Lesson 21: WE Are God’s Temple

Getting Started: in earlier lessons we noted the importance of God having a sanctuary where He could dwell with His people (Exodus 25.8). While in the wilderness Israel built a tabernacle and the glory of the Lord filled it (Exodus 40.34); God placed His Spirit among Israel (Isaiah 63.11). Solomon then built a permanent house for the Lord, a temple, and once again the Lord filled the sanctuary with His glory (1Kings 8.10-11). However, we also noted that because of Israel’s faithlessness and their constant breaking of the covenant, the Lord’s Spirit left the sanctuary (Ezekiel 10.18-19; 11.22-23). A second temple was constructed during the days of Zerubbabel, but it was neither as grand as Solomon’s (Ezra 3.12) nor was it filled with the Lord’s glory (Ezra 6.15). However, the Lord also revealed to Ezekiel that He was preparing a new, more glorious Temple and His glory would fill it (Ezekiel 43.1-5).

We are that new, glorious Temple! “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18–22, ESV)

WE, not me.

Often we think of salvation as a very personal matter, and in one sense it is. Each person needs to come to faith in Jesus (John 3.16) and respond to His gospel (Mark 16.16) because he/she will be judged based on his/her own deeds (2Cor. 5.10). However, God’s plan wasn’t to save me or you, His purpose was to save “a people for his name” (Acts 15.14). And so while it is Scriptural to speak of oneself as God’s temple (1Cor. 6.19), the full importance of the temple imagery isn’t that I’m God’s temple alone, but that ALL who are in Christ comprise one “holy temple in the Lord… a dwelling in the Lord” (Ephesians 2.21-22). And that fact fulfills one of the chief purposes of the Jerusalem temple.

A house for the nations.

Moses correctly understood that it was God’s presence that made Israel distinct from the other nations (see Exodus 33.16). Solomon also understood that fact and constructed the temple as a “house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel” (1Kings 8.20). While Solomon knew that God could not be contained in the structure of the temple (1Kings 8.27), he also prayed that the Lord’s “eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.” (1Kings 8.29).

Solomon proceeded to enumerate different situations when Israel might turn in prayer to the Temple and seek the Lord’s favor: occasions of sin, national defeat, even famine. But Solomon also knew that Jehovah wasn’t a mere national god, but truly the God of all creation. Thus, Solomon also prayed that the temple would serve as a focal point for the nations: “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.” (1 Kings 8:41–43, ESV)

Tragically, Israel had corrupted this function of the Lord’s Temple. All four gospel accounts record Jesus clearing the temple of those who sold oxen and sheep as well as the changers of money (John’s account records Jesus cleansing the temple early in His ministry, while the synoptics record Him clearing the temple at the end of His ministry). Significantly, the synoptic accounts record Jesus’ words as He performed this radical act: “And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”” (Mark 11:17, ESV)

Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 56, a passage describing how foreigners who joined themselves to the Lord (vs. 3) would receive His name (vs. 5) and be given joy in His house (vs. 7). Truly, the Lord’s house would be “a house of prayer for all peoples.” So, why would Jesus quote this passage when clearing the temple of animal sellers and money changers? Because extra-Biblical sources tell us that it was within the “court of the Gentiles” where all of these merchants had set up their stalls and shops. One can only imagine the noise and stench of the animals as well as the bustling of commerce, all while Gentiles were trying to pray to Jehovah. The temple was not serving it’s proper function!

Jesus’ body, the temple.

As we mentioned before, John records Jesus’ clearing the temple early on in His ministry (John 2.13-17). Significantly, the Jews demanded proof from Jesus that He had the authority for His actions. Jesus’ reply is well known, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2.19). While the Jews thought Jesus was speaking of the temple complex still under construction, “he was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2.21). Jesus’ physical body was in fact a temple, because it was the means by which God did in fact dwell among men (Matthew 1.21; John 1.14). And Jesus’ body, the temple, was meant for the nations: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”” (John 12:32, ESV)

Turning our attention back to Ephesians we see that Paul describes God’s people as both the body of Christ (Ephesians 1.23) and the temple of the Lord (Ephesians 2.21-22). Paul wasn’t necessarily using two different illustrations, because to be the body of Christ also makes us the true temple of God! And the fact that we are His body and His temple carries some serious implications:

1. God is truly with us. There is no separating the head from the body, there is no separating the Lord from His temple. We are where the Lord now resides among men (perhaps this is the intention behind Jesus’ words in Matthew 18.20).
2. The temple is for the nations. This was the force of Paul’s words in Ephesians 2. At one time the Gentiles were “separated from Christ” (vs. 12) but now they not only have access to the Father (vs. 18) but are part of His temple (vss. 21-22). And if we are part of God’s temple, we must insure that the nations know that they too can be part of His house because it was always God’s purpose to draw all peoples to Himself (Ephesians 3.1-13).
3. Each of us are helping to build the temple. That is the force of Paul’s words in Ephesians 4.10-16. Note even how Paul speaks of us “building up the body of Christ” (vs. 12), combining the imagery of body and temple. Remember, God’s purpose was not to save you or me, it was to save a people. Thus, each of us is to be engaged in ministry so that each member reaches the “fullness of Christ” (vs. 13). In that way, each of us is helping to build the temple of God!