The Destruction of the Temple

Please turn your Bibles to Luke chapter 21 over the next couple of months we will be

Going through this chapter Looking at the various things that Jesus says about The coming of the end and here particularly he begins this discourse speaking of the temple

Please stand when you have that for the reading of God's Word Luke chapter 21 beginning with verse 5 and And while some were speaking of the temple how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings

He said as for these things that you see the days will come When there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down And they asked him teacher.

When will these things be and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? And he said see that you are not led astray for many will come in my name saying

I am he and The time is at hand Do not go after them and when you hear of wars and tumults do not be terrified

For these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once Amen You may be seated

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We ask that you would open up before us That our hearts would be open our ears our eyes

Or we'd be receptive to your word in Jesus name. Amen One of the features of being human especially being a fallen human is being subject to deception

Especially being deceived by outward appearances This has been a theme throughout

Luke as people have been seed by those who are wealthy thinking that That their wealth indicates a more righteous status

Those who have the outward trappings of religious obedience thinking that that would be something more righteous

But now we see this applied even to the temple It's the case that even today a lot of people see religious trappings as being a symbol of righteousness

Note that we have a very simple worship here. We don't have images we don't have

Much that we go by apart from what God has given us. We have the word we have song we have prayer

Do not add things to this so those who are looking at the temple the image that God has given to prepare them for the

True reality of his presence a temple being a place where a God dwells in that true reality

Being where God will dwell in his people. This is something That they can be deceived by Now the temple is rightly supposed to be an illustration of that truth but in as much as they are impressed by it thinking that it is the thing in and of itself and Not something that points to another

Just as one might think that the sacrifices are themselves That means by which one is right with God instead of the sacrifice they point to Jesus Christ in any of these cases one misses the point of the very illustration that God has given and one misses the point of the gospel itself and one misses the point of the resurrection as Christ has been raised from the dead destroying

That temp that temple being destroyed and raised up and this temple of which we read of the stones

Being laid on one another being destroyed and a new one being raised up in its place that is far more glorious if One has eyes to see it and this first verse the preaching text by that way is only these first two verses and While some were speaking of the temple how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings worth noting that this temple is the temple that was

Not the original temple that Solomon had built. It's not even properly speaking exactly

The temple that was rebuilt later, but it is that temple expanded by Herod the

Great as a project begun in 19 BC and this was an especially glorious temple

It was really one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world this temple being very large full of gold full of Various kinds of offerings that it describes here.

So not just large stones and then the then the commanded Gold that would plate everything but likewise also various things that people would donate banners, etc make it all especially glorious and This is why in John 2 verse 20 it speaks of When Jesus says that he if you destroy this temple

He will raise it up again than three days that the people said it has taken us 46 years to build this temple and you will raise it up in three days.

Why do they speak of 46 years? That's talking about that temple project that it started in 19

BC So it's it's talking about this very recent temple project this is a very glorious very glorious temple and Jesus disciples

Notice how great it is Well, it does not mention his disciples explicitly here The other Gospels make it clear that it is disciples who are observing the temple when it says some were speaking of the temple

They're very impressed by it. It is incredible as they have made this trek this pilgrimage all the way to Jerusalem They are seeing this and they're very impressed by it and Jesus's response is not the affirming response that one would expect

One might expect him to say. Yes. Indeed. It is glorious. Look what God has done Instead it is to point them to what

God will do He says as For these things that you see the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another

That will not be thrown down and this is precisely what ends up happening in 8070 in 8070 the whole temple is destroyed by Titus as he comes into Jerusalem destroys the temple and Every stone is torn down completely

Josephus in the in the Jewish Wars his work called the Jewish Wars. He documents this

Josephus being a Jewish historian he describes how the temple was burned and then the temple was

Destroyed completely and the only thing that was remaining was the Western retaining wall on the mount in Order that the soldiers would be able to have a place to camp

Camping underneath that retaining wall. This is the wall that you may be familiar with from Footage that you might see of Jerusalem of the

Western Wall. This is not a wall of the temple It is a retaining wall for the mount every stone of the temple itself was torn down completely

One of the ways that this is often Framed that is not exactly accurate. This does not really come from Josephus though You may hear that it does is that when the people burn the temple

What happened is all the gold fell in or melted it and came into the cracks of the stones and Because the soldiers were so greedy they went and tore all the stones apart to make sure that they could get all the gold

