Jesus
spent a lot of time teaching in the synagogues, especially in the northern
parts of Israel. There were many
synagogues but only one temple. The
temple at Jerusalem in Jesus’ time was the only place sacrifices were
made. It was the place for ritual
services preformed to God Almighty.
Jesus never went into the inner temple, the Holy Place and the Holy of
Holies, the place of the priestly
services. Jesus did go into the outer
courts of the temple complex however. We
should look at the differences between the temple and the synagogue, and the
difference between the first temple and the second and third temple.
The
first temple was built and dedicated by Solomon to God (2 Chr 7:1-ff). Fire heaven consumed the offerings at the
dedication of the temple. Temple service
included all the stations of the temple, the altar of sacrifice, the laver, the
table of shew bread, the oil filled seven branch lamp stand, the altar of
incense, the ark of the covenant.
Priests preformed these functions daily.
Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, was in charge of the altar of
incense during John’s gestation. In the first temple, judgments were performed
by separating people into two groups and asking questions. This process was called the urim and thummim
judgment. An example of this is in 1 Sam
14:41. For this urim and thummim judgment,
the priest wore an ephod (jeweled breastplate), separating people into two groups
to find out who sinned, a light coming from the ephod would assist in the
answer.
1
Sam 14:41-45 Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect
lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.42 And Saul said,
Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.43 Then Saul
said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said,
I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand,
and, lo, I must die.44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou
shalt surely die, Jonathan.45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan
die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord
liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath
wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.KJV
During
the time of the second temple built by Nehemiah and Ezra, they did not perform
the urim and thummin, nor did the temple contain the Ark of the Covenant. As the second temple was partly destroyed, it
was refurbished by Herod. Some people in
Jesus’ day disregarded the second temple, considering it profane because it was
rebuilt by Herod who was unclean. There
were many contradictions and contentions regarding the second temple by the
first century, an example being that the priestly services were not done by
those of the house of Aaron. Some
thought since Solomon’s offering was accepted by God with a consuming fire, the
second temple was not approved by God as there was never a consuming fire accepting
the offerings. While clearly in the Old Testament the tabernacle/temple was the
center of the nation, and thought to be the center of the universe, the first
century people did not necessarily believe that regarding the second temple.
No
one knows exactly when synagogues started springing up all over the middle-east,
but it was clear that synagogues were the center of learning and prayer in many
communities. Synagogues may have been
inspired by the Greeks, as the Greeks met in the city center to discuss
philosophy and politics. At some point when the Northern and Southern kingdoms
went into captivity, synagogues were established abroad. We see in the first century that the
synagogue at Antioch was visited by the community of Jews as well as Gentiles.
The synagogues provided a place of prayer, and learning. Sometimes they were used as local schools for
children to study the Torah. They also were places of judgment to settle
community matters as well as the place to collect offerings for the poor. This was also a place for the community of
local people to mourn or celebrate life events.
Keep
in mind that by the second century BCE the Septuagint was completed; synagogues
had copies of the scrolls which were kept in large boxes inside the synagogue.
By this time, the Hebrew language was almost lost, and the Septuagint was the
answer to Jews who spoke and read Greek.
Today we seem to think that the first century Jews all spoke Hebrew, but
that was not the case. They spoke Aramaic or Greek, which is why Ptolemy ll
sponsored the translations from Hebrew to Greek. This was similar to Martin
Luther translating the Latin Bible into German, the language of the common man.
The early Christians used the Septuagint to study, but by the second century AD
the Jews started a revival of the Hebrew language and used either Hebrew texts
or Aramaic texts. This is an interesting
paragraph regarding the changing of the text of the Septuagint by Jewish
translators in the second century AD.
