Mark 13:1-2 "And as he went out of the
temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones
and what buildings are here! (2) And Jesus answering said unto him,
Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon
another, that shall not be thrown down."
Jesus had just spoken a great lesson to the disciples concerning the placement of the heart above the placement of things. He is not saying for us to leave one undone without the other. But if our hearts are placed in the position of loving God, the other things will be done, including our monetary possessions. And now they are leaving the temple. One of His disciples begins to talk about the splendor of the buildings and the stones of the temple. No doubt, the temple was a beautiful sight to behold. No doubt, the Pharisees in all their glorious garments were a sight to behold. No doubt the city of Jerusalem was a beautiful city to behold. But the Lord was not, nor is He now, looking for the outward. We hear the Lord saying to Samuel when he was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king; "the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Jesus was not impressed by the buildings, nor the outward beauty of the temple. That which is beautiful unto the Lord is that which comes from the heart. Though we are to dress properly when approaching the Lord in worship, He has dressed us in the robe of righteousness. He has washed our sins by the shed blood of our Lord Jesus. We should seek to express our love and praise unto the Lord through the avenue of redemption by that blood.
Jesus gave the first prophecy in Mark that we have seen concerning the city of Jerusalem. He foretells them of the coming destruction of the city of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 AD. The city was completely destroyed by the Roman army. The historian, Josephus, tells us that after the battle was over, you could not even tell that a city had been in that place. "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." That which is accepted of the Lord is that which comes from the heart that is touched by His grace and filled with gratitude for the work of Christ Jesus. May I always be conscious of the manner in which I speak the name of Jesus and approach His throne of grace.
Jesus had just spoken a great lesson to the disciples concerning the placement of the heart above the placement of things. He is not saying for us to leave one undone without the other. But if our hearts are placed in the position of loving God, the other things will be done, including our monetary possessions. And now they are leaving the temple. One of His disciples begins to talk about the splendor of the buildings and the stones of the temple. No doubt, the temple was a beautiful sight to behold. No doubt, the Pharisees in all their glorious garments were a sight to behold. No doubt the city of Jerusalem was a beautiful city to behold. But the Lord was not, nor is He now, looking for the outward. We hear the Lord saying to Samuel when he was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king; "the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Jesus was not impressed by the buildings, nor the outward beauty of the temple. That which is beautiful unto the Lord is that which comes from the heart. Though we are to dress properly when approaching the Lord in worship, He has dressed us in the robe of righteousness. He has washed our sins by the shed blood of our Lord Jesus. We should seek to express our love and praise unto the Lord through the avenue of redemption by that blood.
Jesus gave the first prophecy in Mark that we have seen concerning the city of Jerusalem. He foretells them of the coming destruction of the city of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 AD. The city was completely destroyed by the Roman army. The historian, Josephus, tells us that after the battle was over, you could not even tell that a city had been in that place. "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." That which is accepted of the Lord is that which comes from the heart that is touched by His grace and filled with gratitude for the work of Christ Jesus. May I always be conscious of the manner in which I speak the name of Jesus and approach His throne of grace.