Josephus does not describe this he describes in two different passages one that they use fire to destroy the temple and then two that they tore down all the stones and That they plundered it and they took all the gold but not the particular detail about it melting if you've ever if you've ever heard that that is a

Later elaboration. So we described here this complete destruction, which indeed does

Come to pass in 80 70 What is his point here? His point here is that they not be

Distracted by outward glory, but recognize Inward glory now, he does not speak directly to the nature of the inward glory, but that has been the theme throughout

This book and that continues to be his point And so it is evident here without an explicit mention of it

That that is what he is drawing them to to not be distracted by the external things But rather to see what that points to Allow me to read the previous passage because it may not be obvious how it fits in with the previous passage

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins and he said truly

I tell you this poor widow has put in more than all of them for they all contributed out of their abundance

But she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on So someone who is observing the scene would see the rich Putting in their wealth and thinking wow, these people are really generous.

They're giving so much They are very righteous much more righteous than this poor widow Yet Jesus is saying that the widow is actually more righteous because she is giving a greater percentage

She is giving much more in terms of an actual Sacrificial giving of herself

Than the others are who are giving more in terms of actual currency value and Now he applies the same thing here

The same thing happens with the stones of the temple They are distracted by the the wealth in the the greatness of the temple

But those things are not an end to themselves In fact, it will all be destroyed and something that continues on will remain

Just as it is with the outward righteousness of the Pharisees or of the rich as they give much and they appear to be righteous, but are not and the

Righteousness of the poor will continue on blessed be the poor as Jesus says

So it is here That it is not that temple that continues on but rather it is another the

Old Covenant Covenant made with Moses by which God established his presence with the people saying that I will be

You'll be my people and I will be your God that covenant has become Obsoleted in Hebrews chapters 8 and Hebrews chapter 8 it describes us says in Hebrews 8 for Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all as the speaking of Jesus Since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things For when Moses was about to erect the tent

He was instructed by God saying see that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain

So the author of Hebrews is explaining that if Jesus were present on earth at that time though He is a priest.

He would not be serving in the earthly temple that temple with its magnificent stones It's magnificent gold would not be the place where he would be serving because his temple is one that is more glorious and it says later on in verse 13 and Speaking of a new covenant

He makes the first one obsolete and what is becoming obsolete is growing old and ready to vanish away

So that covenant that God had made with the people that they would be permitted to live in the land that they would have Sacrifices to forgive their sins in the context of that covenant in other words

Not providing any kind of eternal forgiveness, but providing them the transactional forgiveness that would permit them to live in the land that all these things are

Obsolete and soon to pass away When is it that they would pass away if they had not passed away at the time that Hebrews describes?

Is it not 80 70 where God? Indicates by the destruction of the temple that covenant had completely ended there was this overlapping period after the time of Jesus's resurrection to the time of 70

AD There where both covenants are operative But yet at 70

AD The old covenant is no more that there is no No reason to continue observing it that the temple does not stand that it is something that is obsolete by the way

This is very excellent evidence that almost the whole New Testament If not, the whole

New Testament was written before 80 70 There is no book of the New Testament that speaks in a past tense sense of The destruction of the temple it only speaks prophetically of the temple being destroyed

And this is something that you would expect that would be an excellent Christian Apologetic if it had happened that look the temple has been destroyed

Therefore it shows that this new cup that old covenant is obsolete yet The author of Hebrews talks about it as something that is still continuing on that there are priests serving at the altar in Acts Luke describes

Various history that goes up all the way To sometime before the temple is destroyed because he never mentions that sometime in the 60s before 8070

The only book that really has any possibility of being written afterward is Revelation But even

Revelation does not mention the fall of the temple seems that all the books were written before 80 70 all kinds of Skeptics who try to cast doubt on the

Bible saying that was written later that was written by people who were not eyewitnesses though the

Bible Clearly, it's written by eyewitnesses claiming to be so using proper names

Giving a lot of details. It could be Confirmed by others who are nearby, etc

And they would say it's written later Yet if it was written later, why does it not mention the destruction of the temple?

This seems like something that would be obvious to mention if you were arguing for the Christian faith

Now, what is it that comes in its place? It comes in place of that old covenant comes in place of that old temple

I've already mentioned John chapter 2

John chapter 2 the Jews said to him what sign do you show us for doing these things? Jesus answered them destroy this temple and in three days,

I will raise it up And the Jews said it has taken 46 years to build this temple and will you raise it up in three days?

