Gentry notes the length and the depth of the corruption of the pious religious hierarchy in OT times. Focusing on the temple, he traces the corruption to the times of Isaiah and Jeremiah. I would be willing to recognize the even more ancient tabernacle as a temple equivalent, and so toss in the perversions of the sons of Eli (I Samuel 4), or even of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu in Lev. 10.
Discernment and caution before religious professionals is even MORE necessary than the rest of the time!
PMW 2020-078 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
In this second entry in an 8-part series I am arguing that the Jewish Temple in the first-century effectively functioned as tool of emperor worship, when understood spiritually.
Temple Abuse; Temple Transience
Over and over again the temple cult is disparaged by the OT prophets when Israel falls into sin: Isa 1:10-17; 29:13; 43:23-24; Jer 6:20; 7:1-6, 21-22; 11:15; Eze 20:25; Hos 6:5-6; Am 4:4-5; 5:21-25; 9:1; Mic 6:1-8; Mal 1:10. Jeremiah even presents God as dramatically denying he ever directed Israel to sacrifice: “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the…
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