Instrumental Music in the church (Pt 2)
Delivered by Bill Robinson  

Let’s turn to Hebrews chapter 13, we’re going to begin our study there. We began our study in part one of this lesson when we talked about a Biblical and historical argument for instrumental music. When we think about this particular subject, I hope I have stirred your thinking to recognize that instrumental music had its place in the old economy of God’s dealing with Israel.

I want to begin before reading our text, with a particular quote, “There is no doubt that the leaders of early Christianity condemned instrumental music while praising the singing of songs. This seems inconsistent with the psalmist and priests that glorified God using instruments in the Old Testament. The reasons for this reversal are subtle. Calls against instrumental music was seen in the Christian doctrine of spiritual sacrifice that disapproved every element of a sacrificial cause. Since in Judaism, at least, MIM was linked with the sacrifice of the temple, the Christian reasoning quite consistently condemned all forms of worship that were accessories to sacrifice, and especially rejected instrumental performance.” - Eric Warner, Jewish Scholar. Excerpt from his book, Music in the Temple, Synagogue and Church, Vol. 1, page 317 I think it’s rather interesting that he would make such a statement and be fair to scholarship to point out that the early Christians opposed MIM on the basis that it was connected to the Old Testament sacrificial system.

This then is what I want to begin with in Hebrews 13:10-16:
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.


This is the text we’re going to look at, as well as tie this together with some things brought up in part one of this lesson. In our Biblical, historical approach that we began in part one, we saw that MIM was inextricably bound to the temple and inexorably connected to the sacrificial system of worship under the law. MIM was the music that God had in fact commanded as we noted from the text of 2 Chronicles 29. But now we recognize that those sacrifices under the old covenant have been done away in Christ. There is another music that is offered, as we just read, and it is the fruit of our lips.

As we study the church worship in song, we recognize that the central place for worship in the Old Testament was the temple. MIM began back during the time of the tabernacle in Numbers 10 where God had told Moses to make two trumpets and he was told in v. 10 to blow them over the sacrifices. Now as David came along and the time was approaching for the building of the temple, he was given the plans by God to give to his son, Solomon. David went through a rather ornate process of organizing the Levites. The Levites were the priestly tribe. But only the sons of Aaron could minister to the things of the altar and of the temple. The other Levites that were not of the tribe of Aaron did more of the menial tasks, but not all were able to wait on the altar. When David gave the plans for the temple, noted in 2 Chronicles which is considered a book about the temple, about temple service, about temple worship. He’s the one that gave instruction for the singers to sing, and the instruments to be played, etc., as God had commanded. 2 Chr. 29:25)

As we think about those things, the New Testament writers refer to the temple of God as being made up of those saints, that is, those Christians who have been obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ, who have been forgiven of their sins, through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. As a result, they had a sacrifice but it is not a sacrifice like that of the Old Testament. Their sacrifice was that which we just read about a moment ago in Hebrews 13. It was the sacrifice of the offering of the fruit of the lips which was to sing and pray to God, giving thanks.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16 we recognize the Apostle Paul writes to them,

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The “you” in that verse is plural, and he is not referring to our mortal bodies as was the description in 1 Corinthians 6, but now he is referring to the church. He’s saying, “don’t you know that the church is the temple and that God’s spirit dwells in that temple?” It’s that same idea, that when the temple was dedicated in 2 Chronicles 5:14...for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. It’s also that idea that His Spirit indwells the church, in the sense that it is the habitation of God.

In 1 Corinthians 14:15 Paul says What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. And so we see then that Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians that they were to sing and to pray. I want to suggest to you, that is the offering, that is the fruit of the lips. That they could do that in this temple, this spiritual temple, which God has created through Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 2:20-22
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So again, borrowing from the Old Testament imagery of that temple that was located in Jerusalem, we now as the people of God have become the temple of God. We’re not a physical structure with various dimensions like David had given to his son Solomon, but we are a spiritual temple. As a spiritual temple, we have certain offerings that we must bring before God. So right after we have Paul telling the Ephesians that they are a habitation of God, we see in the 5th chapter:

Ephesians 5:18-20
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

And so again, if you’ll recall in 2 Chronicles 29 that the Levite singers and players, began their singing and playing with the sacrifice and it ended with the sacrifice. (See v.25-30) The sacrifice was the burnt offering that would make reconciliation, and the blood offering which would make atonement for their sins. (v.24) After they had received that atonement, that peace with God, having their sins forgiven by means of this ceremony, we read in the latter part of 2 Chronicles 29 that they gave a thank offering. The thank offering was the only offering that the Israelites gave that did not have to do with the atoning for sin. It was a sacrifice in which the writer of the book of Chronicles tells us, that they sang with gladness of heart. They were engaged in a temple service of song to the Lord after the sacrifice. I think that’s significant. That after they had reached reconciliation, peace with God, through the burnt offering and then through the sin offering, atonement, the MIM stopped and then they brought forth a thank offering. In Leviticus 7 it discusses that. It is a thank offering because one has been forgiven of his sins, and he now stands at one with God. As a result of that, they praise God, they give thanks to God for that in song.

