Jesus : Greater than the Temple

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Fifteenth Week :  Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 12:1-8*

*First Reading : Ex 11:10-12:14*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18*

*Jesus : Greater than the Temple*

*“I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.”* Matthew 12:6

*1) Who is greater than the temple?*

Jesus Christ Himself is the "something greater" that He refers to. 

He is declaring that He is greater than the temple in Jerusalem 

*2) Why is Jesus greater than the temple?*

*A)  Jesus is God’s dwelling in the flesh*

The temple was the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people. 

But in Jesus, God Himself came to dwell among humanity.

John 1:14: *“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”*

*B) Jesus offers the true sacrifice*

In the temple, priests offered animal sacrifices for atonement. 

Jesus, however, offered Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sins.

*C) Jesus is the true High Priest*

The temple had human priests; Jesus is the eternal High Priest who intercedes directly before God.

*D) Jesus gathers people from all nations*

The temple was a national symbol of Jewish worship. Jesus is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.

*E) Jsesus rebuilds the temple in Himself*

Jesus spoke of His body as the true temple, predicting His death and resurrection.

The physical temple would be destroyed (which happened in AD 70), but Jesus’ resurrected body became the new temple where we meet God.

*F) Jesus is full of mercy, not legalism*

The temple system had become rigid and corrupted. Jesus emphasized mercy over ritual.

Jesus reveals God's heart of mercy — something that even the temple practices had failed to communicate at times.

*3) Implications for Us Today*

*A) Jesus is the center of worship*

We do not need to go to a physical temple to worship God. Jesus is the new and living meeting place between God and humanity (1 Tim 2:5).

*B) We are now the temple*

Through Christ and the Spirit, believers themselves become God's temple:

1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

*C) Jesus replaces religion with relationship*

Faith in Jesus leads not to ritualism, but to a living relationship with the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit.

*4) Final Reflection*

Jesus is greater than the temple because:

He is the true meeting place between God and humanity.

He gives direct access to the Father.

He offers what the temple could only symbolically point to — full redemption and union with God.

In Jesus, God is not behind a curtain — He is with us, in us, and for us.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*