Acts 7:44-53 - You stiff-necked people

7:44-46

The consistent theme of Stephen’s sermon is that the law and everything associated with it was never intended to be permanent. Indeed, the Law, and the people associated with it, were pointing forward to something greater. This, of course, is one of the great themes in Hebrews. So, here Stephen reminds them that the Law was given to them in the wilderness, and they had the tabernacle, built according to the instructions given to Moses. They took the tabernacle into the Promised Land under Joshua, and there it remained until the time of David. David wanted to build a dwelling -place or God, so the tabernacle was seen as temporary.

7:47-50

David, however, was not allowed to build the temple. Instead Solomon was the one who constructed it. Yet Solomon himself recognised that know earthly temple was sufficient to contain the Lord (1 Kings 8:27). And God Himself in Isaiah 66:1,2 declares that man cannot build a house for Him. Interestingly, the passage in Isaiah then goes on to say that the one the Lord esteems is the contrite in spirit and humble in heart.

7:51-53

Stephen then brings his message to its climax. “You stiff-necked people!”. Preaching does not always have to be nice! Throughout Israel’s history God had clearly pointed the way forward, and the godly men and women were also looking forward to something greater. Meanwhile, the dominant pattern in Israel was one of rebellion and disobedience. And this generation was no different. Israel persistently rejected, even killed, the prophets. This was brought to its culmination in their rejection and killing of Jesus. Far from upholding the Law, the Jews disobeyed the Law, in particular the ones to whom Stephen was speaking.