Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 21 : 8-19 "GREATER DEPTH OF THOUGHT NEEDED"
Day 257 – Luke 21
Text: Luke 21 : 8-19
GREATER DEPTH OF THOUGHT NEEDED
The Disciples were deeply concerned when Jesus told them that the Temple they admired so much would be destroyed! They were naturally concerned. They were Disciples, but they were also Jews who had been brought up to revere the Temple. They wanted to know when the Temple would be destroyed!
Jesus did not give a straightforward answer to their questions. First, he had to warn them about having a simplistic approach towards understanding His prophetic announcement. Jesus took some time to teach His Disciples many other important truths BEFORE He even attempted to answer their questions!
The next thing that Jesus needed to do was to teach His Disciples that they must be aware of a greater scheme of things! Prophecy is seldom if ever, given in isolation. The prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be understood in the greater scheme of things!
The Disciples had to try and understand that God had an overall plan. The destruction of Jerusalem was only part of that Great Scheme of Things! A correct understanding of prophecy is possible only if there is a deep comprehension of the greater scheme of things! A deeper level of thought was obviously needed!
REASONS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE
What would be the significance of the destruction of the Temple? The Disciples had failed to raise this question. It should have been raised! It is important for us to understand why Jerusalem was going to be destroyed!
Several reasons may be suggested. It is perhaps easier to comprehend things when we arrange our thoughts in categories. There would of course be some overlap:-
1. Religious Reasons
a) Imagine the significance of Jesus cleansing the Temple! The whole Temple system was so corrupted that this symbolic cleansing act had to be performed! The symbolic acts of course did not destroy the corrupt system in any way. The merchants were chased out, but they would come back all too soon!
b) The religious leaders were literally blind leaders of the blind! They could not understand the deep spiritual truths that Jesus taught! Their understanding of the Scriptures was abysmally appalling!
c) These religious leaders had dared to not only confront and resist the teachings of Jesus, they plotted to put Him, their Messiah to death!
2. Political Reasons
a) The Jews were notorious for their acts of rebellion against the Romans.
b) They tried the patience of the Roman rulers again and again. Palestine was arguably one of the hardest regions to govern.
c) It was logical that such resistance would be put down forcibly one day! The Romans felt that the best way to quell the rebellion of the Jews was to destroy the Temple.
3. The Symbol of the Temple
When Solomon dedicated the Temple he built to the Lord, he pleased Him greatly. God appeared to Solomon and gave him a deeply moving promise.
“I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place
for Myself as a House of sacrifice…
Now my eyes will be open and My ears attentive
To prayer made in this place,
For now I have chosen and sanctified this House,
That My Name may be there forever,
And My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”
2 Chronicles 7:12,15-16
There was another word that God spoke to Solomon. It is important that we read the other portion of the message given to him.
“But if you turn away and forsake My statutes
and My commandments which I have set before you…
Then I will uproot them from My land,
Which I have given them;
And this House which I have sanctified
For My Name,
I will cast out of My sight,
And will make it a proverb and a byword
Among all peoples.”
2 Chronicles 7:19-20
What would people say when they see the destruction of the Temple. This too was anticipated…
“And as for this house, which is exalted,
everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say,
‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land
And this House?’
Then they will answer,
‘Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers…
Therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.”
2 Chronicles 7:21-22
The destruction of the Temple would be worth it all, if the nation could understand God’s powerful message to His people! “The Kingdom of God is at hand…”