But he was speaking about the temple of his body When therefore he was raised from the dead the disciples remembered that he had said this and they believed the scripture and the word

That Jesus had spoken Jesus his body is rightly called the temple of God because it is where God dwells with man

God dwells with man and the humanity of Jesus Christ. And so as Christ's body

Is destroyed but then raised from the dead Doing so in three days

He has constructed He raising his own body from the dead evil even he has

Constructed a great temple that is more glorious now Not only is it the case that he has raised his own body from the dead by the way

The Bible attributes this raising of the dead of Jesus to all three persons of the Trinity Tributes it to the

Father tributes it to the Son Attributes it likewise to the Spirit He is raised.

He is raised from the dead. His body is raised, but he has in that process

United himself to his people such that they have died to the law joined to him and become his body

Raising them up. And so the Bible speaks not only of Jesus's humanity as being the temple of God It likewise speaks of believers individually being the temple of God It likewise speaks of local churches being the temple of God where God dwells as we gather together and it also speaks of the universal church his body as Being that which has been raised up from the dead and is the temple that surpasses and reap and comes after the

Old Covenant Temple that temple was just an illustration of the glorious thing that God has done

Building a new temple in living stones And this is the glory of the new covenant not one that is outwardly seen in stones and gold

But one that is seen only with the eyes of faith to recognize the glory that God is accomplishing in building up for himself a body

This is prophesied 2nd Samuel chapter 7 Verse 12 when your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers as is speaking to David I will rise

I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come from your body And I will establish his kingdom

He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son

Now you might imagine this is simply speaking of Solomon Solomon is the son of David.

He builds the temple He sits on the throne for a good period of time and his children do after him

But ultimately it is not until that kingdom Loses its glory outwardly and then is raised up when

Jesus Christ The true son of David the true son of Solomon sits on the throne and constructs a much greater temple

Not greater outwardly with stones and gold But greater in ways that cannot be seen bringing more glory to God than an earthly temple ever could

This is the far greater temple and there are many implications to this truth that you must recognize

Simply to categorize them The Old Covenant having passed away should no longer be observed

But then secondarily there is a broader application to all kinds of outward glory that should not distract us first just to address the

Old Covenant Observations that people have a temptation to be attached to First of all, there are a number of temptations that people have to continue

Desiring the outward glory of the temple You see this with many who are anticipating that it will be rebuilt physically as a set of stones in Jerusalem constructing a physical building

People get this from several passages. There's first Thessalonians, or excuse me, second

Thessalonians chapter 2 Which speaks of the man of lawlessness setting himself up in the temple of God So people imagine that that temple must be rebuilt in order for him to be set up in that If you remember the series that we did not too long ago on the

Antichrist That is talking ultimately about the church one who sets himself up as head over all the church

And then likewise people look at the vision that Ezekiel has Ezekiel has a vision of a temple that is especially glorious that has

Specific dimensions people like pointing this out. Look at all the specific dimensions if this is going to be fulfilled

It has to be fulfilled in actual physical dimensions If the

Bible speaks with illustrations of physical dimensions all the time in Revelation you see the

City of God Zion come out of heaven with incredible dimensions where if you imagine the earth is a globe then the

City would be this massive thing that sits on top of the globe, but not much smaller than the globe itself these are

Illustrations that are being given with perfectly round numbers designed to illustrate things like the number of the people of God 144 ,000 being 12 times 12 times 1 ,000 showing

Showing the fullness of God's people God's people being numbered in 12 being the 12 tribes 12 disciples, etc none of these passages require a

Fulfillment be found in a physical temple and yet many people are looking for a physical temple.

They are essentially Not understanding the words of Christ here that we see in Luke that every stone will be torn down one from another

The point is not that every stone will be torn down one from another and then he leaves it open to eventually be rebuilt

But rather that they should not be focusing on the glory of that temple being so impressed with it for them to be impressed with that and Then later impressed by a different one misses the point especially in light of the context where he's talking about them not being distracted

Distracted by the the outward wealth of the Pharisees as they give etc. And then people

Want to continue on the outward glory of the temple by continuing to observe temple feasts

There are a number of people who want to observe things like the Feast of Booths. This is the regular

The regular kind of observance where people would make tents and dwell in them for the period of time that God had given and at the time of the year that God had given in order to Remember their time in the wilderness and as part of that they were required to go to the temple now this is

Very ironic because the temple no longer exists and when you see people have any kind of Observance of these temple feasts in the

Old Testament at times where the temple did not stand They did not observe it plainly instead they replaced it with a fasting in a morning that doesn't seem to attend what people do today when they try to observe these things and by people

