BUILDING THE TEMPLE OF GOD

Texts: Zechariah 6:9-15; Matthew 26:57-68

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 6

A. Zechariah lived about 500 years before Jesus was born (his prophecies date between 520 and 518 BC). He was a contemporary with the prophet Haggai.

B. In Zechariah’s day the high priest’s name was Joshua. The governor’s name was Zerubbabel. It was under the authority and direction of these two men that the Temple was rebuilt. The rebuilding of the temple had many setbacks and disappointments.

1. Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David (see Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27). Yet he was not a king because the Persians would not allow for it.

2. In comparison with Solomon’s temple, Zerubbabel’s temple was pathetic (Haggai 2:1-3). In fact, when the foundation of Zerubbabel’s temple was laid, people wept for grief (Ezra 3:1-13).

C. The encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah was this: don’t despise the day of small things (Zech.4:10). Even though the temple they were building was not like Solomon’s, nevertheless they were laying the foundation for the coming of the Messianic King.

I. THIS MAN STATED, “I AM ABLE TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND TO [RE]BUILD IT IN THREE DAYS (Matthew 26:61//Mark 14:58 with Matthew 27:40//Mark 15:29; cf. John 2:19; Acts 6:14)

A. The testimony of the witnesses against Jesus (Matt.26:61), the high priest’s question and adjuration (vv.62-63) and Jesus’ answer (v.64) are all connected.

B. The high priest understood that when Jesus claimed to be the builder of the temple, He was making a Messianic claim (Zechariah 6:9-15; cf. Matthew 16:18).

II. ZECHARIAH 6:9-15 AND THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

A. A man named “Branch” would build the temple of Yahweh (Zechariah 6:12).

B. Branch refers to the Son of David (Isaiah 4:2; 11:1; Jer.23:5-6; 33:15; Zech.3:8).

C. The high priest would have immediately made the connection between building of the Temple and Messiah because Zechariah placed the crown of silver and gold on the head of the current high priest’s great, great great great great grandfather.

D. Jesus’ answer to the high priest means:

ü He is the heir to the crown that was placed in the Temple.

ü He is the Branch, the Messianic King .

ü He is the true High Priest.

ü He is the builder of the temple.

E. The purpose of the Temple was to house the glory of God. Jesus claimed that His flesh (not the Temple) was the dwelling place and manifestation of God’s glory (cf. John 1:14; 14:6-7; Col.1:18,19; 2:9).

F. Jesus is the point for the Temple’s existence. He is the fulfillment of the priesthood, sacrifices, ceremonies and sanctuary (Hebrews 10:19-20).

ü High Priest à Jesus Christ (Heb.7:22-28)

ü Sacrificial system à Jesus Christ the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Heb.9-10)

ü 7^th Day Sabbath à 1^st Day Sabbath (Ex.20:8-11 with Dt.5:12-15; cf. Ex.12:2; John 20:1; Acts 20:7-11; 1 Cor.16:2; Rev.1:10)

ü Incense à Prayers of the saints and the intercessory work of Jesus (Rom.8:34; Heb.7:25)

ü Altar à Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:10)

ü Menorah à Christ, the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)

ü Instruments à finished work of Christ and joy of the Holy Spirit (2 Chron.29:24-30; Ephesians 5:19; Col.3:16; Hebrews 13:15; Rev.14:2)

ü Showbread à Christ (John 6:48; 1 Cor.10:16-17)

ü Veil à flesh of Jesus Christ (Mt.27:51; Hebrews 10:19,20)

ü Passover à Lord’s Supper (1 Cor.11:23-26)

ü Circumcision àBaptism (Colossians 2:11,12)

G. “Those who are far off will come and build the temple of Yahweh” (Zech.6:15). This is a reference to the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:13-22; cf. Isaiah 60:4-7).

1. The temple is not a brick or stone building inhabited by God, but a people inhabited by God (1 Cor.3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:4-5).

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

2. There is no created thing on earth that is more sacred than the body of a Christian (Rom 8:9; 1 Cor.3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor.6:16; Eph.2:21f.).

Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Pray that God would enable you and give you the desire to be conformed to His Word as read and preached today.

Who was Zerubbabel?

Who was Joshua the son of Jehozadak?

What is the connection between the testimony made concerning Jesus and the building of the temple and the high priest’s oath?

What was the relationship between Caiphas and Joshua the son of Jehozadak?

Who was the temple a “house” for? What is Jesus saying about Himself when He calls Himself a “temple” (cf. Matthew 12:6)?

Why are Christians called “temples of God”? How should this influence the way we live?