Mathew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21.
SCRIPTURE READING: Mt. 24:1-35.
A. REVIEW
Mathew arranges his Gospel narration in a systematic way, in fact, into five distinct groupings or DISCOURSES.
The closing formula that indicates to the end of the discourse is the phrase:
"when Jesus had finished speaking":
• ʻAnd it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings...ʼ (Mt 7:28)
• ʻAnd it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding...ʼ (Mt 11:1)
• ʻAnd it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables...ʼ (Mt 13:53)
• ʻAnd it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings...ʼ (Mt 19:1)
• ʻAnd it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings...ʼ(Mt 26:1)
1. THE FIVE DISCOURSES
1. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
a. Chapters: Mt 5-7.
b. Content: Beatitudes and Lord’s Prayer.
c. Context: Contains the central tenets of Christian discipleship.
2. THE MISSIONARY DISCOURSE:
a. Chapters: Mt 10
b. Contains: Instructions to the 12 Apostles.
c. Context: Little Commission in contrast to the Great Commission.
3. THE PARABOLIC DISCOURSE:
a. Chapters: Mt 13:1-53
b. Contains: 7 parables for the Kingdom of Heaven
c. Context: Presents the nature of the kingdom.
4. THE DISCOURSE ON THE CHURCH:
a. Chapters: Mt 18
b. Contains: The parable of the Lost Sheep and the Unforgiving Servant.
c. Context: The church the future community of the followers of Christ.
5. THE DISCOURSE ON END TIMES:
a. Chapters: Mt 23-25
b. Contains: Usually called the Olivet Discourse since it was given on Mt. of Olives.
c. Corresponds: Mark 13; Luke 21
d. Context: Jesus prophesies the destruction of the Temple; tells about His Second Coming; and why we as believers must be prepared in these last days.
2. THE REASON MATHEW’S GOSPEL GIVES THE FIVE DISCOURSE
A question may be asked why does Mathew give these five discourses.
a. GOSPELS PRESENT A THEME; NOT MERELY CHRONOLOGICAL IN NARRATION
• Gospels are not merely a narrative of the sequence of things that happened but intentional choreography around the theme.
• [Not merely chronological but compositional, around the central theme].
• Mathew whose mandate is to present Jesus as the King of the Jews brings these discourses around a particular aspect of Jesus’ teaching that highlights Christ’s kingship.
b. MANDATE OF “THE KING OF THE JEWS”
It only seems natural that the King would lay out and explain His:
1. Moral Code of His Kingdom: Mt 5-7
o Presents Jesus as moral and spiritual teacher and lawgiver - the New Moses.
2. Missional Compulsion of His Kingdom: Mt 10
o The urgency of spreading the message of the kingdom to others.
3. Material Content of His Kingdom: Mt 13
o It encourages a state of preparedness.
4. Member Constituents of His Kingdom: Mt 18
o Deals with relationships between disciples and their role to live as citizens of the kingdom in their congregations today.
5. Majestic Consolidation of His Kingdom: Mt 23-25.
o Examines the signs of the kingdom and the judgment that will precede it.
B. THE OUTLINE FOR TODAY
1. CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE: [What is this passage sitting on?]
• Timeline
• Woes on the religious rulers and
• The judgment on the Temple.
2. CONCERN OF THE DISCIPLES:
• The reason for the questions; and
• The brief outline of the answer given by our Lord.
3. CAUTION TO HIS HEARERS
• Two examples – Fulfilled against impossible odds.
• Don’t be fooled
• Don’t be fearful
• Stay faithful
TAKE AWAY: DON’T BE FOOLED; DON’T BE FEARFUL; STAY FAITHFUL.
C. CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE
1. THE TIMELINE
If you were hanging out with Jesus this would have been a busy week.
LET’S LOOK BACK JUST TWO DAYS FROM THIS PASSAGE.
a. TWO DAYS AGO: TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
• Mat 21. Jesus entered Jerusalem in Triumphal entry riding on a donkey just like the prophecy in Zech 9:9 [“HUMBLE MOUNTED ON A DONKEY”].
• It is the picture of a conquering king riding into the streets of the royal city. [REMEMBER SAUL AND DAVID]
• Such a king is expected to ride to his palace in the midst of the praise of His people.
• No longer does Jesus restrain the public knowledge that He indeed is the Messiah and the King that they have been waiting for. [Mt 12:16; Mt 16:20].
• He comes however, not on a royal steed [that happens in Rev 19] but on a lowly donkey.
a. CELEBRATION CHANGES TO OUTCRY
This is when a movie director would want music go out of tune to indicate things were not going as expected.
• For, Jesus turns not to Herod’s palace but towards the Temple.
• For, Jesus had come to establish the spiritual not the political kingdom.
• The adulation of the people was not because they accepted Him as the one who saves them from their sins.
