The Altar

Part of the temple that God showed Ezekiel included an altar.

God had specific measurements for it, “These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (the cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth): the base one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a rim all around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar: from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits; the width of the ledge, one cubit; from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits; and the width of the ledge, one cubit. The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four horns extending upward from the hearth. The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide, square at its four corners; the ledge, fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim of half a cubit around it; its base, one cubit all around; and its steps face toward the east” (Ezekiel 43.13–17).

As you read that passage, you learned right away that the cubit you read of was the standard cubit (believed to be a minimum of 18 inches, the measurement from a man’s elbow to the tip of his middle finger), plus a handbreadth (which would be 9 inches, the measurement from the tip of a man’s thumb to his pinkie with his hand stretched out). Thus it measured at least 27 inches.

Does it surprise you that the God of creation wanted everything done precisely? It does not surprise me, because He is that way with everything in creation, and in the Scriptures.

Let us worship and honor the God of precision, for by His demand for preciseness we live. DR

What Is a False Teacher?

Christians have a tendency to label anyone a false teacher who does not agree with them, but the Bible shows the characteristics of a false teacher in Second Peter 2.

Notice the second half of verse 13 and verse 14, “They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children” (2 Peter 2.13–14).

Watch out for these people, for they will not appear as evil, but Peter spoke of “their own deceptions.”

Therefore, a false teacher is not someone with whom we disagree on the understanding of Scripture, but a false teacher has evil in his heart and desires to pull away members from the body of Christ to start his own group. DR