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Some
Jews say that to qualify, the Messiah must build the temple. Do the
scriptures say
that the anointed one must build the temple? Or when he comes,
if there is a temple, why or how could he rebuild it? When Yëshuå
Natzraya, came in the first century, there was
already a
temple. Or what if this prophecy was never meant to be fulfilled with
literal stones? Consider Yëshuå's
prophetic words.
"Yëshuå
said to her, Woman, believe me that the time is coming when neither on
this mountain [Gerizim] nor in Æurishalem will they worship
the
Father. But the time comes and is even now, when the true worshipper
will worship the Father in Spirit and with truth, for the Father also
seeks worshippers who are like these. For the Almighty is Spirit and
those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." - Yuħanan (John)
4:21,23-24
Ruaħ
(spirit) also has the figurative meaning of loving-kindness.
"And
that servant fell down low before him and said, My master, extend upon
me spirit [loving-kindness], and everything I will repay to
you."
- Matay 18:26
Interestingly this is exactly what Orthodox Jews came to believe after
the destruction of the temple.
Contrary to popular belief, Natzraya (Nazarenes) also taught that
atonement is effected through loving kindness.
"And
above all things have abundant loving-kindness for one another, for
loving-kindness does atone for a mass of
sins." - 1 Kiæpa (Peter) 4:8
"For
we do not express joy in the things that are visible, but rather in the
things that are invisible, for the things that are visible are
temporal, but the things that are invisible are eternal." - 2 Qorinthaya
(Corinthians) 4:18
It goes to reason that if יהוה desired loving
kindness more than
sacrifice, then He also desires a spiritual temple over a physical one.
Consider that this temple that the saving Mashiach was to build had
gates not made of iron or brass, but of righteousness!
"Open to me the gates of
righteousness, I will enter into them, I will raise my hands
to יהוה. This is the gate
of יהוה. The righteous shall
enter into it." - Tehilim
(Psalms) 118:19-20
This same passage tells us about the one who comes in the Name
of יהוה. This is the
Mashiach, the much anticipated anointed one, the one that יהוה sends to save
us.
"We beg of You O' יהוה, redeem us now! We beg of
You O' יהוה, save us now! Blessed be
him that comes in the Name of יהוה. We bless you
from the House of יהוה." - Tehilim (Psalms) 118:25-26
Messiah came to build a spiritual temple for יהוה to dwell in, and we are that
temple. This is the only kind of temple that truly matters, just as
loving-kindness is far superior to sacrifices. Yëshuå
is the cornerstone of that temple. His shliachim (emissaries) form the
foundation
and we stand upon their shoulders being built up into a wonderful
dwelling for the Spirit. This truly is a spiritual faith, not
established in the carnal world.
"Yëshuå said to them,
Have you not ever read in the scriptures how, THE SAME
ROCK THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED, HAS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER.
THIS ROCK IS FROM THE PRESENCE OF יהוה
AND IS
A PRODIGY IN YOUR EYES." - Matay 21:42
"And
you are built on the foundation of the emissaries and of the prophets
and Yëshuå the anointed is the head
of the corner of the building. And
in him the whole building is fit together and is growing into
a temple dedicated for יהוה, just as you also are
being constructed into a home for the Almighty, in spirit." - Æpësäya (Ephesians) 2:20-22
"Do
you not know that you are the temple of the Almighty and that the
Spirit of the Almighty lives within you? And that he who assualts the
temple of the Almighty, the Almighty will assault, for the temple of
the Almighty is precious because you are precious." - 1 Qorinthaya
(Corinthians) 3:16-17
Rabbi Yëshuå also taught that there were
two houses, really two temples. One
built upon sand, and the other upon the rock of salvation, the solid
and safe rock. The word used is actually shuå, the root of the name
of Yëshuå
A temple not built upon Yëshuå the anointed one will not
withstand the
storms, but the one that is built upon him will stand through it all.
"Therefore,
everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts according to them,
will
be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the safe [shuå]
rock. And
the rain fell, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and they beat
against the house and it did not collapse, because it's foundation was
set upon the safe rock. And
everyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act according to
them, will be compared to an ignorant man, who built his house upon the
sand. And
the rain fell, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and they beat
against the house, and it collapsed, and it's collapse was great." - Matay 7:24-27
This
is why Natzraya do not sponsor the building of a new
physical temple which was only temporal. Rather we support the
continual building of a far greater and more significant spiritual
temple, built upon the cornerstone that the builders have rejected. We
give
our offerings to the spiritual temple, our sacrifices are praise, and
the gates that surround it are gates of righteousness. Those with
carnal eyes are blind to the spiritual will of יהוה, and do not see how the
Mashiach is fulfilling the prophecy.
"But I say to
you, that there is one greater than the temple here. But
if only you had understood what this means, I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT
SACRIFICE, you would not have condemned
those who are without fault." - Matay
12:6-7