In the Early Christian Church, the presumption that the Septuagint was translated by Jews
before the era of Christ, and that the Septuagint at certain places gives
itself more to a christological interpretation
than 2nd-century Hebrew texts was taken as evidence that "Jews" had
changed the Hebrew text in a way that made them less christological. For
example, Irenaeus concerning Isaiah 7:14: The Septuagint
clearly writes of a virgin that shall conceive. While the Hebrew
text was, according to Irenaeus, at that time interpreted by Theodotion and Aquila (both proselytes of the Jewish faith) as a young woman that shall conceive. According to
Irenaeus, the Ebionites used this to claim that
Joseph was the (biological) father of Jesus. From Irenaeus' point of view that
was pure heresy, facilitated by (late) anti-Christian alterations of the
scripture in Hebrew, as evident by the older, pre-Christian, Septuagint.[35] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagint
In
the synagogue, people came for prayer at specific times. While Abraham loosely
established hours of prayer; the first temple did not recognize hours of prayer
for the common people. Synagogues did
establish hours of prayer for the community.
By the first century, the temple included hours of prayer in the outer
complex to coincide with the daily sacrifices.
Most
rabbinic scholars discount the New Testament, therefore their historical view
of the temple and synagogue ends at Malachi and their future view picks up
again in Revelation 21. However, we know
that Jesus taught in many synagogues and in the temple. Also the synagogues were not exclusive to
Jews only, as we see that in Antioch there were Jews and Gentiles when Paul
visited after Jesus’ death.
In
Antioch, Pisidia, Paul was invited to speak some words of exhortation, and when
he did, the Jews got mad but the Gentiles and the Messiah believing Jews wanted
to hear more. This split the congregation and the Gentiles invited Paul and
company back the next week.
Acts
13:14-16 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia,
and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.15 And after the
reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them,
saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people,
say on.16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel,
and ye that fear God, give audience.KJV
Paul
goes on to recount Hebraic history including Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Adding Jesus into Judaic history made some of the Jews at Antioch mad. Yet the Gentiles wanted to know more. Remembering our place in time, Peter had
already been to Cornelius’ house and the apostles recognized the Gentiles were
fellow heirs and of the same body.
Acts
13:38-45 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this
man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:39 And by him all that believe
are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of
Moses.
Wow,
that is a strong statement. Paul says that they/we are justified from all
things from which they/we could not be justified by the Law of Moses. Then Paul
warns those listening in the synagogue.
Acts
13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the
prophets;41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in
your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it
unto you.42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles
besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
The
Gentiles wanted to hear more and invited Paul and Barnabas to come back next
week.
Acts
13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious
proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to
continue in the grace of God.
Messiah
believing Jews, and Gentile converts, told Paul and Barnabas to keep
preaching. Here are the Amplified and
the Message translations which sound a little smoother.
Acts
13:43 And when the congregation of the synagogue dispersed, many of the Jews
and the devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked to
them and urged them to continue [to trust themselves to and to stand fast] in
the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God. AMP
Acts
13:43 As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went
along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick
with what they'd started, this living in and by God's grace. (from THE MESSAGE:
The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights
reserved.)
Now
look at what happens. The Jews who did not believe in Jesus as Messiah chose to
contradict and blaspheme.
Acts
13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the
word of God.45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with
envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting
and blaspheming.KJV
The
whole city came to hear the word of God. The whole city came, not just a few,
but the whole city at Antioch. Strategically speaking, synagogues were the life
of the unsaved world at this time. The
Apostles could teach all about the things that happened with Jesus in
synagogues all over the region. The
synagogues were already established, and they were the center of the
community. A perfect way to move the
word of God was via the synagogues. This
is why (the big picture) synagogues were established, even if they were a Greek
model, so that Jesus’ fame could be announced abroad.
Antioch
was known as the cradle of Christianity, located in Turkey, near Lystra, not
far from Ephesus, it was a trade route and many travelers carried the stories
of Jesus to other parts of the world. Antioch, Pisidia was about 525 miles from
Jerusalem and became the center of ministry for Paul and Barnabas.
Acts
13:46-49 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the
word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from
you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles.47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a
light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of
the earth.48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified
the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.49
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.KJV
Something
we should look at in regard to Jesus preaching in the synagogues, and the
difference between the synagogue and the temple, is the heavy religious
traditions that developed in Jerusalem. While some might think these works were
a good thing, Jesus didn’t seem to think that way. One thing is certain; God
must like contradictions, as Jesus completely blasted the traditions of the Pharisees
with David’s example of eating the shew bread.
