Beginning At The Sanctuary.

The apostles, when entering on their missionary labours, were to “begin at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). The destroying messengers were to begin their direful work at the sanctuary.

Ezek 9:6 Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. NKJV

I. There is no protection in the sanctuary.
II. The greatest guilt is found in the sanctuary.
III. The doom of the sanctuary is a warning to the world.

I. There is no protection in the sanctuary.

Some might flee to the holy shrine as to an asylum. This was done at heathen temples, and later at Christian churches, and no doubt in rude, violent ages, the pause of vengeance which such places afforded, like the use of the “cities of refuge” for the innocent manslayer, would then serve the purpose of justice. But this would be needless with God, because he is never hasty nor unjust, but slow to anger, and only taking just vengeance. Moreover, the asylum can never be a permanent protection for the guilty, and Ezekiel’s Jews at the temple are guilty.

No holy place can secure us against God’s wrath. We are not saved by attending church. The bad man who dies at church will go to the same fate that would have awaited him if he had dropped dead in his familiar haunts of debauchery.

No holy office will secure us without holy living. They who minister at the altar are not spared because of their sacred function. Priests share the doom of laity. Dante and Michael Angelo locate bishops in hell. The cardinal’s hat appears in Fra Angelico’s picture of the prison of lost souls. We shall not escape the punishment of our sins by putting on clerical vestments.

Source: The Pulpit Commentary via Biblesoft 

Next up…

II. The greatest guilt is found in the sanctuary.
III. The doom of the sanctuary is a warning to the world.