We hear so much about the "container" being only "incidental"—that "it is the contents alone that is noteworthy," hence we may tamper with the "container" so long as we do not dispose of the "contents," etc., and thus be guiltless. This reminds me of a mistake the Jews made, in explaining away the Law of Moses. They taught that if you swear by the temple, it is nothing; it is the gold of the temple (contents) that counts. They reasoned in the same way as to the gift and the alter—the alter did not mean anything; just the gift (contents). But hear Christ, concerning such reasoning:

"Ye fools, blind guides, whether is greater the gift, or the alter that santifieth the gift? Whoso sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it and the gold in it, and God Who dwells in it." Whoso sweareth by the alter, sweareth by all that is on it."

Thus, He showed that it takes the gold, furniture, those who dwell in it, and the temple to constitute the temple. Also, the alter, the gift and all that goes with it, to constitute the alter complete. And if either is greater, it is the alter, etc. (Matt. 23:16—24).

When the gold was in the hands of the people it was no more than any other gold, but when it was brought into the temple for God’s sacred use it became sacred. So, with the animals until they were taken out of the flocks and brought to the alter, but when on the alter, they became sacred and sanctified. When did the animal change from the common usage to the sacrificial? When placed on God’s alter, did it not? In 1 Cor. 10:16-18, we have a comparison of the alter and the Lord’s table. Yet, in the face of the above some will say the cup has nothing to do with it, but the contents only. We can have two, six, a dozen, or one for each member. In reply, I fancy I can hear the Saviour say, "Thou fool, blind, whether is greater the fruit of the vine, or the cup that sanctified the fruit of the vine ?"

When the elements of the loaf are in their common places, they are just common, but when the loaf is made and placed on the Lord’s table, it is no longer mere bread (1 Cor. 10:16, 17), for we give thanks for it, and it becomes sanctified from the common to the sacred. The same is true of the fruit of the vine, when put it in the cup on the Lord’s table, it is then to stand for the blood of Christ. Just so when Christ took the cup and blessed it, it was only that portion that was in the cup, that was blessed and sanctified. All the other was just ordinary grape juice. Hence we can see that those who tamper with the cup, tamper with it and all it contains. Hence, as it was in the days of old, if we change or tamper with God’s arrangements of His temple, etc., He will not dwell therein. (Matt. 18:20).

Brethren, think on these things. Which is worse: to be called an "extremist," because you try to imitate the Saviour and the early Christians, or to try to change the Lord’s appointments to suit your own fancy, and be called, "Thou fool, blind guides," etc.? Which is more to be commended in a child; trying to wear his Daddy’s boots, or killing Indians in a game of cowboy. Let our highest ambition be in trying to imitate our Saviour, for He is our example, and He commands us to "follow" Him. May we be satisfied with Him and His way, always.