Luke 21:5-6

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

From Background Notes [BN] for September 28^th & 29^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

At the head of this religious operation was the High Priest who, spiritually, ruled nation and religion. His power also extended to the…

…Sanhedrin, the supreme council holding the final say on internal matters of the Jewish nation. Once Pilate became governor, the role of the High Priest was enhanced, now that no other Jewish ruler held power in Jerusalem. Between 6 and 67 C.E. sixteen High Priests came from the elite families of Jerusalem. Beneath the High Priest were other officials:

1. Captain of the temple who handled the temple staff.

2. 24 priests who oversaw 24 groups of ordinary priests, comprising some 7,000 men.\

3. 156 manager priests who took care of the work of the daily priests.

4. Administrative affairs were handled by 7 permanent "overseers.”

5. Three treasurers took care of the Temple treasury, collecting taxes, tithes, purchasing the animals for sacrifices, and retailing these animals to the pilgrims who came to worship during the great festivals.

6. Ordinary priests, like Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer (see Luke 1:5, and our previous Notes).

7. Taking up the rear were 10,000 Levites who did the dirty work: guarding the Temple, and cleaning up garbage and refuse.

8. Outside the ritual duties, were others who served as scribes, clerks, accountants, and otherwise performing the clerical roles required for Temple efficiency. Not the least were those who copied the Torah and other sacred texts.   [BN,4-5]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm