We can see a considerable influence of the book of Ezekiel in the New Testament. Ezekiel, as well as Jeremiah, refers to the new convenant which God will establish with his people. We have already referred to the significance of this in chapter 18 of this book. Jesus is the Good Shepherd; Ezekiel 34, John 10:1-18, Luke 15:4-7. The teaching of Ezekiel about the new and purified Temple where God will be worshipped in purity and holiness, points to the teaching of Jesus about true worship, such as John 4: 21-24. Inner conversion or change and renewal of mind and attitude, is God's gift through his Holy Spirit, as Ezekiel shows in chapters 36 and 37 of his book. This is a most important teaching in the New Testament, summed up in Romans 3: 24: 'But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Jesus Christ, who sets them free.' God changes men who are unable to change themselves because of the sin which grips them. We have referred to apocalyptic passages in the New Testament and there are connections of language which can be seen particularly between the imagery of Ezekiel's visions and the book of Revelation, such as the reference to the river of life in Revelation 22: 1-2, which echoes Ezekiel 47 : 1-12.

We have said that we cannot say that Ezekiel prophesied the resurrection of the dead, but his words in 37:1-14 point in the direction of this very important New Testament teaching.