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Gates

The gate symbolizes the city itself; it represents the people, culture, status, prominence, and life of the city.

Written by Thomas Keene | Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Two kingdoms…the one besieged, built of death and darkness and protected by a great barred gate; the other triumphant, built of living stones and surrounded by wide-open gates, beckoning the multitude to enjoy its peace and light.

 

Pretend for a moment that you, like Simon Peter, are an ordinary and faithful Jew, awaiting the “consolation of Israel” and living during the time of Jesus’ public ministry. You’ve seen a lot of things: miracles, marvels, and masterful teaching. Who is this Jesus? He must be more than a prophet. He’s even greater than Moses. Peter comes to the inevitable conclusion: He must be the Messiah, the promised King, the Anointed One who would restore the kingdom of God upon the earth. Yes, Jesus says, and “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

The little word “gates” conjures up an image—or rather, a network of images, experiences, and associations, many of which might be lost to the modern reader. As Peter meditates on this prophetic word, his imagination will project a cosmic war between two kingdoms, the one besieged, built of death and darkness and protected by a great barred gate; the other triumphant, built of living stones and surrounded by wide-open gates, beckoning the multitude to enjoy its peace and light.

Perhaps your imagination was more meager in its reflections; a brief tour of “gates” in the Bible will help us better envision the victorious City of God.

The modern reader is at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to the metaphorical description of the “gates” of hell. Metaphors often draw from lived experience, and most modern cities no longer have gates in any literal sense. The word “gates” no longer immediately triggers the same set of associations for us as it would have for an ancient reader. Ancient cities needed protection from their surroundings, and so most cities end up with some sort of surrounding wall (Deut. 3:5). The gates of these walls act as a centralized entry and exit location, and this in turn makes them a suitable place to meet and converse (2 Sam. 15:2; Ps. 69:12), a central marketplace (2 Kings 7:1), a spot for public announcements and legal proclamations (Ruth 4), and the prime location for community gatherings and celebrations (Judg. 5:11).

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