Preparations for Inheritance and Sacrifice

Ezekiel 46:16-24

The Prince and Inheritance Laws

16 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "If the prince gives a gift of some of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he gives a gift of some of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the year of liberty, after which it shall return to the prince. But his inheritance shall belong to his sons; it shall become theirs. 18 Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people's inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property."'"

How the Offerings Were Prepared

19 Now he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which face toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end. 20 And he said to me, "This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people."

21 Then he brought me out into the outer court and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and in fact, in every corner of the court there was another court. 22 In the four corners of the court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; all four corners were the same size. 23 There was a row of building stones all around in them, all around the four of them; and cooking hearths were made under the rows of stones all around. 24 And he said to me, "These are the kitchens where the ministers of the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people."

Here are the commands of God for the leaders and priests.  The leaders were not to steal from the people to give stolen goods to their children to inherit, but from their own property holdings.  Some evidently had misused their power and authority to evict tenants or others from their houses and lands in order to add to the inheritance of their own children.  God hates abuse of power, and this is a stern warning to leaders and politicians of any time or country.  Whatever belongs to the children should be from the parents and not be given to other servants (employees) as long as it is earned by honest gain.  As for the priests who served God, they were to observe the ordinances of the LORD in the preparation of their sacrifices to God.  Similarly, we are to prepare our service of ministry to the Lord according to His word, following the commands, examples, and directions in the scriptures, living holy and obedient lives by the two great commandments.  We are to love God with all we have and are, and also love others as much as ourselves (Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12, Luke 10:27).  This is how we avoid misusing God’s gift and bounty as well as how we minister to Him and others in service.  Let all things be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).  Doing these things prepares us and our spiritual progeny for an eternal inheritance as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) to our Lord Jesus Christ and Father above by the enabling of the Holy Spirit.