I'm not speaking particularly of People who follow the religion of Judaism modern

Judaism. I'm talking about even Christians who think that there is some religious

Advantage and continuing to observe these things what what goes through someone's mind is very simple at this point

They say oh, it's in the Bible. Therefore. I must follow it The problem is the whole Bible is given to us not just little parts in isolation

And when Jesus here makes these statements, they have implications for the rest of Scripture there are the feasts there are statements people make about the

Holy land holy land Think about what's happened God has set that land apart to give to the people that they might have it and live in it as long as they have

The temple in order they can do the sacrifices to forgive them of their sins so that they would Be be clear in the terms of that covenant in order to continue living in Without the temple without the altar

They can't make the sacrifices in order to have the temporal forgiveness necessary in order to live in the land

People who speak about that land as holy as though it is still set apart for that people miss the point of this passage

That the temple being destroyed the land is no longer holy it is desecrated just as the

Old Covenant is obsolete It's described in Hebrews 8 the land as Holy Land is

Obsolete don't don't refer to Jerusalem or Judea's Holy Land don't

Yeah, talk about Holy Land tours and things like that. It is it's not a holy land you can you can go on a desecrated land tour and And and see the things of the the

Old Testament and then there's all the theatrics of the wailing wall Where people go to the to the wailing wall?

That was the retaining wall and the mount that I had mentioned that they that Titus Kept in order that the soldiers could camp underneath it

And they go and they place their hand on it and they put the little prayers inside of it and and mourn for it

What a silly thing to mourn for the falling of a temple that was Intended to be temporary that was not designed to last forever, but was supposed to be an illustration of something greater when

Jesus died on the cross and darkness covered the sky

The curtain was torn the curtain between the Holy of Holies and the rest of the temple

Representing that there was now access to God's presence that was not there before Can you imagine someone mourning that can you imagine someone looking at that temple being or that that curtain being torn and in Mourning the loss of a beautiful curtain

The whole point is that that curtain being gone Represents that we have access to God in a way that was not so plain before People still by the

Spirit back then had access to God yet Yet in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit There is a more abundant presence that we have and we enjoy today

And so it would be foolish to mourn the tearing of the temple or excuse me the tearing of the veil

How foolish is it to mourn? the fall of the temple the fall of the temple is a beautiful thing because it points to The obsolescence of something that was just an illustration that pointed to something much greater do not do not wail for the falling of the temple and every time you see someone go to the to the wall and Mourn for the temple just know that that they are mourning for something that they should be rejoicing over They should be rejoicing over the fact that we have a greater temple that Christ has erected that he has

Through the resurrection Raised up his own body and in that brought his people to himself making a body for himself that he is building up in Building a temple in greater and greater holiness

And that is a wonderful thing There are various Old Testament ceremonies that people go to superstitiously

People will wear prayer shawls They will blow shafars, you know the the ram's horn

Thinking that there's some kind of religious value in doing these things They'll observe seders.

Maybe you know people who this past week were observing a seder a

Dinner for Holy Week that God has not made particularly holy

God has set apart through the resurrection The Lord's Day as holy and only the

Lord's Day as holy if people follow various various holy days that God has not made holy in Galatians Chapter 4 verse 9 it says

But now that you have come to know God or rather to be known by God How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world whose slaves you want to be once more?

You observe days and months and seasons and years What is it talking about in Galatians?

It's talking about people returning to the trappings of Judaism not Understanding that they were designed to be a tutor to point people to Something that was much greater the ceremonies

Were designed as an illustration not the means Themselves by which one would know

God and if you consider just the

Galatian heresy in general, there are several things to observe about this. There are those who Galatians the particular issue in Galatians, although it as I just read it expands to Jewish ceremonies in general.

The particular issue was circumcision People asking the question of whether or not circumcision needed to continue in order for people to be right with God Paul is very clear.

