One greater than the temple

Matthew 12:1-8

   This passage perplexed me for many years.  Why did King David get to eat the consecrated bread?  And how can priests get away with “desecrating” the Sabbath?  I finally realized this complex teaching by Jesus in response to an accusation by some Pharisees is a revelation of two foundational lessons.  First, Jesus reveals His identity.  Second, Jesus reveals His mission.

Regarding His identity:

   When Jesus states: “I tell you that one greater than the temple is here,” He is making the epic implication that He is the Christ.  The temple in Jerusalem is where Hebrew people went to worship God.  The Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies represented the presence of the Lord God Almighty.  There is only one who could be greater than the temple, and that is God Himself.  Jesus was Immanuel, which means “God with us,” as stated in Matthew 1:23.

   Christ is the Greek word, and Messiah is the Hebrew word, for “Anointed One.”  Yet what does anointed one mean?  There were three groups of people anointed with olive oil by the Hebrews: priests, kings, and prophets.

Yes priests were anointed, for example see Exodus 30:22-33.

Yes kings were anointed, for example see I Samuel 16:13 or 2 Kings 9:1-6.

Yes even prophets could be anointed, though that may not have been standard, since there is one single recording of such in I Kings 19:16.  (There might be more, but I have only found one.)

   This anointing was done at their installment to symbolize the start of their office.  All three positions involved special duties, special responsibilities, and special privileges, with each of the three positions being unique.

   The wild thing about the Messiah: He was to encompass all three.

Jesus is the Eternal High Priest!  Hebrews is the book which clearly explains this fact.  Hebrews 8:1-2 reveals Jesus is the high priest who made the eternal sacrifice on the cross and who serves even now in heaven.

Jesus is the King of kings, which is revealed in Revelation 19:16.

Jesus is The Prophet, as Peter affirmed in Acts 3:22.

   When Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” He said the term “Son of Man” in the third person, yet such was a style used in the “ancient near east.”  Thus Jesus is talking about Himself.  And the Son of Man was a term Jesus often used in reference to the Christ.  Being the Christ, He knew what He could do on the Sabbath.

   I note the special duties for priests were the reason priests could “desecrate” the Sabbath.  While other Hebrew people were able to worship and rest on that day, priests had to work.  That was a big day for offering sacrifices on behalf of the people!  And the subject of sacrifice leads to Christ’s mission.

Regarding Christ’s mission:

   Reciting a statement recorded by the prophet Hosea, Jesus makes a radical statement that God desires mercy and not sacrifice.  Yet on behalf of the people, and for themselves, priests made sacrifices in the temple area, and those sacrifices brought mercy.  It was a key part of their job, as demanded by the Mosaic Law.

   But their sacrifices were imperfect and thus temporary.  The mission of the Messiah was to make the eternal sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins of all people, which made mercy available for all people.  People do not need to make a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, because Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.  Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law.  And Hebrew priests no longer need to sacrifice animals at the temple.  Jesus was the perfect atoning sacrifice.  His work is finished.

   Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone, including you.  All of us people have sinned, and our due punishment is spiritual death.  Yet Jesus was the substitute, dying physically and spiritually in our place.  Then He was resurrected.  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be forgiven, and you will never spiritually die.  You will have eternal life in Jesus!

Hunter Irvine

Lord of heaven and earth

Matthew 11: 25          At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth….”

   Prayers by Jesus humble me, because they expose the reality of the Trinity.  Jesus was physically on earth as a human being, yet all along there was also a spiritual oneness with the Father.  The prayer by Jesus recorded in the 17th chapter of the book of John, in verses 11 and 22, reveal that He and the Father are “one.”

   Matthew 11:28-30 was pondered the past few weeks, and that passage records Jesus speaking to people.  Preceding that passage, Jesus prays to the Father, which starts with praise and an acknowledgement that the Father is “Lord of heaven and earth.”

   Right here today a catastrophe is taking place as war rages since the Russian Federation has been attacking the nation of Ukraine.  Upset one night this week in the wake of learning more details of the disaster, I was praying at the window in my room.  After saying much, I thought of this statement by Jesus that the Father is Lord of heaven and earth.  I also know from further revelations that Jesus as well as the Holy Spirit are likewise Lord of heaven and earth.

   This does not mean God is responsible for the war.  God being sovereign does not mean He is a control freak.  Adam and Eve were given free will, and all of us people are given free will.  God is not a manipulator.  God is all powerful, even to the extent that one day He will create a new heaven and a new earth, as is revealed in Revelation 21:1-2.  I am comforted knowing God is all powerful and that God is good.

   And one day God will judge all people as is illustrated in the preceding passage of Revelation 20:11-15.  Those who have sinned, and who have not received the salvation offered by Jesus, will perish in hell, as further verses in Revelation illustrate.  Yet all people whose name is in “the book of life,” people who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord, will have eternal life.  Jesus saves!

+  Holy Father, I thank You for loving people!  The war taking place now is causing vast suffering and death.  I pray that all who are in a position to help those suffering and dying would rely on You to be able to help.

May leaders who follow You Lord Jesus rely on You to make decisions to attempt to thwart further offences.

For those who are not in a relationship with You, may they have an opportunity to hear the Gospel in the midst of this catastrophe.

I thank You that we can know right now that You Holy God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are Lord of heaven and earth.  May I trust You today that one day You will make all things new.

It is through the loving name of You Lord Jesus I pray,

Amen.

Hunter

Rest for the weary

Matthew 11:30   “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

   I am struggling today.  I have been unemployed a long time, and some emotional suffering has resulted.  There have been several times in the past few weeks where I have cried after coming up empty in my job search.  Fortunately I turned to God in prayer after those times and gained hope.

   Thus I struggled to begin this piece this morning.  Struggling to write is rare for me.  And being a bit worn out, I then spilled grapefruit juice all over my desk.  I even got some on my Bible.  Thus there was a big cleanup job involving paper towels and a blow dryer.  Here after lunch, I carry on with writing, because this very day, I need reassurance myself regarding this statement that the burden of Jesus Christ is light.

   I know the world does not give rest.  During one point in the pandemic I was reading too much news on the Internet, and I wore myself out.  Reading about the political situation in the U.S. the last few years has been draining.  And now there is a tragic war going on with Russia attacking Ukraine, and that has made me sad.  And all those events are less stressful than personal challenges which continue year after year. And honestly, often church stuff does not give me rest.

   YET I have experienced God giving me rest.  I now think of one such time.  In 2018, I took two Christian Formation classes at Denver Seminary.  One assignment required a six hour solitude retreat.  Frankly, the assignment seemed a bit burdensome there in the midst of a semester where I was overloaded with academic work.  Yet I made a prudent decision to arrange with a pastor to reserve a church all to myself for one Tuesday in November.

   The result: After six hours in that church, I was refreshed.  Granted when the six hours were over, I was happy to go home.  And granted, at my age I desire a balanced approach to doing my Scripture pondering, my praying, and my singing by doing such every day, yet in a comfortable period of time.  Yet when I got home, I was invigorated.

   The reason: Though I did things during that “solitude retreat” such as ponder Scripture, pray, and journal, I felt God’s only requirement for me was to rest.  As I began that six hour period in that empty church, I had this great realization that God was not asking me to do anything.

Has there been an occasion when you were worn out from something, and spending some time with God brought rest?

After such a challenging time the past two months, I emphasize that I am grateful for people who read my blog, and whoever you may be, I say, “THANK YOU.”  I prayed for a special blessing for you!

Your brother-in-Christ,

Hunter