The Gate

The gate of the tabernacle, also known as the gate of repentance, provided entrance into the outer court.

“On the east side, where the entrance is, the enclosure is also to be 25 yards wide. On each side of the entrance there are to be 7 1/2 yards of curtains, with three posts and three bases. For the entrance itself there is to be a curtain 10 yards long made of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool, and decorated with embroidery. It is to be supported by four posts in four bases.” (Exo 27:16)

Jesus is the gate into the tabernacle of life. By entering into Him, we enter the gate of life.

So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep. (Joh 10:7)

“I am the gate. Those who come in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” (Joh 10:9-10)

“Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.” (Mat 7:13-14)

The gate was the only way into the courtyard of the Tabernacle, signifying that Jesus is the only way to the promise.

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.” (Joh 10:1)

Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. (Joh 14:6)

The Bible tells us of people who tried to function as Christians without going through the gate of repentance. Ouch!

“God was performing unusual miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used were taken to the sick, and their diseases were driven away, and the evil spirits would go out of them. “Some Jews who travelled around and drove out evil spirits also tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to do this. They said to the evil spirits, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.”

Seven brothers, who were the sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva, were doing this.” “But the evil spirit said to them, “I know Jesus, and I know about Paul; but you—who are you?” The man who had the evil spirit in him attacked them with such violence that he overpowered them all. They ran away from his house, wounded and with their clothes torn off.” (Act 19:11-16)

The gate into the courtyard of the tabernacle was very wide and accessible.

The entrance curtain, unlike the hangings at the sides and back of the outer court of the tabernacle of Moses, could be drawn up or aside at pleasure.

Everyone is welcome to enter the Tabernacle Outer Court. The gate into the outer court of the tabernacle was normally closed but not locked. All you had to do was reach out your hand and push the curtain aside. It is just as easy to enter into Jesus. Simply ask.

The quality of the curtains of the gate was much finer and richer than those of the rest of the outer court of the tabernacle of Moses.

The curtains of the gate leading to the outer court of the tabernacle were made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was wrought with needlework and was of the same quality as the hangings for the door of the holy place.

The four colours of the gate curtains leading to the tabernacle tell us more about Jesus

Purple is the colour of kings. Speaks of Jesus as the King of kings

Purple is the colour of kings. Speaks of Jesus as the King of kings
Scarlet is the colour of blood. Speaks of Jesus as our Redeemer
White is the colour associated with purity. Speaks of the holy character of Jesus
Blue is the colour of heaven and of divinity. Speaks of Jesus as the son of God.

The four pillars of the gate into the tabernacle courtyard and the four colors of its curtains also refer to the four gospel writers and their four unique messages.

Matthew portrays Jesus as our King and writes about His kingdom.
Mark portrays Jesus as full of Good Deeds, our Savior
Luke portrays Jesus as the Holy Son of Man
John portrays Jesus as the Son of God.

Jesus is the gate into the tabernacle of life, and He holds the keys to all the gates of the enemy.

“I’m Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death’s doors; they open and lock Hell’s gates.” (Rev 1:18: The Message)

Before His death, He promised the keys to the gate to Peter.

And now I’m going to tell you who you really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door—no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is a yes in heaven. A no on earth is a no in heaven.” (Mat 16:18–19, The Message)

Twice, on occasion, Peter proved that he had the gate keys.

“They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But that night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison gate, led the apostles out, and said to them, “Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life.” (Act 5:18-20)

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, “Hurry! Get up!” At once, the chains fell off Peter’s hands. (Act 12:7)

They passed by the first guard station, then the second, and came at last to the iron gate that opens into the city. The gate opened for them by itself, and they went out. They walked down a street, and suddenly the angel left Peter.” (Act 12:8-10)

The use of the gate keys is not restricted to Peter. The apostle Paul proved that he also held the keys to the tabernacle of life.

“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners.” (Act 16:25-26)

The gate into the tabernacle also depicts intimacy with God.

“One day spent in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.” (Psa 84:10)