We might allude to some other passages like 1 Peter 2 to see this imagery in that sense carried over into the New Testament, but notice the language of the Apostle Peter when he says in v. 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Then in v. 9 he says But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light We are a royal priesthood, and we offer up spiritual sacrifice unto the praise and glory to God who has redeemed us from our sin. Keep in mind, that our redemption was made by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now, we are offering thank offering to God through the fruit of our lips. The thank offering under the old covenant involved singing as we noted in 2 Chronicles 29. As we continue to think along these same lines, we recognize that the atoning sacrifice in the Old Testament was the blood of bulls and goats, of which the Hebrew writer said in ch. 10, v. 4 that the blood of bulls and goat can not take away sins, but it was anticipatory of the coming of the Messiah and it was the realization that as they saw that sacrifice of the goat and bull and lamb and the blood being sprinkled upon the altar, they came to recognize, “that should have been me.” So naturally, as a result of those sacrifices ending, there would be great joy, great gladness, and so singing would be that which would come from the heart as a result of what God has provided in that they did not have to pay the price, but God allowed the blood of bulls and goats to substitute until the coming of Christ. As we think about that, by way of contrast, in the New Testament temple, we have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Look now at the book of Hebrews 9:24-28

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

I want us to understand, that those sacrifices for sin, for atonement, for reconciliation with God, they in essence in the Old Testament were just substituting those as a foreshadowing of the realization that the Messiah was going to come. When the Messiah came He was going to offer one sacrifice for all time for all people under both the old and the new covenants. When that sacrifice ended, when His atoning work was done and He was resurrected from the grave, that brought an end to that sacrificial system. There wasn’t a need for any other sacrifices. His was complete. So if that’s true, and I think we see that from the Bible rather clearly, if MIM was associated with temple service and with the sacrifice as God commanded, once that final sacrifice was made there was no longer a need for MIM and God said now we give thank offerings to Him. That thank offering is identified for us in 2 Chronicles 29, that they sang with gladness of heart. So by way of contrast, after the sacrifice of Jesus, the only offering left for the New Testament priests is the thank offering, that we have peace with God, that we have reconciliation, and forgiveness of our sins.

When we go back to the Old Testament, and we analyze and look at the service prior to the temple, we have the tabernacle with the trumpets, etc., so this wasn’t anything new. David did introduce some other musical instruments, but again I want to emphasize to you, that this was commanded by God. Under Hezekiah’s reform, we see the significance of God’s temple to the Israelites. It was extremely significant to his way of life. I think from a negative point of view, we get a sense of just how important he viewed the temple, although in a very corrupt way. In Jeremiah 7 beginning at v. 4, when Jeremiah was exposing the unfaithfulness and the idolatry and the disloyalty of Israel, here’s what he said that they were doing. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. In other words, they thought they could live any way they wanted to, as long as they would go to the temple. They were trusting in the temple, rather than trusting in God. They were trusting in the fact that they had a permanent place of worship. It never entered their mind, that some day because of their unfaithfulness, the temple was going to lie in ruins, and that they were going to be in a very desperate situation. Think about it. Even though their loyalty is misplaced, they are trusting in the temple. When that comes crashing down upon them, and they’ve trusted in that, it’s going to be very sickening at heart to them. It’s going to be a crisis of major proportion, a catastrophic event in their life. So the significance of God’s temple to the Israelite was extremely and exceedingly important. They thought the temple was the means of their protection while living in sin. 100 years after the death of Hezekiah, the temple was destroyed. 2 Chronicles 36. In the year 722 BC, the 10 northern tribes fell to the Syrians. The temple was in the southern portion in Jerusalem, and the two southern tribes were there. About 100 years later, around 586 BC, the southern kingdom was carried away by Nebuchadnezzar. Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 36. Given what I said to you about the Jews’ view of the temple, I want you to not just read these words. I want you to call to your mind how you would have felt when you saw this.

v.10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

v.15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

God was using Babylon to accomplish His purpose. He knew how heart wrenching this was going to be for His people. To see what was about to happen was going to be a horrible, horrible site to these people. Look at v.16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Their cup of iniquity had become full, God had sent messenger after messenger, pleading with them to turn back and to serve God. But they refused.


