Mark 14:57-58 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

Against whom do some stand up and bear false witness?

Jesus (Mark 14:57)

What do the false witnesses say that they heard Jesus say?

“I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands” (Mark 14:58).

καταλύσω (“I will destroy) 1S Future Active Indicative of  καταλύω 

“to detach something in a demolition process, throw down, detach of a stone from a building;

to cause the ruin of something, destroy, demolish, dismantle;

literally, of buildings…;

figuratively (opposed to οἰκοδομεῖν) tear down, demolish Gal 2:18. Of the body as an earthly tent ἐὰν ἡ ἐπίγειος ἠμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῃ if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed or taken down 2 Cor 5:1. τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ tear down the work (i.e. the Christian congregation which, because of vs. 19, is probably thought of as a building of God) Ro 14:20. On the contrary, the figure of the building is not present, and the general meaning destroy, annihilate…” (BDAG, 521).

τὸν ναὸν (“the temple”) “a place or structure specifically associated with or set apart for a deity, who is frequently perceived to be using it as a dwelling, temple;

a.    of temples generally…

b.   of the temple at Jerusalem…

c.    of a heavenly sanctuary…Yet there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem 21:22a; God in person is the sanctuary of the eternal city vs. 22b.

d.   of a human body or part thereof, in imagery… Of the spirit-filled body of Christians, which is said to be a habitation of God, therefore a temple…which is not to be contaminated by sinful indulgence…

e.    The uses in John 2:19, 20, 21 call for special attention. Jesus, standing in Jerusalem’s temple exclaims, λύσατε τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον και ἐν τρισίν ἠμέραις ἐγερῶ αὐτόν destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it (vs. 19), which some person in the narrative understand as a reference to the physical structure (vs 20), but the narrator interprets it as a reference to the ναὸς τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ temple of his body (vs. 21)…” (BDAG, 665).

τὸν χειροποίητον (“made with hands”) Adjective modifying “this temple” 

“made by human hands of buildings, specifically temples…temples built by human hands Acts 7:48” (BDAG, 1083).

ἀχειροποίητον (“not made with hands”) Adjective modifying “another” 

“not made by (human) hands. Of circumcision Col 2:11. Of a transcendent temple Mk 14:58. Of the heavenly body 2 Cor 5:1” 

(BDAG, 160).

οἰκοδομήσω (“I will build”) 1S Future Active Indicative of οἰκοδομέω 

“1. To construct a building, build… 2. To construct in a transcendant sense…build: of the building up of the Christian congregation/church…Matt 16:18. ὡς λίθοι ζῶντες οἰκοδομεῖσθε οἶκος πνευματικός like living stones let yourselves be built up (passive) or build yourselves up…into a spiritual house (BDAG, 696).

According to the false witnesses’ testimony in Mark 14:58:

·      How was the temple made that Jesus would destroy?

“…made with hands” (Mark 14:58).

·      How long will it take Jesus to build another?

“…three days” (Mark 14:58).

·      How will the other not be made?

“…not made with hands” (Mark 14:58).

How does Stephen quote the testimony of the false witnesses against Jesus in his sermon in Acts 6:14?

“for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us” (Acts 6:14).

How does Jesus answer when the Jews say to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (John 2:18)?

“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up’” (John 2:19).

Where does Stephen say that the Most High does not dwell in Acts 7:48-49?

“Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’” (Acts 7:48-49).

What does Paul say about God’s dwelling in Acts 17:24-27?

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling places, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:24-27).

How does the book of Hebrews describe the perfect tent?

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) (Heb 9:11).

Where does the book of Hebrews say that Christ entered?

“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf” (Heb 9:24).

What do we have that is not made with hands (2 Cor 5:1)?

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor 5:1).

  Father,

You are the Creator King, the Lord of heaven and earth. In perfect wisdom, You created all things. And in Your perfect power, You sustain the living. You do not live in temples made by men, nor are You served by human hands, as though You needed anything, since You Yourself give to all mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek You and perhaps find their way toward You and find You. Yet You are actually not far from each one of us.

Glory and thanks to You that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from You, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. You have prepared us for this very thing, and You have given us the Spirit as a guarantee. Glory to You for so great an inheritance!

In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.