That is not the case There are various Hebrew roots folks who would claim that this is the case you need to be observing this you need to be observing all the different Old Testament Ceremonies you need to be observing the

Old Testament Sabbath on Saturday, etc Now there are others who have

Done away with the the Jewish slant on that but failed to recognize the greater lesson that is to be learned in Galatians if you've ever heard of the new perspective on Paul new perspectivism

What that does is it says, you know Paul in Galatians is not really so concerned about faith versus works

He's not so concerned about how we are made right with God Through the means of the

Spirit through trusting in Christ alone really it's just about the ceremonies and So they remove the the

Jewish lamp because they're not saying that we should continue with the ceremonies, but what they do say By implication by way of silence is essentially that one might be made right with God through various outward works

But the whole point of Galatians is not just to address ceremonies But that to address it those ceremonies are an illustration of A righteousness that comes only by faith

Paul says in Galatians 2 21 I do not nullify the grace of God for if righteousness were through the law then

Christ died for no purpose Now think about that if you interpret law as referring just to the ceremonial laws of Moses Which is how many people take this

Then what does that mean that it nullifies the grace of God to get righteousness through ceremonies

But it doesn't nullify the grace of God to get righteousness through outward works Now, of course both nullify the grace of God.

It's not grace if it is earned Grace that is through works is no longer grace

Galatians 5 4 says you are severed from Christ you who be justified by the law you have fallen from grace. This is the

Core of all false religion is essentially to find righteousness through oneself rather than righteousness through Jesus Christ Even if you aren't turning to Jewish ceremonies you very well may be falling into the same scandal of trusting in outward things

Rather than trusting in the work of the Spirit It is only through Christ uniting

You to himself through the Spirit that you can be cleansed that you can have right standing with God if You are trying to be right with God through any other means

Repent turn from that you can be right with him through Christ through trusting in him for the forgiveness of sins and then him filling you with life

You can walk in the ways that he is prepared beforehand for you Following after his will but not as a means of your right standing before him

Your right standing before him can only come through the grace of Jesus Christ Do not be deceived by outward things whether it be the ceremonies that are very outward or even just works that are outward with less show

None of these things can make one right with God is only the grace of Jesus Christ that can make one right with God The ceremonies were an illustration in order to represent this

Think about what those ceremonies were These ceremonies like circumcision represent a circumcision of the heart that happens only through the

Spirit the Spirit transforming the person What is it that the sacrifice is represented not our need to make sacrifices to God though in part they do illustrate a duty to God But primarily what they are illustrating is the great sacrifice that we have in Jesus Christ our

Passover lamb who has perfectly paid For our sins us deserving death him dying in our place giving us

His forgiveness giving us his righteousness These things as Paul says in Galatians, we're all a tutor all just a an instructor

Galatians 4 1 says I mean that in error as long as he is a child is no different from a slave though He is the owner of everything

But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father in the same way We also when we were children were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world

But when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who were

Under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons Because you are sons God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying

Abba father So you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God While one is a child he is under guardians, etc.

Until the appointed time when he comes of his own This is what it's describing.

Is it the Old Covenant? God's people were under Instructors the law was an illustration.

It was a tutor for them explaining various things But now that we have reached a certain age to go back to that tutor would be foolish

We have something much greater now

Taking this from beyond Particular Old Covenant concerns.

It is good to think about the ways that we might be distracted by outward glory in general consider first worship many people are

Distracted by the outward glory Of worship and if you think about worship in different religions

Whether it be different versions of Christianity or things that claim to be Christianity or whether it be the religions of the world you can think about the things that I'm Mentioning you think about whether it be glorious looking idols whether it be a lot of decorations whether it be images whether it be

Vestments, there's all kinds of things It's important to realize that what

Christ gives The the worship that he gives is primarily Seen in something that cannot be outwardly seen is primarily seen through faith

There's a passage that I believe is frequently misunderstood that's worth It's worth spending a little time on and that is found beginning in John 1 chapter

John 1 verse 17 For the law was given through Moses grace and truth came through Jesus Christ Okay, so he's comparing the

Old Covenant in the New Covenant. He's comparing Moses and Jesus Christ Can Moses mediating

Old Covenant Christ mediating the New Covenant? What's the difference between these two Moses gives the law?

Christ gives grace and truth now if you're not thinking about this

You might miss something and think that the truth that it's referring to is

Propositional correctness, I don't know how else to call it But that's what a lot of people think of when they think of truth just simple veracity

But what does that mean that Moses gave lies? That he didn't give truth. No one would say that about Moses Moses's law was it was true

So what does it mean that Christ? Gives grace in truth When it speaks of truth, it's not just talking about things that are outwardly correct and not false in The sense of being incorrect in the sense of being not

Voracious in John chapter 4 if you skip over to 4 if you've turned there in In verse 23

Jesus is speaking to the woman at the well And he says to her but the hour is coming and is now here where the true worshipers

Will worship the Father in spirit in truth For the Father is seeking such people to worship him

God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth So what does he mean that we must worship in spirit and in truth?