17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

That’s a horrible picture. I don’t know what happened much, as far as inspired history is concerned about how the people dealt with all of this, but there are some historical sources that tell us about what the people did. They realized their temple was gone, they couldn’t go in to make sacrifices to God anymore. Sacrifice was the universal language of worship in the ancient world. When the Jews themselves could not offer sacrifice for their sins, history tells us that many of them just fell prostrate on the ruins of the temple. Some of them committed suicide, others offered every animal that they had, even their own pets. They were in a crisis. There was a catastrophic separation from God and they realized their sin at this point. To say that the Jews at this point are disillusioned is an understatement of major proportion! There was no place for sacrifice. How were they going to be able to relate to God? How were they going to offer sacrifices in a foreign land? This became the very center of their being as they were in Babylonian captivity. History tells us they debated this question. What they would come to, was Deuteronomy 12:4-6. They came back to what Moses said.

4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

So they reasoned, that God told them where they could worship. They came to understand according to 2 Chronicles 6:3-4 that Jerusalem was the place where His name would be. They were in a foreign land, so what were they going to do? They realized that they could not offer sacrifice. They had neither temple, nor were they in Jerusalem. This was the appointed place where God said “you must come to offer your sacrifices.” This is a horrible situation for them. We need to feel the horrible intensity with which they were struggling under the yoke of this captivity, not being able to worship. The Jews were all but shattered. We don’t have any particular record in the Bible of what they did, per se, but as I said they debated the issue and knew Jerusalem was the only place they could worship. So what could they do? History tells us, they began to study their scriptures, to see what they taught. Hosea prophesied 10 years before the northern tribes fell, from 732-722 BC. One of the things history tells us they clung to was a passage from the book of Hosea. I find this interesting in light of our study. Please consider a statement to which they clung. They knew what Moses said, they knew they couldn’t go to the temple, they knew they didn’t have a temple, that it was laying in ruins. Certainly it was going to be rebuilt later on, but they didn’t have a place to go. What they took comfort in was a verse in Hosea 6:6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

I don’t think in the original setting that Hosea is saying that sacrifices don’t mean anything. But given the circumstances under which Hosea was prophesied, he was saying that it doesn’t matter how good you sacrifice, what animal you sacrifice, if your heart’s not in it, it’s not right. They took this to be a passage about being loyal to God. They were now acknowledging the fact that they had not been loyal to God, and they began to say, “well, what can we do?” So they began to read the words of the prophet. History tells us that since they couldn’t offer sacrifice, they had various centers where people could come together and read the word of God, and where they could pray and sing. Anywhere where there were 12 Jewish males, they would establish a center, a house of prayer. This house of prayer in the Greek was referred to as the Synagogue. Synagogue simply means “a meeting place.” Here they read the word, they sang, they prayed, they offered the fruit of their lips. There’s another passage in Hosea that history tells us they looked at, which is in the 14th chapter, v.1 & 2

1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

They couldn’t offer sacrifices in a foreign land. But what they could do was turn their heart back to God, and ask God to treat them graciously, and they would offer the fruit of their lips. Singing and prayer. It’s interesting the word “offer” here is from the Hebrew word, “shalom.” One letter different from the Hebrew word, “shalome” which means “peace.” So when they were offering the fruit of their lips, they were offering a peace offering, a thank offering if you will. That’s what they were doing with the fruit of their lips. And with the thank offering Moses instituted, look at Leviticus 7:12-13 and consider the instructions he is giving for this offering,

12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.

So here is the peace offering, the thankfulness which they were giving to God. That God could take care of things. These offerings were offered by one who was at peace with God. The offering of one whose sins were forgiven. And what does Hosea say to us? “Show us grace, for then we will offer the fruit of our lips.”

Now we come back to our text in Hebrews 13. There’s no doubt in early Christianity, this application was well understood by Christians of the first century who were of Jewish extraction, that when they came to confess their faith in Christ, they were put out of the synagogue. Once they were put out of the synagogue, they would have been excluded from temple worship. Now interestingly enough, when the temple was rebuilt, it was rededicated in Ezra 3 just like it was the first time with Solomon with MIM and so forth. So they had gone back to David to get the instruction on how to rebuild the temple. But the early Christian, who was of Jewish extraction obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, he was excluded from the temple. If you look at John 12:42, we see a classic case of what we’re talking about here. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: The synagogue was the place they came to read and pray and hear the word of God. This was very important to their lives. The Hebrews writer recognizes the turmoil they would have been in having been kicked out of the synagogue. The Hebrew writer reminds them of the wonderful fact, that “we have an altar!” That altar represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the atoning work that He did. We have something better than Judaism ever thought of having. We have a sacrifice which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to participate. It’s a passage of great assurance to them. That sacrifice which we have a right to engage in, it goes on to tell us, that while they have this altar, here’s what they can do.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

