Text: Exod. 27:9-19; 38:9-20
Intro: The court was a perfect oblong, twice as long as its breadth, 100 cubits (150 ft.) in length and 50 cubits (75 ft.) wide
and 5 cubits (7.5 ft.) high. Its construction was upon sixty pillars set in brass sockets. Each pillar had a chapiter, or covering,
overlaid with silver with silver hooks on which the curtains were hung.
    A. They stood apart at an equal distance of five cubits each, 7.5 ft.
         1.  The number "five" stands for grace.
         2.  Thus we see the grace of god appearing to all men (Titus 2:11).
    B. There were twenty on the north side, twenty on the south side, ten on the West Side and ten on the East Side.
         1.  Sixty altogether a multiple of twenty.
         2.  Twenty is the number of redemption showing Christ purchasing our redemption through bearing our judgment
              (2 Cor 5:21).
    C. A silver connecting bar called a silver fillet united them all to each other.
    D. Each pillar was made secure by cords fastened to brass tent pegs, called pins.
I. THIS FINE LINEN COURT FENCE REPRESENTS JESUS CHRIST IN ALL HIS PURITY AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
    A. Tabernacling among men, accessible to all who seek Him (Jer 29:13).
    B. The Tabernacle and Court Fence rested upon the bare earth of the desert.
         1. This pointed to Christ as "a Root out of a dry ground" -- Israel (Isa. 53:2).
         2. It also tells us that there is nothing down here to satisfy the heart (Psa. 17:15).
II. THE SIXTY PILLARS REPRESENT THE WORD OF GOD AS HOLDING FORTH CHRIST TO A
LOST AND DYING WORLD.
    A. God calls lost men to come into the court (kingdom) (Psa 65:4). "Blessed  is the man whom thou choosest, and causest
to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of  thy house, even of thy holy
temple."
    B. When you come into the court of God you need an offering (Psa 96:8)  "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his
         name: bring an offering, and come into his courts."
         1. You must accept God's Lamb, Jesus Christ (John 1:29)
         2. When you get born again you come into the kingdom of God not the church (Col. 1:13).
             "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."
    C. The stranger had the same liberty of approach to the altar as an Israelite (Lev. 17:8; 22:18)  (Num. 15:14-16).
         1. When it comes to the salvation of a lost sinner we are all equal (Rom. 10:12-13) "For there is no difference between
             the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon
             the name of the Lord shall  be saved.
III. THIS COURT FENCE SERVED SEVERAL PURPOSES.
    A. It prevented unlawful approach to the Tabernacle.
    B. It kept wild animals at a distance.
    C. It kept the camp outside and the Tabernacle inside.
        1. God has called for a positive mark of separation between His churches and the world (2 Cor 6:14-18).
        2. But man's desire is to break down all  barriers and mix the world and the church.
        3. There are many today that say, "Why not give a little and be more flexible with the gospel?
            a. Any compromise with the gospel is fatal.
        4. Those who corrupt the gospel do so to the condemnation of their own souls and of those who follow them.
IV. THE COURT FENCE MADE A WAY OF APPROACH TO GOD, NO MATTER WHERE THE
SINNER MAY BE IT LEADS HIM TO THE "COURT GATE."
    A. There were fifteen cubits on each side of the gate.
         1. 15 Plus 15 = 30 that’s how old Jesus was when He began His public ministry. (See Numbers Chapter 4) (Luke 3:23)
    B. The gate was twenty cubits wide, and five cubits high.
         1. It met the need of the child, as well as that of the full-grown man.
         2. The gate had the same area as the door, yet the door was twice as high as the gate and half the width.  Why?!
             a. Because the door was used only by the priests, who represent the saints of God (Matthew 7:13-14) Enter ye in at
                 the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go
                 in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
         3. Whosoever will may be saved.  But how few, comparatively, enter in through the gate and on into the Holy Place of
             prayer and fellowship with God.
    C. Four pillars held up the Court Gate reminding us of the four gospel records of the life of Christ on earth, His death,
         resurrection, and ascension into heaven.
    D. Have you ever wondered why there are four gospels?   The Holy Spirit has given us a four-fold portrait of Christ.
         1. Mathew wrote particularly for the Jews, presenting Christ as their King.
             a. Matthew traced Christ's genealogy from Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, through David, the king.
             b. He told of the visit of the wise men and their gifts to the Child Jesus, the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:1-2).