Once again, where the people before worshiping in lies No one would say that the commands that God had given the ceremonies of the given were lies

That's not the point between considering something false and considering something true The distinction between false and true here is something that is an illustration

Pointing to the greater reality think of the difference between false teeth and real teeth, right?

That's the difference between false and true here It is an imitation or an illustration pointing to the more important reality

It's not talking about lies versus truth. And so what was the temple?

Well, that's an illustration of the true temple What is all the outward?

glorious worship of the Of the incense. Well that points to the true worship of prayer

All the different kinds of worship are not false in that they are lies, but they are false in that they are illustrations of something that is greater and This is where true worship is found

But many people want some kind of outwardly glorious worship and they are willing to get that sacrificing inner glory

People want smells and bells a lot of people right now Crave something more traditional and they find these different categories of Christianity or that that's ostensibly

Christian and they find tradition But sometimes they're disappointed at the kind of tradition they find we're a very anchored church in terms of being rooted in their history and being aware of where it's coming from and The Reformation that's why the word reformed is in our church's name that if you don't know that refers to the

Protestant Reformation because we're very aware of the truths that were that were

Recovered and exalted at that time But many people when they're looking for tradition, they're looking for the outward trappings of tradition not just being historically anchored and so they see things like Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy that has the smells and bells that has the vestments that has the relics you know, there's a

If I remember correctly, there's one Almost every Eastern Orthodox Church has some kind of relics in it

There's one near here that has I think it's the knuckle of of st Basil or something like that in it, you know it's a lot of times is a relics are parts of dead bodies and These are things that really excite people

They want colors and calendars You may not be aware of it, but in Roman Catholicism pretty much every day

It's not just Easter and Christmas which once again, these are not things that God has made holy Right.

He has made every Sunday holy through the resurrection. Not just not one Sunday more holy he has

For in Roman Catholicism every day It's part of a season and most of the days have special significance to them and this is something that is just constant and each each season has a color associated with it so that the whole

Worship area would be draped in a different color depending on the time of the year to represent that season

Making holy things that God has not made. Holy Of course there are modern slants on this many people aren't interested in Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy or that kind of outward glory, but still they want flashing lights and a lot of sensational sounds

Very loud worship very visual worship and they are looking for those things

Even though they're not fun. They're not going after them in a way that feels historically traditional

These are all these are all distractions. Don't be distracted by such things

God is looking for worshippers who worship him in spirit and in truth

Truth is eschewing those outward things Now it is not just in worship but also in buildings

Right now there's a recognition that There has been a general

Disregard for beauty and physical things over the past century or two and there are there is a need for Restoring a lot of aesthetics restoring a lot of beauty

I understand what a lot of people are concerned about there But a lot of times the way that it expressed is expressed in Christianity is that that means we need more cathedrals

We need more big buildings showing the gloriousness of Christianity In Christianity, there's a place for excellence

I don't think that we should be trying to have the ugliest buildings that we can possibly have

At the same time while there's a place for excellence. There's no place for ostentation because the glory of Christ's temple is not found in the building

It is found in the people and so to dress up the building is to distract from the real glory that God has given

This really upsets people if you if you tell them this because some people are just really dead set on trying to Restore a glorious kind of Christianity or an outwardly glorious Christianity True Christianity is not outwardly glorious.

That is part of the whole point here That is what Jesus is getting at when he says every stone will be torn down It has an inward glory that is occasionally seen as the

Holy Spirit makes it known Abraham Booth a

Baptist and remember Baptists are different in this regard in that Baptists Understand the independence of the church.

Okay, imagine that you are especially in earlier times where there's Much more frequently a marriage between church and state.

It's a lot easier to get the funds in order to have cathedrals and glorious buildings Baptists Being independent never had that a lot of churches don't have that now

But did at one time and so you look at their old authors and they have no problem with that Which is outwardly glorious Baptists have always been

Have always understood that the glory is not found outwardly Abraham Booth an early

Baptist said that to have such Grand cathedrals and showy vestments and worship and all kinds of things

It's suitable for a prince to have a great palace But when it comes to God's temple that that is to paint a diamond with gold in order to improve its luster

Can you imagine that taking a diamond and saying how can I make this diamond more glorious? Well, I will paint it with gold

If you painted it with gold, it'd be far less glorious It would be dull and that is what people do when they when they make things more outwardly

Glorious is they distract from the inner glory. They distract from worshiping in spirit and in truth