Also, priests still perform temple service on the Sabbath, which has
priority over the weekly Sabbath, so technically they break the weekly Sabbath
laws. While the Pharisees ignored the law on their own behalf, they used it as
a hammer on others. While he was preaching in Galilee the Pharisees tried to
entrap Jesus.
Matt
12:1-14 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his
disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.2
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do
that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.3 But he said unto them,
Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were
with him;4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread,
which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but
only for the priests?5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath
days the priests in the temple [2411] profane the sabbath, and are blameless?6
But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple [2411].7
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye
would not have condemned the guiltless.8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the
sabbath day.9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:10
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him,
saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.11
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one
sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on
it, and lift it out?12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it
is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch
forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as
the other.14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how
they might destroy him.KJV
NT:2411
hieron (hee-er-on'); neuter of NT:2413; a sacred place, i.e. the entire
precincts (whereas NT:3485 denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple
(at Jerusalem or elsewhere): KJV - temple.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
This
word for temple, 2411, is referencing the entire complex. Compare that to Strong’s #3485, which is the “Holy
of Holies”. Greek is a very precise language; we lose some understanding in
English because we are not as specific with our words. The biggest contention
between synagogues and the temple was that the synagogue allowed for personal
relationship and personal growth in God.
The temple was different. A few people in the hierarchy made sacrifices
for the masses. Notice verse 7, the
debate was alive as to whether God would rather have sacrifices or humble
servants. Jesus and his disciples then
went into the synagogue and caused a further commotion there. Jesus again
blasting religious tradition in favor of doing well on the Sabbath healed the
man with the withered hand.
On
the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled through the midst of Samaria, then at some
point heads to Jericho. On the road somewhere, Jesus taught about humility.
When there is one central location, with a hierarchy of religious people, there
will be distortions. The simplicity of
the synagogue was that they read the scrolls and prayed, but the temple caused
a public rivalry between religious groups, all trying to “one up” each other.
The contrast Jesus shows us is symptomatic of a large religious place.
Luke
18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple [2411] to pray; the one a Pharisee,
and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes
of all that I possess.13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up
so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be
abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.KJV
Again,
at the time of Jesus there were prayers made in the temple, not the Holy of
Holies, the outer complex. Jesus’ words here again show what God is looking for
in his people. Is it possible that the
second temple sacrifice was not consumed by fire attesting the approval of God
because God preferred not to have a temple? Is it also possible that a large
religious edifice detracts from the personal relationship one can have with
God? Yet another interesting twist to this study is that “we” are now the
temple. Jesus taught this in Jerusalem
but people didn’t understand it. He used
a different word for temple, meaning the Holy of Holies, and the people thought
he ment the physical Holy of Holies.
John
2:19-21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple [3485], and in
three days I will raise it up.20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was
this temple[3485]in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?21 But he
spake of the temple [3485]of his body.KJV
NT:3485
naos, naou, housed of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice
(or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of holies Matt
23:16 f,35 (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000,
2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
The
inner, secret chamber, holding the Holy of Holies, is now inside of you and me.
Steven testified that God does not dwell in temples made with hands. Did
somehow people’s thinking become twisted to believe that God could only dwell
in a building? (Acts 7:48) Paul says the
same thing in Athens (Acts 17:24), and then pursues this teaching in
Corinthians.
1
Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple [3485] of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?17 If any man defile the temple [3485] of God,
him shall God destroy; for the temple [3485] of God is holy, which temple
[3485] ye are.KJV
Read
this through using the words Holy of Holies for the word temple, it is deeper
that way. Once we get this we can see the importance of every human becoming a
believer in Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Human value is much higher than the world would have us think. Yet the devil has made humans believe that
they are simply dust and of no real value.
Trying to have the conversation about sexual promiscuity, Paul explains
it again.
1
Cor 6:17-2017 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.18 Flee
fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that
committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19 What? know ye not that
your body is the temple [3485]of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have
of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.KJV
Paul
understood how important it is to be the temple of the Living God. When the
veil of the Holy of Holies was ripped from the top to the bottom, the way was
opened for whosoever believed on Jesus to become a temple of the Living God.
