A reed like a measuring rod was given to me, and I was told, "Rise up and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship in it. But the outer court of the temple set aside and do not measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. Rev. 11:1, 2.
A Gentile walking into the Temple at Jerusalem would have been awed by the huge size of the outer courtyard and the magnificent grandeur of its structure. He or she was free to circulate around the outermost courtyard (the word translated "nation" above is also the word for Gentiles). But close to the Temple building itself a stone fence announced, "Any Gentile passing beyond this point will be responsible for his own death, which will surely follow." It didn't take long to figure out that Gentiles' access to the God of this Temple was extremely limited.
Inside the Gentile barricade was the Court of the Women. All Jews were welcome here, but that was as far as Jewish women got. Only Jewish men could enter the innermost court in front of the Temple building itself. Even Jewish men, however, had limitations. Only priests could enter the Temple building itself, and even they could not go into the innermost room of the Temple, the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could visit it, and then only once a year.
These levels of access taught important lessons about the holiness of God and the barriers that sin creates between Him and the human race. Relationship with God is not a "buddy-buddy" sort of thing for human beings. We must approach Him with a humility appropriate to sinners. Our relationship with God has no room for arrogance.
Amazingly enough, even these lessons in humility often get distorted into arrogance. People interpreted their right to closer entrance as a license to think of themselves as superior to others. To make matters even worse, in Jesus' day the Temple staff had turned the one part of the Temple complex that Gentiles could enter into a cruel and greedy marketplace. And Jesus reacted to the situation with fury, casting the sellers and money exchangers out of the Court of the Gentiles.
Nothing makes Jesus angrier than well-meaning religious people setting up unnecessary barriers to others who want to come to Him. Have you and I ever done this? Would you refuse to worship in a church building if the doors were red? Would you have a hard rime worshipping with someone who was dressed shabbily or had on too much makeup? Is protecting the church carpet more important than welcoming children?
Lord, I repent of the many times I have tried to impose my personal preferences on others. Help me not to place unnecessary barriers in the way of those who need to find You.
A Gentile walking into the Temple at Jerusalem would have been awed by the huge size of the outer courtyard and the magnificent grandeur of its structure. He or she was free to circulate around the outermost courtyard (the word translated "nation" above is also the word for Gentiles). But close to the Temple building itself a stone fence announced, "Any Gentile passing beyond this point will be responsible for his own death, which will surely follow." It didn't take long to figure out that Gentiles' access to the God of this Temple was extremely limited.
Inside the Gentile barricade was the Court of the Women. All Jews were welcome here, but that was as far as Jewish women got. Only Jewish men could enter the innermost court in front of the Temple building itself. Even Jewish men, however, had limitations. Only priests could enter the Temple building itself, and even they could not go into the innermost room of the Temple, the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could visit it, and then only once a year.
These levels of access taught important lessons about the holiness of God and the barriers that sin creates between Him and the human race. Relationship with God is not a "buddy-buddy" sort of thing for human beings. We must approach Him with a humility appropriate to sinners. Our relationship with God has no room for arrogance.
Amazingly enough, even these lessons in humility often get distorted into arrogance. People interpreted their right to closer entrance as a license to think of themselves as superior to others. To make matters even worse, in Jesus' day the Temple staff had turned the one part of the Temple complex that Gentiles could enter into a cruel and greedy marketplace. And Jesus reacted to the situation with fury, casting the sellers and money exchangers out of the Court of the Gentiles.
Nothing makes Jesus angrier than well-meaning religious people setting up unnecessary barriers to others who want to come to Him. Have you and I ever done this? Would you refuse to worship in a church building if the doors were red? Would you have a hard rime worshipping with someone who was dressed shabbily or had on too much makeup? Is protecting the church carpet more important than welcoming children?
Lord, I repent of the many times I have tried to impose my personal preferences on others. Help me not to place unnecessary barriers in the way of those who need to find You.
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