The Temple

Monday, August 31, 2026 | Phillip Hopkins

Ezekiel 40-48

When I first read these verses, I thought to myself, “Ah man, not the verses on the measurements of the Temple!” Thankfully, that didn’t last long! There is a vast richness in the details and precision with which God wanted His temple built. Throughout Scripture, we see God creating and establishing order, from Creation to Judgment. Why would His temple be any different?

It’s easy to skim over these passages and miss how the precision of the temple points us to something deeper. First Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Paul reminds us that we are now the temple of God and are to treat it as holy.

God gave us His Spirit to dwell within us, to help us and direct us. Do you not think that what we do with our bodies matters to Him?

Ephesians 2:19-22 reminds us that we are part of the holy temple God established in Christ, with the apostles as the foundation and Christ as the cornerstone. Even here, we see order. God is building His church into a dwelling place for His Spirit.

First Corinthians 6:18-20 gives us an even more direct charge: “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... you are not your own... therefore glorify God in your body.” We were bought with a price—the life of Christ and His blood shed on the cross. When Christ becomes our Savior, He also becomes our Lord. We surrender our interests to His.

When we look at the world, we see chaos and disorder in so many areas. Whenever we redefine what God has established, disorder follows. Our enemy wants to tear down the temple God has established in us, but God calls us to remove the idols and restore His temple to the holy dwelling place it was designed to be.

James 4:4-6 reminds us that friendship with the world puts us at odds with God, but it also gives us hope: “He gives a greater grace... God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourself before God. Repent of the ways you have defiled His temple and opposed His authority in your life. Receive His forgiveness, His cleansing, and His grace. Remember: you are not your own—you are His.