and he had none to present. The lamb, the goat, the bullock, all
from all these places which had special sanctity connected with their names.
He visited Jerusalem indeed, but he did not dwell there. He frequented the temple; but never entered either the holy place or the most holy. It is only in the outer court, or in some of the great porches connected with it, that we find him. Beyond these he went not at any time. In the verse before us, we find him in Solomon's porch. This porch was at the eastern side of the temple, erected by Solomon, and fortunate in escaping the ruin which had once and again overtaken the other parts of the building. It was "winter" at this time. It was just the very middle of December; for the feast of the Dedication was celebrated on the 15th of that month. The inclemency of mid-winter,—its rains, and perhaps its snows,—had led the Lord to seek the shelter of this porch; for, as a true man, he felt earth's heat and cold, needing a shadow from the former and a covering from the latter, just as we do. Under this spacious porch he was walking to and fro,—perhaps to increase the vital heat,—when the Jews gathered round him, and began the conversation which our passage records.
That part of the scene which alone I ask you to notice, is his keeping outside the holy place and the most holy, as though he might not enter there, but remain, like one of the multitude, in the outer court, which even "publicans and sinners" might enter. For this there were several reasons.
1. Personal.—He belonged to the tribe of Judah, not to that of Levi. It could not be personal uncleanness that kept him without the veil; but only Levi's family had access to the holy place, and only Aaron's family could enter the holiest of all. He could not, then, enter the chamber which was the emblem of God's immediate presence without a breach of law; and he "came not to destroy, but to fulfil the law." It "became him to fulfil all righteousness."
2. Ceremonial.—The holy of holies could only be entered with blood; and he had none to present. The lamb, the goat, the bullock, all