The Feast of Tabernacles
A Sermon on the Feast of Tabernacles from John 7:14
Originally preached May 10, 1959
Scripture
14¶ Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
Sermon Description
The Bible is a wonderful, coherent narrative spanning centuries of God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. Biblical typology helps interpreters of the Bible understand how the Old Testament, with its laws concerning feasts, celebrations, sacrifices, and institutions, is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. In this sermon on the feast of tabernacles from John 7:14, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds the Bible’s teaching on the Feast of Tabernacles. He connects for his listeners its significance for ancient Israel and the lessons it taught the people of God as they dwelled in tents, celebrating their deliverance from the bondage of Egyptian slavery. Yet the law of Moses is not an end unto itself. Following the teaching of the New Testament, Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects the Feast of Tabernacles to the great anti-type, the Son of God who “tabernacled” among His people. Listen as he models how to relate the Old Testament to the New Testament and, more importantly, about the love of God, the message of hope, and the final deliverance one has in the substance of all the typologies found in the Bible – Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is focused on John 7:14 which states "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught."
- Jesus went up to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles and began teaching in the temple.
- The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated the Israelites dwelling in tents after their exodus from Egypt. It was a reminder of God's provision and deliverance.
- The business of preaching is to bring people face to face with Jesus Christ. The gospels present Jesus to us.
- Our only hope is in Jesus - for this life and eternity. Our reaction to Jesus is of supreme importance.
- John 7 shows the reaction of different people to Jesus. The chapter begins with Jesus' brothers not believing in Him.
- The Jews were surprised Jesus was teaching since He had no formal training. Jesus said His teaching came from God.
- Jesus was teaching about the meaning and significance of the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast reminded them of key truths.
- The first lesson of the Feast of Tabernacles is that life in this world is temporary. We live in frail tents, not permanent homes.
- The second lesson is our relationship to God. The feast reminded them God delivered them from Egypt. We need to know God.
- The third lesson is what God has done for us. The feast commemorated God delivering Israel from Egypt. Jesus delivers us from sin.
- Jesus applied the symbolism of the feast to Himself. He tabernacled among us to deliver us from sin like God delivered Israel.
- We were in bondage to sin and couldn't free ourselves. Jesus came to die for our sins and reconcile us to God.
- Have you understood the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles? Do you know life is temporary, you need God, and Jesus delivers from sin?
Sermon Q&A
What Did Jesus Teach at the Feast of Tabernacles According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What Bible passage was the focus of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focused on John 7:14, which states: "Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught," or alternatively translated as "Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach." This verse describes Jesus teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.
What was the purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Feast of Tabernacles had multiple purposes: it was partly a harvest festival to celebrate God's provision, but more importantly, it was meant to be "a permanent annual reminder of the exodus from Egypt, the traveling through the Wilderness on the way to Canaan." As Leviticus 23:43 says, "That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."
What three main lessons does the Feast of Tabernacles teach us according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Feast of Tabernacles teaches us: 1. About the temporary nature of life - "It's a temporary existence, a temporary life... a frail structure set up for a moment liable to be blown over." 2. About our relationship to God - "Do you know your relationship to God? That's the thing that matters." 3. About what God has done for mankind - particularly His deliverance of Israel from Egypt and, by extension, Christ's deliverance of humanity from sin.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the Feast of Tabernacles to Jesus Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ fulfilled what the Feast of Tabernacles symbolized. He quotes John 1, saying "The Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us." Just as God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, Christ came to "deliver us from the bondage of sin." The temporary dwellings (booths) symbolize Christ's temporary dwelling in human flesh to accomplish our salvation.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is wrong with modern approaches to life's problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes the modern approach of addressing problems directly without setting them "into the context of God and of eternity." He states, "The way to tackle the immediate problem is to go back to the ultimate problem... seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." He argues that mankind is living as if this world is permanent rather than temporary, focusing on security and prosperity instead of eternal matters.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the proper observance of the Sabbath?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that God commands "one day in seven" as a "holy convocation" where "no servile work" should be done. He criticizes those who merely attend a morning service and then spend the rest of the day on personal matters. He urges Christians to give "the whole day to God in worship, morning and evening," saying it's not surprising the church isn't blessed when Christians "are content with just giving God a portion of our time."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe mankind's dependence on God?
He describes humans as being "utterly, absolutely dependent upon God." He argues that all our plans, insurances, and schemes ultimately won't save us from death or judgment. He reminds listeners that God is "the giver of every good and every perfect gift" and that all scientific discoveries are simply "discoveries of the things God has put into nature." The feast was designed to make people realize this complete dependence.
What final question does Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenge his listeners with?
His final challenge asks: "Have you realized the meaning of the feast of tabernacles? Have you heard his message? Have you realized the nature of the life you're living in this world?" He urges his audience to recognize that life is temporary, that judgment awaits, and most importantly, that "the son of God so loved you that he left eternal bliss and glory and tabernacled in this world that you might be delivered and might be saved."
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.