Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 21 : 5-7 "THE IMPRESSIVE TEMPLE BUILT BY HEROD"
Day 254 – Luke 21
Text: Luke 21 : 5-7
THE IMPRESSIVE TEMPLE BUILT BY HEROD
The Temple built by Herod was indeed beautiful. Luke himself noted what was said about the Temple…
“How it was adorned with beautiful stones…”
Luke 21:5
All who came to the Temple were impressed by its architecture. Indeed, it was a beautiful edifice. There is nothing wrong with having a beautiful Temple. However, the external beauty must reflect internal purity.
There was only external beauty. The religion practised by those who ran the Temple was hypocritical and wicked as well! The physical beauty of the Temple did not impress Jesus. He made a startling announcement to His Disciples.
“These things which you see-
the days will come in which
not one stone shall be left upon another
that shall not be thrown down.”
Luke 21:6
AN AWESOME PROPHECY
Jesus was not just a great Teacher. He was also more than just a Healer. He was also a true Prophet. All these things that Jesus did should have proven to His detractors that He was indeed the Messiah!
The prophetic ministry of Jesus is best understood when we have a better understanding of what the Scriptures teach about Prophecy. We are reminded of what Moses said to Israel.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you
A Prophet like me from your midst,
From your brethren.
Him you shall hear…”
Deuteronomy 18:15
The Lord confirmed what Moses said. We read further these words concerning that Prophet God would send.
“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you
from among their brethren,
and will put My words in His mouth,
and He shall speak to them all
that I command Him.
And it shall be that whoever will not hear
My words, which He speaks in My Name,
I will require it of him.”
Deuteronomy 18:18-19
The Lord Jesus was THAT PROPHET God sent. The Old Testament prophets only prefigured His Messianic-prophetic ministry! God had indeed given Him the words to say as He taught the multitudes, as He instructed His Disciples, and as He debated with the religious leaders who resisted His teachings!
The people had failed to appreciate Jesus. He knew and accepted this sad fact and thus said,
“Assuredly I say to you,
no prophet is accepted
in his own country.”
Luke 4:24
Did they realize the consequences of rejecting the teachings of this Prophet sent by God? They would be held responsible for rejecting His teachings. They would be found guilty of rejecting the Word that God Himself had sent!
Jesus now made an awesome prophecy! He predicted that the Third Temple would actually be destroyed! “Not one stone would be left upon another that shall not be thrown down…” Those were solemn and frightening words indeed!
“TEACHER, BUT WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE?”
The Disciples of the Lord Jesus did not doubt the veracity of the prophecy that their Prophet-Teacher had just uttered. They had been with Him for the last three years. They had acknowledged Him as the Messiah and as their Saviour. He would not speak of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem unless the prophecy was true!
Others who were not Disciples would scoff at His words! It was almost unimaginable to think that the Temple could be destroyed!
One way of understanding prophecy is to think of it as “history foretold”. Prophecy is NOT just a mysterious statement that could be interpreted by different people in many different ways!
True prophecy has an historical linkage! If it is true prophecy at all, history must verify the truth of that prophetic word uttered! Thus the Disciples were not wrong when they asked “WHEN” the destruction of the Temple would actually take place!
“WHAT SIGN WILL THERE BE WHEN THESE THINGS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE? Luke 21:7
The Disciples did believe the prophetic words uttered by their Master. They were of course deeply concerned. If the Temple were to be destroyed, would God be giving any “sign” to indicate when that destruction would take place?
These questions by the Disciples were quite “normal”. However, there was more to prophecy than just asking “when” and “what sign” the prediction would take place.
In the last week of the life of Jesus, He set aside time to teach His Disciples deep and important lessons on the subject of prophecy!