15 'And the priests, the Levites, sons of Zadok, who have kept the charge of My sanctuary in the wandering of the sons of Israel from off Me, they draw near unto Me to serve Me, and have stood before Me, to bring near to Me fat and blood—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah: 16 they come in unto My sanctuary, and they draw near unto My table to serve Me, and they have kept My charge.
17 And it hath come to pass, in their going in unto the gates of the inner court, linen garments they put on; and no wool cometh up on them in their ministering in the gates of the inner court and within. 18 Linen bonnets are on their head, and linen trousers are on their loins, they are not restrained with sweat. 19 And in their going forth unto the outer court—unto the outer court unto the people—they strip off their garments, in which they are ministering, and have placed them in the holy chambers, and have put on other garments; and they do not sanctify the people in their own garments. 20 And their head they do not shave, and the lock they do not send forth; they certainly poll their heads. 21 And no priest doth drink wine in their coming in unto the inner court. 22 And a widow and divorced woman they do not take to them for wives: but—virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, and the widow who is widow of a priest, do they take. 23 'And My people they direct between holy and common, and between unclean and clean they cause them to discern. 24 And concerning controversy, they stand up for judgment; with My judgments they judge it; and My law and My statutes in all My appointed places they keep; and My sabbaths they sanctify. 25 And unto any dead man they come not for uncleanness, but for father, and for mother, and for son, and for daughter, for brother, for sister who hath not been to a man, they defile themselves. 26 'And after his cleansing, seven days they number to him. 27 And in the day of his coming in unto the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he bringeth near his sin-offering—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah. 28 And it hath been to them for an inheritance; I 'am' their inheritance: and a possession ye do not give to them in Israel; I 'am' their possession. 29 The present, and the sin-offering, and the guilt-offering, they do eat, and every devoted thing in Israel is theirs. 30 And the first of all the first-fruits of all, and every heave-offering of all, of all your heave-offerings, are the priests': and the first of your dough ye give to the priest, to cause a blessing to rest on thy house. 31 Any carcase and torn thing, of the fowl, and of the beasts, the priests do not eat.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 44:15-31
Chapter Summary
This chapter contains ordinances relative to the true priests. The prince evidently means Christ, and the words in verse 2, may remind us that no other can enter heaven, the true sanctuary, as Christ did; namely, by virtue of his own excellency, and his personal holiness, righteousness, and strength. He who is the Brightness of Jehovah's glory entered by his own holiness; but that way is shut to the whole human race, and we all must enter as sinners, by faith in his blood, and by the power of his grace.