How we think on this matter might indicate whether we are judgemental of individuals or willing to ascribe good motives to the actions of others.

There is a practical reason. Sawn stones are more porous that hewn stone. However there is a greater spiritual significance. Hewn stone take longer to prepare - marking the point that our God is willing to work on our characters to produce stones for His living temple.

V.2 The house of the forest of Lebanon was a great hall in Solomon's palace in Jerusalem.  It was so called because of the extensive use of cedar in its construction.

Vs.13,14 Hiram, the half-Jew who lived in Tyre, was a skilled worker of bronze.  He is not to be confused with Hiram the King of Tyre.

7:14  So Hiram was half Jewish – with a Jewish mother. That his mother was from Naphtali is not surprising given that the inheritance of Naphtali was in the north, near to Tyre.

7:48 In learning that Solomon made a table of gold for the shewbread we have to conclude that even thugh the tabernacle was standing at Gibeon some, at least, of the furniture that should have been within it was missing. Hence Solomon made replacements.

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7:14 In learning that Hiram was had a gentile father we see, in symbol, that the house of God is partly built of gentiles.

V.1 Solomon built his magnificent house, which probably contained three separate, but adjoining houses:  Solomon's palace; the house of judgement; the house for his Egyptian wife (which probably also contained apartments for the wives of his harem). 

The disturbing thing is that Solomon accommodated himself and his needs (some of which were questionable in Yahweh's eyes) before he started to build Yahweh's house. 

Also, Solomon's house was thirteen years in the making, as opposed to seven for the House of God (1Kin 6:8).  Do we put ourselves, and our needs, before the service of Yahweh?

7:7 There is no indication that Solomon had been told to make a throne for judgement or any indication where he should put such a throne. It is interesting that he did not put it in the temple (doubtless because the ‘pattern’ - 1Chron 28:19 - did not contain any such details.) Actually God was to be the judge and this should have been effected through the priesthood.

V.14 There seems to be a contradiction about the tribe of Hiram’s mother (2Chron 2:14). The probable explanation is that the woman was born of the tribe of Dan.  Then she married a man from the tribe of Naphtali.  Subsequently, she became a widow, and then married a man from Tyre.  But, the tribe of her married status carried forward as the tribe of her identification.

V.21 Jachin means he will establish (implying stability); Boaz means strength. Their height is given as 35 cubits (2Chron 3:15). 

The shortest measure for a cubit is 18 inches.  Therefore, by this reckoning, the pillars would have been 52.5 feet (13.3m).  But, this does not fit the rest of the building’s measurements.  And so, it becomes apparent that the 35 cubits mentioned is the combined measurement of both pillars.  Therefore, each pillar was 17.5 cubits (26.25 ft. or 6.65 m) in height.

V.23 To have some idea of the size of the molten sea in our measurements, here is a description from the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary: The molten sea was an immense semicircular vase, measuring seventeen and a half feet in diameter, and being eight and three-fourths feet in depth. This, at three and a half inches in thickness, could not weigh less than from twenty-five to thirty tons in one solid casting - and held from sixteen thousand to twenty thousand gallons of water.

Vs.38,39 Besides washing in the molten sea, the priests had other washing facilities in the temple (2Chron 4:6).

7:28 Some of the details of Solomon’s temple are repeated in the language of the vision that Ezekiel saw of the departing glory of God.

Thus we see that the building was to represent the vehicle which transported / showed the glory of God

1Kin 7:1 - Solomon's house took 13 years to build;  the number "13" is thought by some to represent sin and rebellion.

1Kin 7:13-14 - the chief architect of Solomon's temple was "Hiram" [(2438) means "noble"]; he was part Jew, part Gentile and he skillfully worked in bronze which is thought by some to refer to sin/flesh plus he was skillful with other materials (2Chron 2:13-14).