2
Cor 6:16-18 What agreement [can there be between] a temple [3485] of God and
idols? For we are the temple [3485] of the living God; even as God said, I will
dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and
I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [Ex 25:8; 29:45; Lev 26:12;
Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:27.] 17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate
(sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing;
then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa 52:11.] 18 And I
will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty. [Isa 43:6; Hos 1:10.] AMP
Remember
Paul and Barnabas’ teaching at Antioch? Jew’s who believe in the Messiah and
Gentile converts all make up one large building for the habitation of God.
Eph
2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;20 And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone;21 In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple [3485] in the Lord:22 In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.KJV
While
we understand that the physical temple is not necessary, after the church is
gathered a physical temple will be built again in Jerusalem. This will most
likely take place after the Psalm 83 war when Israel has a physical dominance
in the mid-east. We have to remember
that the Jews don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah, they believe that they need a
temple built so that they can correctly worship God. They long for and desire a physical temple in
Jerusalem so that they can become right with God. Midway through the seven year tribulation, someone
who will come forward as a world leader will be revealed as an anti Christ when
he sits in the Holy of Holies. This is
how the Jews will recognize their mistake in trusting this leader. No one but the high priest was allowed into
the Holy of Holies, once per year, with a blood sacrifice for the people, while
wearing a rope around his ankle, and bells on his garment, just in case he had
sin and died in the Holy of Holies, the other priests could pull him out. We know that the daily sacrifices will resume
and then people will be killed under the altar of the temple. But here, people
on earth will know for certain, that this leader is bad, when this man sits in
the Holy of Holies.
2
Thess 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or
that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple [3485] of God, shewing
himself that he is God.KJV
2
Thess 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and
over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking
his seat in the temple [3485] of God, proclaiming that he himself is God. [Ezek
28:2; Dan 11:36,37.] AMP
One
of the rewards of the overcomer (written to the Philadelphian church), besides
not going through the tribulation, is that they will become a pillar, or
support, in the Holy of Holies. This is like becoming the supporting members
who minister in the Holy of Holies of the Living God, not just in the
millennial kingdom, but in the New Jerusalem.
Rev
3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple [3485] of my God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and
the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out
of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.KJV
The
Holy of Holies in the New Jerusalem will be the Father and the Son, so the
people who are overcomers will be serving the Father and the Son and they won’t
have to leave their service. Typically Priests rotated their responsibilities in
the earthly temple.
Rev
21:22 And I saw no temple [3485] therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the
Lamb are the temple [3485] of it.KJV
Now
we see the conclusion of the temple, there won’t be a physical Holy of Holies
in the New Jerusalem because the Almighty God and the Lamb are the Holy of
Holies. Today, the Holy of Holies is in
believers, and in the new heaven and earth the Holy of Holies is the Father and
the Son. Therefore, people who overcome
are the ministers of God the Father and the Lamb. Yet what an honor it is for us to be the Holy
of Holies today, on earth. That puts immense value on humans, and even more
emphasis on evangelizing. While Jews are
set on building a brick and mortar temple on earth, Christians are the Holy of
Holies. It’s ironic that the Holy of
Holies is on earth, in many places today; whosoever believes on Jesus. One does not have to look far to find the
temple. This also speaks to why the
rapture is a pre-tribulation forceful snatching away, because those who believe
on Jesus as Lord and Savior are the holiest place of the dwelling of God
Almighty on the earth. While our earthly bodies are simply the shell, the Holy
Spirit lives within us. There was a physical temple which Solomon built and the
offering was consumed by fire. On the
day of Pentecost and thereafter, the one who believes Jesus is Lord becomes the
Holy of Holies, filled with the Holy Spirit, consumed by the fire of the Holy
Spirit. Jesus was the once for all blood
sacrifice for all human kind who believe.
That is the significance of the temple, not the building for rituals of
service.
The
synagogue was for teaching and the developing of a personal relationship with
God. That should bring people to the
knowledge of God. The temple is the
dwelling of God, which is in us, God’s Holy of Holies. The synagogues helped move the knowledge of
Jesus as Messiah throughout the world.
Paul wrote letters to the churches, the called out, who may have been
meeting in homes, and then the knowledge of the temple being within us moved
throughout the world.
