Vol.
XLI
The Divine Pattern
for the Lord’s Church
by Tom
McLemore
The phrase “New Testament pattern” describes a very
important principle for applying the scriptures to our procedure in service to
God. It is based on Exodus 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; 39:42, 43;
Numbers 8:4; Hebrews 8:1-6, etc. In all
these passages, Moses is urged to make and set up the tabernacle and its
implements according to the pattern God showed him on Mount Sinai. “In accordance with all that I show you
concerning the pattern of the tabernacle and of all its furniture, so you shall
make it” (Exodus 25:9).
Exodus 40 is very important, because it
describes Moses’ setting up the tabernacle and ordaining the priesthood just as
the LORD commanded. The fact that he had
proceeded precisely as the LORD had commanded is mentioned at the end of the
description of each phase of setting everything in place.
The important thing to notice is that only
when everything was in place according to the instruction the LORD had given
Moses did the LORD’s glory inhabit the tabernacle. “So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting,
and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:33, 34).
In the New Testament, Christ’s apostles
are said to ordain the procedures followed by the New Testament church according
to heaven’s decrees (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). Jesus told first Peter (in
Matthew 16:19–in the original language, the pronoun is singular) and then all
of the apostles (in Matthew 18:18), “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
It is crucial to be precise in our
understanding of Jesus’ promise (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). He is not issuing carte blanche
(unrestricted power to act at one’s own discretion; unconditional authority) to
the apostles. He is not saying, “Do
whatever you desire, whatever you think best, and heaven will approve it.” The
perfect tense in the original language indicates that they will be binding on
earth what has been bound in heaven by God and be loosing on earth what has
been loosed in heaven by God. In this
statement, Jesus promises them that they will receive revelations from
God. These revelations they will then
communicate to Christ’s disciples in order to guide them.
In the gospel according to John, this
idea is expressed in Jesus’ encouraging discourse in chapters 14-16. In particular, we should notice the sayings
which indicate what the Holy Spirit would provide. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all
that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;
for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). These promises were made solely to the
apostles of Christ, his appointed representatives. They would exercise leadership in the church
on his behalf, both in person and through their inspired writings. They would continue to function in this
manner after their deaths by means of these authoritative writings.
Paul, also an apostle of Jesus Christ,
stated the same idea in different terms in 1 Corinthians 14:37: “Anyone who
claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what
I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.” This passage provides additional
help for understanding what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:19; 18:18.
The revelations of heaven’s decrees to
the apostles would enable them to fulfill Jesus’ final instructions: “And Jesus
came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything that I have commanded you.
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matthew
28:18-20). The procedures of the earliest
Christians would include what Jesus had taught both while he was with them
during his ministry (e.g., Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and gospel
parallels, and etc.), and during the forty days after his resurrection. During that time, he instructed them,
“speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).
There was further instruction that was furnished by the Holy Spirit.
As the church began to grow through the
Lord’s adding to their number those who were being saved (Acts
This procedural uniformity is
exemplified further in 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2.
“Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the
directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week,
each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that
collections need not be taken when I come.”
Paul also urged churches to read each others’ letters from him. “And when this letter has been read among
you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans;
and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea”
(Colossians 4:16).
Christ’s church today, under the guidance of the New
Testament, is thus committed to following precisely the procedures the apostles
ordained and the earliest Christians followed under their guidance. This is our pattern, and when Christ’s people
follow it, he is pleased to dwell among us just as the glory of the LORD filled
the tabernacle set up by Moses according to the pattern he had been shown.
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