I Literal Gates

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I Literal Gates

• 1. Most gates used double doors
• Usually made of wood (Neh.23)
• The gate was weakest part of a citys defense
  often plated w. metal (Is.452)
• Ac.32

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2. The gate was especially subject to attack,
Ezk.2111

• To possess the gate was to possess the city
  (Gn.2217)
• It was protected by a tower (Neh.326)
• An inner gate added extra security (2
  Sm.1824)

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3. Doors were secured w. a bar

• Usually of wood (Nah.313)
• Sometimes metal
• Bronze, 1 K.413
• Iron, Ps.10716
• 4. Gates were closed at night (Josh.25, 7)
• Jg.163

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5. Markets were held at various gates

• Sheep gate, Neh.31 sheep
• Fish gate, Neh.33
• Horse gate, Neh.328
• 6. Gates were civic centers of the city (Gn.191
  Ru.41)

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7. Elders sat in gates to administer justice

• Gn.2310, 18, first legal transaction Pro.3123

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8. Kings sat at gates to make legal decisions

• 2 Sm.151-2
• When Jerusalem fell (Jer.393)
• Oppression in the gates is a synonym for
  judicial corruption (Pro.2222 Am.515)

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9. Priests and prophets delivered discourses at
the gate

• Pro.121 Je.1719-20
• 10. Condemned criminals were executed outside
  city gates Jn.1917. . . 20 Ac.758

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II Spiritual Gates

• 1. Gate of eternal destiny, Mt.713f
• Gn.2817 (3141-42)
• Jesus contrasted wide and narrow
• Broad main gate accommodated many people and
  possessions
• Narrow ones . . . only a person

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2. Gate of victory, Mt.1618

• Ps.913 Is.3810
• Gates of Hades prevailed over all other human
  activities
• Death will not prevail . . .
• Mt.1621-22 Ac.224, 31
• Mt.1624-27

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3. Gate of temptation, Mt.2671

• It is hypocritical to follow Jesus while
  warming our hands at the enemys fire
• Mt.613 2641
• A child of God on the downward road usually
  falls fast and far

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4. Gate of opportunity

• Benevolence, Lk.1620
• Who lies at your gate?
• Sick? (Mt.25)
• Needy? Ja.214-17
• Evangelism, Ac.1017
• Ac.1613

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5. Gate of sacrifice, Hb.1310-14

• Christians, not Jews
• Altar metonymy for sacrifice
• Irony they serve tent
• Partake of altar to receive bene- fits of the
  sacrifice

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Jesus suffered, Hb.1012-13

• Purpose that He might sanctify 913-14 (
  Tit.214)
• Price w. His own blood
• Place outside the gate
• Lv.1627
• Jn.1920
• Treated as a sin bearer

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Hb.1313

• Outside the camp (religious community of Israel)
• Once a place of reproach
• Jews cast Him out (Hb.122)
• Bearing His reproach
• Hb.1126
• 1 Pt.414
• Share insults intended for Him

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Views of Jesus

• Jews accursed (Ga.313)
• Followers of the hung
• Tacitus, Pliny, Suetonius described their faith
  as execrable, deadly, malefic superstition
• Lucian the impaled sophist

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6. Gates of jewels, Is.5412 Rv.21

• City, 2 New Jerusalem (4, 6)
• Outside, 7-8 (true death)
• Warning, 27
• Invitation, 2214, 17