to convince them of their sins. Their abominations were great, and it was high time for them to amend: they had introduced into the sanctuary the uncircumcised and the profane, to the defilement of that holy place, and the great dishonour of God; and instead of choosing the most able, zealous, and godly ministers from among the priests and Levites, ye have set keepers in my sanctuary for yourselves; such as studied to please, not profit them, and would flatter them in their sins, instead of terrifying against them. Note; (1.) They who begin to taste anything of the bitterness of sin, will reflect with grief on every moment of the time past when they walked therein. (2.) It is a high profanation of Christ's table, when persons profane and immoral are admitted thereunto; and he will resent the provocation. (3.) They who choose flattering priests will perish in their own delusions. [2.] To point out to them the path of duty. No stranger, uncircumcised in heart or flesh, may enter the sanctuary; and happy would it be for the church of Christ, if these directions were more carefully observed, and none admitted to partake of her most sacred ordinances, much less entrusted with the ministry, who have not given some satisfactory evidence by their principles and practice, that they are partakers of the grace of God in truth.
3rdly, The Lord takes account of his servants.
1. The unfaithful are degraded: they had betrayed their trust; and as a minister's ill example has ever the most pernicious effects, their idolatry had emboldened the people in their iniquities; therefore God will suffer them no more to minister as formerly before him: yet not utterly to exclude them, and sink them in utter despair, and as if no place was left for repentance, they are still to be employed in the more servile offices, and to partake in the provision of God's house, bearing their shame, though not yet utterly cast away. Note; (1.) The church will never recover her primitive beauty, till her primitive discipline is restored. (2.) Though open offenders must be put to shame, too much severity and rigour may drive those to despair whom we should desire to lead to repentance.
2. The faithful are distinguished. The sons of Zadok, who in the general apostacy maintained their integrity, are confirmed in their office, and in the high honour of drawing near to God in his most solemn services. Fidelity shall never lose its reward; and they who know the happiness of communion with God desire no higher honour or greater reward than to be established his servants, and preserved in a constant state of nearness to his blessed self.
4thly, The faithful, who are appointed to minister before God, have here directions given them:
1. Concerning their clothes. They must wear linen garments when they are employed in their ministry, and put them off when they have finished the service, and not sanctify the people with their garments; as if the touch of them communicated any holiness, or lest any superstitious conceit might be entertained thereof by the people. The ministers of Christ, above all others, are especially called upon to keep their garments clean from every spot; for on them every eye will be fixed.
2. Concerning their hair. They must not be on the one hand shaved, as the priests of Egypt, nor on the other effeminately affect long hair, but have their heads polled. The Romish friars choose to copy after their heathen predecessors.
3. Concerning their drink. No wine must enter their lips when they went in to minister. Note; Nothing can be conceived in a christian minister more scandalously infamous than intemperance.
4. Concerning their marriages. They may not take for a wife a woman divorced, lest her suspicious character bring a dishonour upon her husband; nor a widow, unless it be a priest's widow; but a maiden of the house of Israel. Note; (1.) It is a mark of the antichristian church to forbid marriage to the clergy. (2.) Ministers, above all others, for the honour of their high office, need be especially careful whom they choose for their yoke-fellow.
5. Concerning the exercise of their ministry. [1.] They must teach the people the difference between the holy and profane, between the unclean and the clean; and this with regard to persons, principles, and practices; pointing out the evil as to be avoided, and the good to be embraced and followed. [2.] In appeals made to them, they must judge impartially according to God's word. [3.] In their assemblies they must be directed in their worship and discipline by his laws and statutes, and hallow God's sabbaths, both in private and public, and exhort others to do the same.
6. Concerning their mourning. They may not come near a dead corpse, which would make them ceremonially unclean, and prevent them from approaching the sanctuary: only for those nearest relations specified, they may defile themselves; but before they return to their sacred services again, they must be cleansed by a sin-offering. Though ministers are not forbidden to sorrow as men, they must be examples of resignation, and see that their grief do not break in upon the duties of their office.
7. Concerning their maintenance. They had no inheritance in Israel, but their provision arose from the altar which they served: God was their possession, whose favour is the richest portion; and while they exerted themselves in his service, the piety of the people would procure them plenty of all needful things; so that they should not be reduced to eat what died of itself, or was torn; and, in return, the blessing of God's ministers resting upon the people would amply compensate them for what they employed in his service and the maintenance of his ministers. Note; God's ministers have a right to live by the altars which they serve; and it is the interest, as well as duty of the people, to take care of them; for the blessing of God in answer to their prayers shall be an abundant recompence.