Bringing Pigs Into The Temple

Romans 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Paul used symbolic terms in this verse to describe his ministry to non-Jews. The Greek translation of the Old Testament “reserved this Greek word (translated ministering) for the official service of the priests only.” Harris By using the noun “minister” and the verb “ministering” Paul symbolically presented himself as a priest in the temple of God making sure non-Jews were worthy to be offered to God on the altar.

But non-Jews were not even allowed to enter the Temple. In the Jewish mind a non-Jew as a temple offering would be the equivalent of offering some unclean creature on the Altar… like a pig… or a snake.

Paul’s ministry was to make sure this offering was made “acceptable”. How could this be done? How could the uncleanness of the pig-like non-Jews be changed? Can the leopard change his spots? Paul’s priestly duty on behalf of non-Jews was to make sure they understood and, by faith, received the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Through the power of this Gospel non-Jews are changed from unacceptable pigs into pure spotless lambs! Their uncleanness is removed by faith in the pure sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Though their sins are as scarlet, now they can be made as white as snow by the High Priest himself: Jesus Christ. I thank my God today that I, an unacceptable pig, am now, by faith, made acceptable in Christ... and I am ready to be offered.