16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
V. 16 - “you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” - The Tabernacle (from Moses’ time through David’s) and then the Temple (Solomon’s time until it was destroyed by Babylon) was where the Lord resided. (See: Exo. 40:34-35; 1 Ki. 8:11; 2 Chr. 5:14, 7:1-3) I do not think there is any reference to the glory of the Lord filling the several rebuilt temples, starting with Ezra/Nehemiah up through the coming of Jesus.
Do not misunderstand, God was not confined to the Holy of Holies room in the Tabernacle or Temple. But, except for relatively rare instances, in the Old Testament, God did not enter and empower individuals. The men who built the Tabernacle, or constructed the several accoutrements in the Temple (Ark of the Covenant, Altar, etc.), were filled with the Holy Spirit empowering them to do the work per God’s instructions. When the work was completed, the Holy Spirit no longer filled them.
The Holy of Holies, and God’s presence there would seem to provide ‘tangible’ evidence that there is a God, and He is with them. As if getting Israel out of Egypt miraculously, etc., was not enough! I suppose that people could say, “That was then! Where is He now, when we need Him?!”
This statement, “You are the temple of God...” has massive implications and meaning for the Jews, especially the Jews in that time period. They still had a Temple in Jerusalem. They believed God’s presence was to be found in the Holy of Holies, with the Ark of the Covenant, and the Seraphim. This place was so holy that only the high priest, after cleansing and offerings for himself, was allowed to enter. Jews from all over the world, not just Judea and Samaria, made treks to Jerusalem to present their offerings and sacrifices. Non-Jewish people also would understand, perhaps not in the same intensity, the importance of a Temple. I have seen and read in magazines and books the ruins of temples to the various gods and goddesses, (I have never been to Greece or Rome, etc.). Temples are where you go to meet god. (That thought process lives in us even in our ‘enlightened selves’ - consider all massive elegant cathedrals or temples the various denominations and religious organizations have constructed.)
By massive implications, consider the following: No longer must you go to Jerusalem to speak with God, to offer sacrifice, to be cleansed and forgiven. God is with you. God is in you. The Temple and the various altars and tables and appliances had to be cleansed and purified before they could be used. (See: Exo. 29:10ff) The cleansing was always with blood.
You, personally, are now a Temple of God. You have been cleansed by the blood Jesus shed on the cross. By His death you have been made holy - holy enough for the God of the universe to be in you. No longer do you make a trek across land or sea to a place to meet with God, to be forgiven, cleansed and used for His glory. No longer do you need a certain man or priest to stand in for you - between you and God! God is there with you, there inside your heart, mind, and soul. You talk directly to God Himself. You do not need a pastor, a minister, Bible Study leader, elder or deacon to speak to God. You have Jesus, the Son of God, God Himself to talk to, to pray to.
V. 17 - “If any man destroys the temple of God” - I think this has a two-fold meaning: persecution of Christ believers, and being led away from your belief and faith in Christ by enemies of God. Enemies of God will try to destroy the person as well as the faith of that person. Coercion, jail, torture, murder - all of these and more will be used to destroy Jesus’ own. In so-called civilized countries, believers are pressured to abandon the faith, to turn their backs on Jesus in order to save jobs, reputations, homes, families. Sometimes the pressure is very subtle, but pressure none-the-less. In less civilized areas, believers are martyred. We have seen that very thing happen in the Middle East countries, in Africa, led by extremists.
“God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy” - Note that God does not destroy the believer, but the oppressor. Again, an amazing statement - you are a holy temple for the Lord! I look at myself, and am astounded the God considers ‘this’ as holy! Yet, God has not changed. God was Holy when He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. He was Holy, and commanded the Tabernacle, and later the Temple to be made pure and holy for His presence. He filled the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and Temple when they were purified.
God is Holy, and always will be Holy. And this Holy God will live within you, making you holy also. That same terrifying presence is at peace in you because you accept and believe Jesus has shed His blood for your sins. You have been purified, sanctified, and made holy for the God of the universe to be in you.
God will bring every act to judgement. (Eccl 12:14) He will not be disrespected. You are His holy dwelling place. God no longer dwells in a temple, tabernacle, or cathedral. God dwells in us, in people. I do not know the extent of the ‘destruction’, nor when it comes about. I do know that I do not want to be on the receiving end of that wrath. Everything, everyone who rejects God and Jesus will be unholy, and will have no place in the New Jerusalem. Their names will not be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Note 1: The original Temple was built by Solomon, and completed about 957 BC. It was destroyed a couple of times by the Assyrians or Babylonians. Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the Temple between 515-444 BC. King Herod repaired and rebuilt the Temple in 20 BC. That Temple is the one Jesus worshipped in, and cleaned out. (Luke 19:45-47) That Temple is where the veil on the entrance to the Holy of Holies was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross. (Luke 23:45) Between 70-135 AD, the Temple was completely destroyed, never to be rebuilt by the Jews. (Islam has built a temple, the Dome of Rock, on the Temple Mount, and it still exists there now.)
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