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 was built on the same foundation, and 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, the 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 for them to trust Him. The high shining pillars taught of His holiness and glory, as also all the ornamenting of gold and 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.
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. 15:9), and were dishonest, making money for themselves and taking from the poor (Luke 19:46). They gave no honor to Jesus, the Son of God, whom they should have crowned 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.”
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, only that He said, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”
God gave them time to repent, but at last He let armies surround Jeralem, and break down the great temple, as Jesus 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 very different: it is made of all the people in the world who believe in His Son; they are called “living stones”, are “chosen of God and precious”, and by the Holy Spirit are to give Him praise, that more may know His love and power than could by that temple (Acts 17:24; 1 Peter 2:4,5).
Read 1 Chro. 29:1-10; Exodus 29:10-22; 2 Chro. 36:14-20. Time of last temple: John 2:20.
ML 12/30/1945