• Their agenda was political – they needed someone who would usurp Herod and set up a political kingdom.
b. YESTERDAY: CURSING OF THE FIG TREE
• Mt 21:18-19. On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem He curses the fig tree, symbolic of Israel.
• The fig tree had leaves – and much leaves must mean fruits but there were none.
THE PICTURE
• It is the picture perfect image of Israel which was all religious on the outside with its sacrifices and rituals but on the inside it was spiritually barren.
c. YESTERDAY: CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
• Now in the city He cleanses the temple.
• Mt. 21:12. he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
• This is the second time that Jesus is cleansing the temple.
d. TODAY: 7 WOES OVER THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES [MT 23]
• FIG TREE: The disciples on their way to Jerusalem from Bethany found the fig tree withered up from the root up [Mark 11:17].
• In the temple He turns His attention on the Scribes and Pharisees, where pronounces 7 woes.
This marks the public condemnation and rejection of the rulers and priests of Israel.
e. TODAY: THE JUDGMENT ON THE TEMPLE
Mt 23 ends with the judgment on the Temple.
38 See, your house [referring to the temple] is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
f. “LORD! LOOK AT THE STONES”
His public ministry completed, Jesus is stepping out of the Temple never to go back again into that “house” which is left desolate.
Mt.24:1 Jesus left the temple and was going away,...
It is in this context that
• The disciples are trying to show off the temple to the Lord.
• Jesus drops the bomb on them – “the temple will be destroyed”.
2. HEROD’S TEMPLE
a. THE SIZE: MAJESTY OF THE TEMPLE
• It had taken 46 years to build this temple [John 2:20].
• In fact, the work would be complete in AD 63, seven years prior to its destruction.
• During the earthly ministry of the Lord work was still going on.
Greater glory
• Haggai 2:9. Had prophesied that the glory of the Second Temple would be greater than that of the first.
• This of course was fulfilled when Christ Himself walked its courts.
Size of the Temple
• Nevertheless, it was bigger and grander than Solomon’s Temple.
• "Josephus the Jew tells us that for eight whole years together he [Herod] kept 10,000 men a-work about it; and that for magnificence and stateliness, it exceeded Solomon's temple."
b. THE SHOCK: THINGS DIDN’T COMPUTE FOR THE DISCIPLES
Prophetically:
• What no Temple?
• In fact, Daniel, Ezekiel and Zechariah had already prophesied about the temple and the sacrifices at the end of the age [Dan 9:27; Zech 14:20-21; Ezek 43:5].
Physically:
• Josephus tells us that Herod used stones that were 37 feet long, 12 feet high [HIGHER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THIS ROOM], and 18 feet thick.
• Some of these stones weighed 100 tons each.
• The construction is still an engineering marvel – done without Mac Trucks and Caterpillar cranes.
• No wonder Disciples couldn’t get over the stones and the buildings.
JESUS SAYS THESE HUGE STONES WILL BE “THROWN DOWN”.
D. CONCERN OF THE DISCIPLES
It is in this context the three questions are asked:
a. THREE QUESTIONS?
[Mt 24:3; Mark 13:3-4; Luke 21:7]
"...when will these things be?"
• The destruction of the temple?
• (Matthew 24:4-26, Mark 13:5-23)
"...what will be the sign of Your coming?"
• When is the coming to claim your kingdom?
• (Matthew 24:27-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 17:24-25)
"...and of the end of the age?"
• Establishment of your kingdom? [Not the dissolving of the earth and heavens].
• (Matthew 24:32-51, Mark 13:28-37, Luke 12:37-40, 17:26-37).
3. OUTLINE OF JESUS’ ANSWER
Jesus gives the longest response compared to any other discourse
a. JESUS BEGINS WITH TWO WARNINGS
Mt 24:4. “And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray.”
Mt 24:6. “See that you are not alarmed.”
• Don’t be fooled; Don’t be fearful.
b. JESUS LISTS 10 THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN [ Vs. 5-12]
i. Vv.5. Deception: Many led astray
ii. Vv.6. Dissension: Wars and rumours of wars
iii. Vv.7. Devastation: Famines and Earthquakes.
iv. Vv. 7. Disease: Pestilence
v. Vv. 7. Disaster: Earthquakes
vi. Vv. 9. Death: Tribulation and putting to death.
vii. Vv. 10. Disloyalty: People will betray one another.
viii. Vv.11. Delusion: False Prophets
ix. Vv. 12. Defection: Love of many will grow cold and turn from God.
NOTE: The first nine is only the birth pangs. It is not time yet to take the mother to the hospital. [Not yet fully dilated].
x. Vv.14. Declaration: Gospel will be preached as a witness to all nations [ETHNOS].
