Ezra 6:13-15 The temple was re-constructed by ordinary people doing ordinary work. Led by people with a vision of God’s kingdom. Motivated and guided by God’s word.

Ezra 6:19-22 • The temple was the center of Jewish life. • The temple was where God’s people met with him. • The temple was were all the sacrifices were made.

You can see the centrality of the temple almost 600 years later in Jesus’ life:

Jesus’ was presented at the temple after his birth to celebrate the redemption of the firstborn (Lk 2:22-23; Num 18:15-16)

Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation." (Lk 2:28-32)

Jesus taught in the temple when he was 12 during one of his family’s Passover pilgrimages (Luke 2:41-48).

When Satan tempted Jesus, he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.” And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Lk :9-12)

Jesus taught people in the temple (Jn 8:2; 18:20)

Jesus drove out money changers (Mt 21:12; Mk 11:15; Lk 19:45; Jn 2:14) He quoted Isa 56, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers." “Zeal for your house will consume me”

At the triumphal entry to Jerusalem, the children cried out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (Mt 21:15)

One winter Jesus was walking in the temple. The Jews asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus told them, “I and the Father are one."(Jn 10:22-30)

Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus told the Pharisees, “something greater than the temple is here.” (Mt 12:8) vv. 1-2. The Pharisees criticize the disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath

vv. 3-4Jesus reminded them that David their great king ate showbread that was reserved for worship and the priests.

v. 5. Priests work in worship on the Sabbath; yet are not breaking it.

v. 6. The Greek literally, “I say to you greater than the temple is here.” We add the helping noun in English, “greater” can mean a person or thing.

“Greater” – me’gas – great in size, stature, height, number, intensity, greater in rank, splendid, grand, excellent, persons esteemed for ability, authority, virtue.

Jesus declared that he and his coming were greater than the temple.

The temple was the center of Jewish life. Jesus is the greater center and life of the church. (Col 1:18) The temple was the place of God’ presence. Jesus is the “radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature”. (Heb 1:3) The temple was meeting place between man and God. Jesus is the way by which we can come to the Father. (Jn 14:6) The temple was the place of sacrifice to God. Jesus is the greater & complete fulfillment of the sacrificial system. (Heb 9:1-4)

After Jesus’ death on the cross, “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (Mk 15:38)