         2. Mark emphasized that part of our Lord's life on earth that tells us He was the faithful Servant of Jehovah (Zech. 3:8).
             "I will bring forth my servant the Branch."
             a. The key verse is Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to
                 give his life a ransom for many."
             b. Mark gives no record of the genealogy or birth of Christ, for who asks for these things concerning a servant?
             c. This is not to say that Mark did not present Christ as the King of the Jews as well.
                 a) All four of the gospel writers give abundant testimony that Jesus was Eternal God, Perfect Man, King of Israel,
                     Servant of Jehovah, and Saviour of the world.
             d. But each of the four emphasized some particular phase of His person and work that we might get a more
                 complete portrait.
         3. Luke presented Christ as the perfect Son of Man.
             a. He gives His genealogy through Mary, tracing it back to Adam, the father of the human race.
             b. He tells of the shepherds, the manger, and the boy Jesus in the temple.
             c. He magnified the Lord Jesus as eternal God, but dwelt particularly upon Him as the seeking Saviour (Luke19:10).
         4. John plainly states his purpose in (20:30-31): he wrote to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal God.
             a. John gave no record of the genealogy or birth of Jesus because God has no beginning nor ending.
             b. He opened his gospel with the majestic statement "John 1:1."
    E. The fine twined  linen speaks of Christ's perfect humanity; the blue of His Deity; the scarlet, of His sacrifice, and the
         purple of His kingly authority.
         1. Blue is the color of heaven.
             a. Our Lord came down from heaven to dwell among men (Jn. 1:14).  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall
                 bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matt. 1:23)
         2. The scarlet speaks of His sacrifice reminding us of His shed blood (Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor5: 21).
         3. The purple (mixture of blue and red) in the gate, the door, the veil and the tabernacle curtains speak to us of our
             Lord's deity manifest in the flesh.
             a. Truly He is the God-man, our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5).
             b. Purple is the symbol of royalty and one of His beautiful names is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Rev. 19:16).
         4. The fine linen speaks of His sinless holy life.
             a. There was no coarse thread, no flaw, in His whole person.
             b. Pilate had to admit that he found "No fault in this man."
             c. His wife warned him to "Have thou nothing to do with that just man."
             d. The centurion at the cross testified, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.  (Matt. 27:54).
                 a) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher
                     than the heavens. (Heb. 7:26; Heb. 4:15).
    F. The hanging over the gate was of the same material as that which made the door of the tabernacle, the veil that
         separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, and the tabernacle curtains.
         1. The gate, the door and the veil had this in common:  They opened the way into the presence of God.    
             a. The gate gave entrance to the bronze altar, where sin was dealt with at the foot of the cross, as it were.
             b. The door led the priest into the place of communion and fellowship with God, representing our fellowship with
                 God in one of His Churches through obedience to the Word, prayer and the Lord's Supper.
             c. The veil opened the way into the Holy of Holies, which was a type of heaven where God's throne is (Heb 4:16).
                 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
                 of need.
    G. That entrance is Christ, the only One who satisfied the claims of the law (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
         1. Man cannot come as he thinks.
    H. There is only one way; God has provided it; and only by that way shall we ever approach God.
         1. Must hear the Word of God. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).
         2. Must be Holy Spirit conviction. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
             raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
         3. Holy Spirit conviction brings about godly sorrow. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
             repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. II Cor.7:10
         4.   Repentance (Luke 13:3,5).  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the
               wicked; but  that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,
               O house of Israel? (Ezk.33:11)
         5. Faith (Rom. 4:5) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
             believe on his name: (Jn. 1:12)
V. THE GATE OF SALVATION, THE DOOR OF FELLOWSHIP, THE VEIL THAT GAVE ACCESS TO THE
VERY THRONE OF GOD, THESE ALL STAND OPEN TO THE SINNER WHO WILL BE SAVED BY GOD'S
GRACE.
    A. The gate of the Hebrew tabernacle was done away with centuries ago.
         1. But the gate of salvation stands open, inviting you to enter today.
    B. The door of the tabernacle is gone but Christ the Door is still "the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Heb. 13:8)
    C. The veil of the temple was torn in two when He died on the cross.
         1. God did that to open the way into His presence through the cross of Jesus.
Conclusion: We no longer need the gate, the door, or the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. The One of
whom those beautiful hangings spoke has now come.