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 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. 15:99But 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 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 17:2424God 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)).
Read 1 Chro. 29:1-10; Exodus 29:10-2210And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock. 11And thou shalt kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 12And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar. 13And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar. 14But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering. 15Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. 16And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar. 17And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head. 18And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the Lord: it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 19And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. 20Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. 21And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. 22Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration: (Exodus 29:10‑22); 2 Chro. 36:14-20. Time of last temple: John 2:2020Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (John 2:20).
ML 12/30/1945