1Kin 7:15-22 - V.15 Gentiles were not allowed into the literal temple but is it possible the two bronze pillars echo righteous Jews and Gentiles in a sinful/fleshly mortal state who are called/chosen? Paul refers to the church as being the pillar and ground of the truth (1Tim 3:5;Gal 3:26-29) while Christ to John remarks he who overcometh will be a pillar in the temple (Rev 3:12);  V.16 is it possible the two chapiters, each of 5 cubits (the number "5" is thought by some to represent grace or mercy) represent grace and mercy to Jews and Gentiles who seek to obey God?; V.17 the number "7" is thought by some to refer to spiritual perfection or the (millenial) day of rest; Vs.18,20 might "pomegranates" [Heb. "rimmon" (7416) means "pomeganate, as a tree, as a fruit" and is derived from "raman" (7426) meaning "to rise, exalt, get up, life up, etc."] suggest seeds or offspring or the bride of Christ covered by Christ's sacrifice? (Song 4:12-15); Vs.19,22 might "lilies" [Heb. "shushan, shoshan, shoshannah" (7797) means "lily,whiteness, flower, trumpet"] suggest purity, the bride of Christ and/or the righteous fragrant garments of the bride of Christ? (Song 2:1-2;4:9-11); V.21 the meanings of "Boaz" [(1162) was likely part Jew and Gentile] and "Jachin" (3199) put together mean "fleetness and/or in him is strength - he (will) establish(es)" so perhaps there is the suggestion of God establishing a kingdom with Jews and Gentiles dwelling with Christ when he returns to earth (1Chron 17:11-14).

V.26 The seed of Jacob and David have not been cast away. The greater Son of David will reign over the seed of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob (both natural and adopted) and fulfil the Abrahamic Covenent (Gen 12:1-3) and at the same time fulfilling the covenent made with David (2Sam 7:12-16).

Vs.15,16 Yahweh, who cannot lie, has sworn that David's seed (Jesus) will possess his throne forever (Psa 89:3,4;Titus 1:2). This branch will preside over a peaceful Judah and Jerusalem.  What a wonderful consolation that should have been to Jeremiah's listeners had they had faith to see! 

And so, for us in this present world of turmoil, we can see the disintegration of society around us.  Nevertheless, if we can keep our minds on the coming Kingdom, we can weather any present storm. 

32:20  In drawing on the covenant of day and night as a basis for asserting that Israel will not be destroyed Jeremiah, by the spirit, is referring to the way that God spoke about the earth after the flood – Gen 8:22

33:7 If we are tempted to think that the regathering Jeremiah spoke of was fulfilled with the return from Babylon we are forced to realise that the return from Babylon was only a partial fulfilment. Jeremiah speaks of Israel and Judah which did not happen in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. Only Judah returned on that occasion meaning that the complete fulfilment still awaits fulfilment in the future

33:1 this is the ‘second time’ that Jeremiah has spoken whilst he was shut up un prison. The first is recorded in Jer 32:2-3

V.10 Contrast the empty, desolate streets of Jerusalem, due to the Babylonian invasion, with the busy, joyous ones of the kingdom (v.11; Zech 8:4,5).

33:11 Those who will say ‘Praise the Lord ... for ever’ will be saying the words that were said when David brought the ark to Zion – 1Chron 16:34. Anyone who thought about what Jeremiah was saying would have taken great comfort from his words. The value is in knowing what God has already said.

V.1 Even though a man of God is held prisoner, the Word of God cannot be confined (Titus 2:9).

V.15 See Isa 9:6,7.

V.16 In the end times, nations will come up to war against Judah and Jerusalem. Jesus, the Redeemed, and the men of Judah will fight and overcome the enemy (Zech 12:7; 14:11,14).  Then, peace will ensue (Zech 9:10).

V.20 See Gen 1:16; Psa 74:16;136:7-9.

V.24 The phrase, The two families (KJV) refers to Israel and Judah.

Jer 33:14-15 First Principles>Sure mercies of David>King
The Branch is the Lord Jesus Christ who will be the King to sit on David's throne. For more about the King, go to 2Sam 7:12-16.

Jer 33:17 First Principles>Sure mercies of David>King
David shall necer want a man because Jesus Christ will sit on David's throne for ever. For more about the King, go to 2Sam 7:12-16.

33:8 Again we see that Israel are to be ‘cleansed’ from their sins. Further Old Testament evidence that Israel will be a nation of mortals in the kingdom when Christ returns.

v.6 - The actual prophecy is in Isa 29:13. Although this is aimed at the Jews, it is clearly a warning to us too. Let us be sure not to be bound by tradition to such an extent that it blinkers us to the real outworking of the truth in our lives.

v. 7,8 - It is clearly not the action, but the perception of the importance of the action that is being emphasised. Tradition must be kept in its place. Here is an example from our tradition - which do we consider more important - the symbology of the bread on the plate, or the fact that the plate itself is made of silver? It seems we are often in danger of losing sight of what really matters because human nature likes ritual and tradition. Here Jesus is telling us to keep all things in perspective. Eze.33:31, Luke 11:39-44, John 8:41-42.