• Mt 24:14. “Then the end will come…”
c. THE ABOMINATION OF THE DESOLATION [ Vs. 15-21]
• Deals with the destruction of the Temple and with end ages.
• “abomination of the desolation”: We read about this first in Daniel 9:27.
Antiochus Epiphanies
[Reference to abomination of desolation would have sent a chill down the spine of the disciples]
• In 167 B.C. a Greek ruler by the name of Antiochus Epiphanies set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. This event is known as the abomination of desolation.
• Jesus was talking about something that is still going to happen.
General Titus
• In AD 70 General Titus put up images of the Roman Emperor which some scholars hold as the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Great Tribulation
• Since there was not covenant signed with the Nation of Israel in either of these two events we continue to look ahead for its complete fulfillment.
• We read about its end of age fulfillment in Rev 13:14.
d. THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN [Mt 24:29-31]
• Provides us signs of His coming.
e. WARNING TO BE PREPARED AND TO BE FAITHFUL [Mt 24:36-51]
• Jesus gives us four parables to culminate his discourse about being prepared and faithful.
STAY FAITHFUL
E. CAUTION TO HIS HEARERS
1. THE ACCURACY OF THE FULFILLED PROPHECIES [though partial].
In 40 years, the Temple is destroyed. Those who heard Jesus knew He meant business.
• Jesus was not speaking symbolically.
a. “NO ONE STONE UPON THE OTHER THAT WILL NOT BE THROWN DOWN”
Mt 24:2. But he answered them, You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.
HISTORY
In the year 66 AD the Jews of Judea rebelled against their Roman masters.
In response, the Emperor Nero dispatched an army under the generalship of Vespasian to restore order. [Also, turmoil in Rome: Year of the Four Emperors].
After a five-month siege Jerusalem fell under the generalship of Vespasian’s son –Titus.
General Titus did not want to destroy the five-hundred-year old temple. And the Emperor probably wanted to convert the Temple into a temple for the Roman Emperor and the Roman Pantheon.
However, his soldiers roused to madness due to the stubborn resistance had set the temple on fire. This caused the gold on the dome to melt and trickle down the cracks and between the stones. Rome in desperately need of gold to finance its wars literally uprooted and threw down all the stones.
Such is the destruction that we read:
QUOTE
In his book, The Archaeology of the Jerusalem Area, Harold Mare, former president of the Near East Archaeological Society, notes:
“We do not have any remains of the Herodian temple itself because of the devastating Roman destruction in A.D. 70”.
Another scholar declares:
“Strictly speaking, the Temple proper is not a matter of archaeological consideration since only one stone from it and parts of another can be positively identified”
Christians visiting Israel and seeing the rubble – the stones so thrown down can only stand in awe of the accuracy of the fulfillment of the word of God.
b. “LET THOSE WHO ARE IN JUDEA FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS”.
Mt 24:15-24. Jesus asks people to flee at the sign of the “abomination of desolation” standing in the Holy Place.
Bible teacher JACK KELLY describes what took place leading up to Jerusalem's destruction:
"In what appears to be poor advice, [Jesus] told them to get out of town when they saw the city being surrounded by enemy troops, an event that took place nearly 40 years later.
The objective of a besieging army was to trap everyone inside so the plight of starving women and children would have a discouraging influence on the leadership. Non-combatants were not allowed free passage through enemy lines for this reason.
[also remember the siege was during the Passover time when a million visitors thronged the streets of Jerusalem. In addition, a zealot foolishly trying to induce everyone in Jerusalem to join the fight burned all the stored rations. This aggravated the starvation].
But a strange thing happened in the siege of Jerusalem.
After surrounding the city, the Roman army was suddenly told to abandon their position and prepare for an immediate departure to Rome. General Titus, who commanded the army, was the son of Vespasian, a man striving to become the Roman Emperor. Fearing he would need extra help in consolidating his power, Vespasian ordered Titus to bring the army home to assist.
But before they could depart, another message arrived saying that all was in order and to resume the siege of Jerusalem.
For one week the siege lines had been abandoned, and during this time Christians who heeded the Lord's earlier warning escaped.
[Josephus writes] Although 1.2 million Jews died in Rome's defeat of Israel, according to the historian Josephus, not one Christian perished in the siege of Jerusalem. The Lord's advice had been sound and even strategically clever."
THE ENCORE DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Many Bible scholars believe that the Jewish remnant will flee to Petra, where God will protect them through the last half of the Tribulation.
2. WIIFM?
The question we ask is “So What?” or “What does that mean to me?”
DON’T BE FOOLED; DON’T BE FEARFUL; STAY FAITHFUL
a. DON’T BE FOOLED
Matt 24:4 “And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray”.
• BEING FOOLED: or being deceived is the first thing Eve confessed when God confronted her:
Gen 3:13. “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
THE STORY IS NOT VERY DIFFERENT TODAY AMONG THE CHRISTIANS.