He said let us come to Him. v.14 says, For we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. This world is not my home. We’re looking for an eternal abode. The writer goes on to say, that because of that,

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

We have something better than the Jews ever thought of having. We have something they will never have if they continue to serve in the temple. I think we recognize that this offering of the fruit of our lips, being singing and praying, these are thank offerings. This fits perfectly with what Paul said in Colossians 3:15-17

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Our authority is wrapped up in the altar of Jesus Christ. When the church comes together and offers singing without MIM, it is recognizing that Jesus Christ was the atoning sacrifice for our sins. As I said in part one, those that use MIM don’t understand the logical extension of their position. That is, that they are denying that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice. MIM was only used in connection with the sacrifices. We no longer have an atoning sacrifice we have to make, it’s been accomplished in Jesus Christ! As a result of that, we have an altar! We can come and offer praise and thanksgiving unto Him. We see this theme of the fruit of the lips, the praying and singing go together. As I said earlier in 1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

James 5:13 says:
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

We have other examples. In Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were in jail, what were they doing? They were praying and singing. They didn’t have to have a temple there. They could offer the fruit of their lips where they were.

As we look at the background in 2 Chronicles 29 it helps us to better appreciate the nature of our worship in connection with the atoning death of Jesus Christ. They sang the lyrics of David and Asaph. David wrote around 73 of the Psalms and Asaph wrote 12. Those were the words that they sang. That was the thank offering they were giving. In Colossians 3:15-16 we’re called to let the peace of God rule in our hearts and be thankful in word and song. This is how peace came about. Look now in Colossians 1:19-22

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

We have been reconciled! We don’t need MIM to cover the sound of the sacrifices being slaughtered in the temple. The sacrifice of Christ was once for all. The reason we’re singing a cappella without MIM is because we’re offering thank offerings, just as they did after the sacrifices were completed.

Jesus gave his life as an atoning sacrifice. He made peace between man and God. He reconciled man and God. Here’s the point. What the Old Testament sacrifice foreshadowed for Israel, Jesus did on the cross, and made man to be at peace with God. Therefore we should sing. That’s why the scriptures say “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, singing and giving thanks to God.”

We come to the last point and that is, why must the church reject MIM? We can say a lot about this, but I’m just going to pick up one point. The Bible teaches that we must not force Gentile Christians to Judaize. MIM was a part of the sacrificial system under the Old Testament. To use MIM is to cause us to make Gentiles Judaize. Look at Galatians 2:14

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Paul was rebuking Peter face to face. God has a new temple, unlike the old temple. It’s made up of both Jews and Gentiles. He reconciled them into one body. There is a new order for worship. It’s no longer that sacrificial system.

I preach on this for two reasons. One is because of this young person who has left the church and is now worshiping where they practice instrumental music. In my discussion with her, I asked her just to go home and read her Bible, and bring back to me where the Bible authorizes us to use MIM. She said, “well I can’t think off the top of my head, but it’s there.” Okay, so I said you find it and bring it to me. What she left me, while I was gone, was a four page sermon delivered by some Baptist preacher in which he began his article by saying, “It’s ridiculous that we should ever have this argument about MIM to begin with, because it’s never been a problem except within the last few centuries.” I tell you what. I’m trying to bite my tongue, but that is the double dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. For 1,200 years the church never used MIM! In fact, in 1270, Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic scholar in the church of Rome, made this statement, “Our church does not use instruments such as harps and psalteries to praise God withal, that she may not seem to Judaize. The reason they didn’t do it is because it was recognized as part of the Jewish system. To say we’ve always used MIM is to not only be totally ignorant of history, but of the Bible itself. It is just ridiculous that someone would so argue that.

The second reason I preach on this is the attitude that some have, that it’s not all that bad. And like I said in part one of this lesson. That attitude, is going to become practice in the next generation! We need to recognize that MIM is part of the sacrificial system of which we can have no part.

Why is it, that for all those centuries the church rejected MIM? It is just as Thomas Aquinas said. It was part of Judaism. And Paul says in Galatians 5 that to perpetuate one single tenet of the Jewish law into our worship, we are bound to all. And those who are justified by the law, have fallen from grace.