Now this is also true for institutions. So going beyond worship to buildings to institutions and Just to cover all bases here not just religious things but also secular things people can be very distracted by outward glory

They can place their trust in princes and in horses as it describes in the

Psalms I'm thinking that because someone has a lot of wealth because someone has a lot of outward glory

That means that they have a lot of true strength But true strength comes only from the Lord. None of these things will last every kingdom on earth will be taken away

This is true for small kingdoms as well. This is true for households Every household will as a household will one day pass away and none of these things are eternal

These things are good to build up. It's good to build up kingdoms It's good to build up households But if you think that true strength comes through any of these things you're missing the the true kingdom

That Christ has brought this is true.

Likewise for parachurch institutions Many people are very impressed just as Jesus's disciples were with the temple with parachurch institutions they have the capacity to grow very large because they are not limited as local churches are to Particular areas you can grow a parachurch institution

Incredibly large and you can reach all kinds of people with that and it can move very fast because it's not weighed down by elders and deacons these things that God has given to particularly watch over the finances to particularly watch over the

Advancement of the truth and its protection that does not mean that I'm not I'm not

Claiming that every parachurch institution is problematic But many are many are trying to get around the structure that Christ has put in place because they find it

They find that they don't like the road bumps they find that they don't like the Restrictions that it places on them and they want to move much faster and then because they're raising money from more than just one local

People they are able to grow very very large and impressive Such things will all pass away

And this is true of Regional churches as well. Once again, if you understand the words of Scripture and you come to Baptist conclusions

Churches are independent wherever two or three are gathered there I am among them that is Jesus giving his authority to conduct worship and to administer the discipline of the church

Specifically in local congregations. This is not something where there are higher courts that can overturn anything

The only thing that exists above the local church is Christ himself. And so While we can rely on other churches to help us in making judgments.

They do not have authority that would Make any kind of real hierarchy

In the church, but a lot of people are impressed with the denominations that have that kind of hierarchy thinking that they are especially expansive and large and This is why once again a lot of people are impressed with Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy They have a claim to be this very large ancient entity

When really if you look at Scripture's definition of what a church is, etc. A lot of these things are fictions that are placed upon realities that the church describes

Do not be distracted by such outward glory and then lastly and perhaps this is will be the most surprising

Do not be distracted by the outward glory that even exists in the local church because no while God is truly among us that is his presence is with us in an incredible way that You would not have otherwise in Hebrews 12 it talks about the difference between the

Old Covenant and the New Covenant by describing the The Old Covenant worship in New Covenant worship that when we are gathered the angels are present with us

There's a unity that's here with all the Saints all around the world There is something truly glorious here, but do not be

Confused do not confuse that with the outward glory of the local church No local church is guaranteed to last forever

Some feel that that is that is something that needs to be the case it's not there's a there is a

Global church a universal church that Christ is building his his one body that he is building

That is the only thing that is guaranteed to continue growing and growing and gloriousness not the visible church

Not the outward church, but the invisible church his Saints that he is gathering together and making more mature

Also, do not be distracted by the outward glory of the individuals in the church

Especially the workers of the church This is something that Paul was especially concerned about in first and second

Corinthians in first and second Corinthians the Corinthians were Impressed especially in 2nd

Corinthians impressed by other teachers and super apostles in 1st Corinthians are impressed by true teachers in 2nd

Corinthians are impressed by false teachers Looking at the outward glory of them Paul explains in 1st

Corinthians 1 and 2 that the message that we have been given is a message of foolishness It's not it's not signs and wonders

Like Jews would look for it's not philosophical wisdom in rhetorical flourishes that Greeks would look for rather it's the power of the

Spirit and changing people and Ways that are not outwardly seen Not not frequently outwardly seen this is the this is the true glory in 2nd

Corinthians he continues on describing this and he especially addresses this in chapter 3

Although it is really the point of the whole book But I want to read to you 2nd Corinthians 3 verses 12 through 16

Since we have such hope we are very bold not like Moses Who would put a veil over his face that the

Israelites might not gaze on the outcome of what was being brought to an end? But their minds were hardened for to this day when they read of the

Old Covenant the same veil remains unlifted Because only through Christ it is taken away.