We must ask ourselves, with respect to all the procedures that we adopt in our lives, whether they accord with what Scripture teaches or whether the procedures are designed to enable us to avoid thinking about the will of our Father and how it should be implemented in our daily and ecclesial lives.

The healing of the deaf man fulfils Isaiah 35

The nation will be brought from darkness and this future deliverance was seen in the healing of the blind man.

Vs.32-35 The incident of Jesus' healing the deaf man with the speech impediment seems strange.  The Lord could have healed the man by just saying the word.  However, the Lord put his fingers in his ears and touched his tongue.  Why this demonstration? 

I think the Lord was drawing attention to the spiritual wantonness of the Jews.  They had stopped up their ears against hearing and understanding the Truth (Zech 7:11); and had shown, by their proud and arrogant speech, a contrary attitude to the spirit of Truth (Psa 12:3,4). 

As the Lord could unblock physical impediments, he could also open the way to eternal life to those willing to change their ways (John 3:15).

7:4,36  A contrast is drawn between the scribes and Jesus. They did things for show. Jesus did not.

V.27-28 - dogs [Grk."kunarion" (2952) means "puppy"] in this instance are used to refer to Gentiles but as the word refers to puppys perhaps Christ is referring to the Gentile lady in a more lovable, less offensive way than the usage in Matt 7:6 where "dogs" [Grk. "kuon" (2965) means "hound, dog"] are more like lowly scavengers.

7:10-11 The way in which Jesus comments upon ‘Corban’ is not just another swipe at the Jewish traditions. It is a clear example of how the rules that they made prevented them keeping the commandments of God. In fact the rule was devised to circumvent the commandments of God.

7:27   Jesus’ in saying ‘first’ indicated that gentiles were to receive the message, though the Jews were to hear it first.

V.11 Corban literally means that which is brought near (to the altar).  Its implication and application is that of a gift or sacrificial offering. Thus, if one made a vow to dedicate something to the temple, by uttering Corban, that thing became the property of the temple. 

However, the one making the vow was not forced to give up the thing that was vowed.  And so, in the case of the young man uttering Corban to his father and mother, he vowed his property to the temple.  This meant that the young man would no longer have the means to take care of his parents as they aged. 

The hypocrisy of the whole exercise is that the young man, making the vow, had no real obligation to relinquish his property to the temple.  He could keep his property, spend it on himself and nobody would bother him. 

The sad consequence of this action would be that the young man's parents would become destitute in their old age.  This lack of caring was against the Law (Exo 20:12).  This is the error that Jesus was pointing out to the Pharisees.

7:18 In using the words ‘without understanding’ ‘perceive’ Jesus s raising the possibility that the disciples might be like the leaders in their attitude to Scripture. We need to be careful that we do not have such a closed approach to Scripture that we try to impose on it our own understanding rather than letting the word explain itself to us by reference to other parts of it.

V.24 Jesus did not want anybody to know that he had entered the house of a Gentile because His primary mission was to the Jews (Matt 15:24). But, by the extension of Yahweh’s grace, Jesus’ saving power would also include the Gentiles (Isa 11:10).

The greater work of reaching out to the Gentiles would be done by the Paul (and other apostles) (Acts 9:15). However, Jesus showed Himself to the Gentiles on a few occasions, enough to let people know that he was their Savior too. Other encounters with Gentiles were: the Samaritan woman (John 4:7 etc.); Legion (Mark 5:1 etc.); the Gentile multitude (Mark 3:7-12 See Matt 12:15-21).

Mark likes to record key Aramaic words that Jesus used. Of course, the common language of the region was Aramaic. In this chapter he records Corban = consecrated gift (v.11); Ephphatha = Be opened (v.34). Other examples of Aramaic words and phrases are:

Boanerges = Sons of Thunder (3:17)

Talitha cumi = girl rise (5:41)

Abba = father (14:36)

Eloi eloi lama sabachthani? = My God, My God why have you left me? (15:34)

7:20-23 Notice that Jesus’ explanation to the disciples is more comprehensive than that given to the religious leaders and the people – Mark 7:14-16