Why Did the Jewish Temple have POLICE?
"The Pharisees and the leading priests had given Judas a large detachment of Roman soldiers and temple police to seize Jesus." John 18:3 (TPT)
I'm sure I've read this many, many times--but, TEMPLE POLICE?
The temple guards/police/officers were in charge of accountability of the treasury, offerings, inventory of stored offerings and things that belonged to the Temple.
1 Chronicles 9:26
"There were four faithful Levite guards who led the work. They kept safe the rooms in God's house where they stored valuable things and money. They stayed at their places around God's house during each night. It was their work to keep it safe. Each morning they would use their key to open the gates."
The watchmen never knew what hour the Captain would come to check on them. Any guard (Levite watchman) found asleep when on duty was beaten, or his priestly garments were set on fire as punishment. With this background, we can now understand the following verse.
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Revelation 16:15
The guard/watchman that was found sleeping was left naked as his garments were burnt.
Can we go back to the gospel of John now and look at the arrest of Jesus? He was a True Watchman. He had been in prayer most of the night. He had charged the disciples to WATCH and PRAY. He needed watchmen. "Stay here and keep watch with me." Mark 14:34b (TPT)
Instead, Jesus found them asleep three times.
The soldiers and temple police came and arrested The Watchman (Jesus) who was actually active on duty and the sleeping watchman were not punished.
During the trial of Jesus, the Pharisees said they had no authority to kill a man. (John 18:31) They needed the Romans to do that. But they DID have authority to beat and take clothes. It was the high priest's guard who threw the first punch and hit Jesus in the face with his fist. His clothes were next.
Jesus, our High Priest and Intercessor--among all the other redemptive things He accomplished--as an innocent, took the punishment for sleeping watchmen.
Watchmen were to sound the alarm at any approaching enemy.
Jesus, faithful at watch, woke up the disciples and sounded the alarm. "That's enough sleep! The end has come and the hour has arrived for the Son of Man to be handed over to the authority of sinful men. Get up and let's go. Don't you see? My betrayer draws near." Mark 14:41-42
Jesus is quickening us now to wake up. Get back on the wall. Watch and pray.
He has paid the price to forgive us when we have been lazy, sleeping watchmen. He took our place in every way.
At the time of his arrest, he said, "I'm the one you want. Take me and let them go." John 18:8
We are free and forgiven.
Called and commissioned.
We must take our place.
(A helpful resource: https://ephraimintheland.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/captain-of-the-temple/)
I'm sure I've read this many, many times--but, TEMPLE POLICE?
The temple guards/police/officers were in charge of accountability of the treasury, offerings, inventory of stored offerings and things that belonged to the Temple.
1 Chronicles 9:26
"There were four faithful Levite guards who led the work. They kept safe the rooms in God's house where they stored valuable things and money. They stayed at their places around God's house during each night. It was their work to keep it safe. Each morning they would use their key to open the gates."
The watchmen never knew what hour the Captain would come to check on them. Any guard (Levite watchman) found asleep when on duty was beaten, or his priestly garments were set on fire as punishment. With this background, we can now understand the following verse.
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Revelation 16:15
The guard/watchman that was found sleeping was left naked as his garments were burnt.
Can we go back to the gospel of John now and look at the arrest of Jesus? He was a True Watchman. He had been in prayer most of the night. He had charged the disciples to WATCH and PRAY. He needed watchmen. "Stay here and keep watch with me." Mark 14:34b (TPT)
Instead, Jesus found them asleep three times.
The soldiers and temple police came and arrested The Watchman (Jesus) who was actually active on duty and the sleeping watchman were not punished.
During the trial of Jesus, the Pharisees said they had no authority to kill a man. (John 18:31) They needed the Romans to do that. But they DID have authority to beat and take clothes. It was the high priest's guard who threw the first punch and hit Jesus in the face with his fist. His clothes were next.
Jesus, our High Priest and Intercessor--among all the other redemptive things He accomplished--as an innocent, took the punishment for sleeping watchmen.
Watchmen were to sound the alarm at any approaching enemy.
Jesus, faithful at watch, woke up the disciples and sounded the alarm. "That's enough sleep! The end has come and the hour has arrived for the Son of Man to be handed over to the authority of sinful men. Get up and let's go. Don't you see? My betrayer draws near." Mark 14:41-42
Jesus is quickening us now to wake up. Get back on the wall. Watch and pray.
He has paid the price to forgive us when we have been lazy, sleeping watchmen. He took our place in every way.
At the time of his arrest, he said, "I'm the one you want. Take me and let them go." John 18:8
We are free and forgiven.
Called and commissioned.
We must take our place.
(A helpful resource: https://ephraimintheland.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/captain-of-the-temple/)
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