LIFEWAY RESEARCH
The online survey of 3,000 Americans was commissioned by Orlando-based Ligonier Ministries.
• Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries, “the study was intended to “take the temperature of America’s theological health.””
• Ligonier founder and chairman, R.C. Sproul, “What comes screaming through this survey is the pervasive influence of humanism.”
Humanism is the theme on which the Book of Judges ends:
• Judges 21: 25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
People believe what they want to believe and get upset when told they are not Christians.
• Sad part of the deception is that some of us here may think everything is cool with them and God; but may end up knocking on the door asking the Lord to open up and hearing the Lord say, “I knew you not”.
THIS DISCOURSE WAS GIVEN BECAUSE DISCIPLES WERE FOOLED OR DECEIVED.
Mt 24:1. “Jesus left the temple and was going away…”
• This should be the time when we hear the phrase: “The King has left the building”
• This was the greatest demonstration of rejection of the Temple and its religious rites by our Lord Jesus Christ
• But His disciples were still caught up by the splendor of the outer display and trappings.
Hear the word of our Lord:
Mt 24:25. See, I have told you beforehand.
• Your best antidote against being fooled is to know the Word.
[The only one who seems to be reading the Bible today more than you is the Devil. Devil is thinking God has laid out His strategy; His next steps in the Bible. It is like having the blueprint of the battle strategy. The Devil must be thinking, “How foolish. All I need to do is to stay ahead of His word.” However, the Devil won’t succeed. But it is given to us – for life and godliness, we can’t do without knowing His word. So we better start! Lest we be fooled].
b. DON’T BE FEARFUL
Mt 24:6. “See that you are not alarmed…”
It seems natural to be fearful as you look at the turn of events.
A Psalm that consoled many during storms in their lives is Ps 46.
Psalm 46:1-3. God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah.
[I still can say Selah –a rest; a pause]
[Love the contrast between: Mt 17:20 and Ps 46:2. Mountains may either be a challenge and it is good that it be cast into the sea. Sometimes mountain is the higher ground, a safe place but even when that is cast into the sea I will not fear].
Hear the word of our Lord:
Mt 24:13. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Brothers and sisters, hang on, the end of this roller coaster ride is just around the corner.
c. HE IS NOT DELAYED
Mt 24: 32-33 From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
The Book of Revelation ends with the promise of Maranatha – which means, the Lord is coming.
The first century Christians who lived under the most adverse circumstances – persecuted by the Roman Emperor: being burnt at stake; fed to the lions after being sewn-up with animal hide; Yet they held on to the hope that He is not delayed.
2000 years later that hope is not diminished, nor is it held in doubt. In fact, ask any disciple of Christ they will tell you that their hope only shines brighter.
Summer is near. For the Fig tree has put out its leaves on its tender branch.
THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH
2 Thess 2:8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
• The breath that made man a spiritual being – gave me life; will be the one that will kill the lawless one.
• With Him I am on the victory side.
Don’t be fooled; Don’t be fearful; Be faithful.
Illustration:
A young lady busied herself getting ready for a blind date. This was not just dinner and a movie; her date had planned dinner at an exclusive downtown restaurant with live music and dancing. Wanting to make a good first impression she had taken the day off work. She cleaned her apartment; she went out that afternoon to have her hair done and get a manicure. When she got home she did her makeup, put on her best dress and was ready for her date’s arrival. His expected arrival came and went, but she continued to wait patiently. Finally after waiting over an hour she decided she had been stood up, so she took off her dress, let down her hair put on her pajamas, gathered all her favorite junk food and sat down to watch TV with her dog. Sometime later there was a knock at the door; it was her date. He looked at her surprised and said, “What I gave you an extra two hours and you’re still not ready to go!”
Hope On! He is not delayed. Not by an hour! Not by a minute!
d. STAY FAITHFUL
Jesus ends the Olivet Discourse with four parables. The essence of these parables can be summarized in these verses
i. PARABLE OF THE 2 STEWARDS.
Mt 24:45. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
ii. PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS
• Parable on preparation.
Mt 25:13. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
iii. PARABLE OF THE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
Mt 25:21. Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
iv. PARABLE OF THE GOATS AND SHEEP
Mt 25:34. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world
• It is not the piety that gives entrance to heaven. But those prepared for good works must demonstrate the faithfulness to the call.
• Eph 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them
F. CONCLUSION
Many were neither prepared nor faithful at the first coming of the king; what about us as we await His second coming?
• We don’t have the luxury of being fooled; or fearful. We are called to be faithful.
He is coming I can almost hear the trumpet sounding!
O! the King is coming.
Unlike the first Triumphal Entry the one we are waiting for will be in grandeur:
Rev 19:11-16. 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
G. TAKE AWAY QUESTION
1. What are the lessons we learn from the four parables?
