Luke 21:5-205And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19In your patience possess ye your souls. 20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (Luke 21:5‑20)
The disciples spoke to Jesus of the beauty of the temple stones, which must have been very splendid to see, although not the same or perhaps as perfect as those in the first temple, for which King David prepared the most costly and durable material.
This temple (Herod’s temple) was built on the same foundation, had taken many years to complete, and was greatly admired by all people. All its strength and beauty were to teach the greatness of God, whose wisdom and power had first placed the rock, gold, silver and copper in the earth.
Those solid rocks reminded the people that the One who had formed them was their strength and refuge and that they were to trust Him. The high shining pillars spoke of His holiness and glory, as also all the ornamenting of gold, silver and very costly precious stones, such as are used in jewelry. More gold and silver were on the inside.
The golden ark, a beautiful chest made of wood covered with gold both outside and inside and with a pure gold piece on the top on which were the wonderful carved figures called “cherubim,” seems to have been lost when the first temple was spoiled. But copies of the words of God to all the prophets were still kept, and from those, the people could learn still more than from the temple itself.
Beautiful Building but Ugly Heart
But the men who had charge in the temple did not believe the words of God or think of His glory and holiness. They taught their own laws to the people instead of God’s (Matt. 15:99But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9)) and were dishonest, making money for themselves and taking from the poor (Luke 19:4646Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Luke 19:46)). They gave no honor to Jesus, the Son of God, whom they should have crowned as King and worshiped.
Because of such wickedness, Jesus could not admire the beauty of the building. He knew all must be destroyed, and He said to the disciples, “As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down” (Luke 21:66As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Luke 21:6)).
Those were very sad words to those men who valued the temple so much, but they knew Jesus told them what was true, and they asked Him when that would happen. It is not written that He told them the time, but only that He said, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:2020And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (Luke 21:20)). God gave them time to repent, but at last He let armies surround Jerusalem and break down the great temple, as Jesus had said.
Since Christ was rejected in that temple, God has not told anyone to build Him a grand building, yet He has a “house,” but His is very different. It is made of all the people in the world who believe in His Son. He is called the “Living Stone ... chosen of God and precious.” Those who come to Him are “built up a spiritual house,” and by the Holy Spirit they are to give Him praise, that more may know His love and power than could know Him by that Jewish temple (Acts 17:2424God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24); 1 Peter 2:4-54To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4‑5)).
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