Yes To this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts

But when one turns to the Lord the veil is removed Okay, so he's describing

They're the fact that they are impressed with these super apostles with these other teachers

It's essentially like being impressed with the Old Covenant Okay, it's it's making the same connection

I'm making for you here today that Jesus telling them not to be impressed with the Old Covenant Likewise applies to the outward glory and anything that's not particularly attached to the

Old Covenant He's saying that if they were if you are impressed with with the outward appearance of teachers with the fact that they are very wealthy

With the fact that they have it all together and aren't getting shipwrecked and beaten like I am Then you are missing the point

Moses was outwardly glorious his face shown and It was so bright that he had to cut it off with a veil because people might die from it.

It was that glorious But Paul's glory is much greater because it's not it's not a glory coming from himself

It's a glory coming from God and it is the veil situation is reversed unlike him

Unlike Moses who had a veil over his face to keep people from dying everyone else has a veil over their face and Paul has his face unveiled in order that people can see the glory of God and be turned to know the truth

It's a reversed situation he is able to do this with boldness The idea is not that Moses was cowardly but that Moses had to cover his face

He's not able to courageously openly that is show his face rather. He has to hide it lest the people die a lot of people read this as as saying that That he was embarrassed that the glory was decreasing and that he's embarrassed of that.

That's that's not the point When it says that what was being cut off it's talking about it being cut off by the veil

The veil is the thing cutting it off not that it is that it is decreasing Jewish legend says that his face still shown

Gloriously even while he was being put in the grave now, of course Those are just legends But still

I'm trying to show you the Jewish understanding of those Old Testament passages is not that the glory was decreasing rather glory

Maintained that's not how you should understand this passage The glory is maintaining it but it's being cut off by the veil because he cannot openly show it since it will kill

But what makes the New Testament glory so wonderful is not that it is outwardly seen but the fact that it gives life

It does not kill people coming to God on the basis law being destroyed by it But rather people coming to God on the basis of the grace of Christ being made alive through it.

It is far more glorious This is the wonderful thing that he has done and so Paul can say in the next chapter in verse 7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us

Surpassing chlorine jars of clay the jar of clay not outwardly glorious The surpassing glory inside very glorious.

This is the nature of true religion This is the nature of the New Covenant not something that is outwardly glorious Do not be distracted by the

Old Covenant on these accounts do not be distracted by anything that would try to make the New Covenant glorious like this rather turn to the truth of Jesus Christ worship him in spirit and in truth knowing that the goodness is found and The transformation that he gives that is not seen by the outward eye and the forgiveness that he gives that is not seen by the outward

Eye, it is in something much greater than all these things in summary you must understand these truths understand the

Implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is his body was destroyed and raised up he raised up with him a whole body of believers with him in something that will ultimately

Be outwardly glorious, but for now on this earth does not experience this outer glory rather We appreciate an inward glory that those

Illustrations from the Old Testament point to it is worth considering how those different Old Testament illustrations point to these things there are

Good commentaries you can read on this I would recommend John Gill he tends to refer to these things a lot and explains them as you read through the

Old Testament and You see the the different ceremonies and you wonder what does this illustrate about Christ?

Because it all is illustrating Christ according to Hebrews 9 what is this what is this illustrating and you can

If it's not evident to you from the pages of Scripture There are certain helps that you can get and I would recommend

John Gill not one in particular but Understanding these differences then do not be distracted by our glory

Do not go to different Jewish ceremonies thinking that there's some religious value in them.

Do not blow shafaars Thinking that there's going to be some

Some kind of blessing on you for doing so No such thing Do not seek to dress up religion and things that are outwardly glorious Because God has given us

Minimal outward things he's given us baptism. He's given us the Lord's Supper. It's given us singing

He's giving us the preaching of the word. It's given us prayer But he has intentionally made it devoid of things that are outwardly glorious so that they would not distract from truth from spirit and truth and so then be impressed with those things

It's not just that you should not be distracted by what is outwardly glorious rather. You should be able to look past That those things look past that which is also outwardly not glorious the jars of clay and to see the n -word glory to see the grace of Christ at work to see this gathering where Christ is with us.

The father is with us angels are with us as Something that is truly glorious beyond any kind of dressed up Facility beyond a temple that would have golden stones

Beyond even something as glorious as this temple that Herod had expanded so large and so massive

So wonderful to the human eye The temple that God is building is much more glorious and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth

Appreciating the grace of Christ that isn't being accomplished through the resurrection of Christ. Amen dear

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it has accomplished and granting us a wonderful forgiveness a wonderful grace a

Righteousness that surpasses the outward trappings of righteousness We pray that you would help us to know these things and that we would be worshipers who worship you in spirit and in truth