There is a difference between sin and error. It I say 2+2=5 I am in error, but I am not sinning. That
is, if my motive is to come to a right answer I am not sinning. If my human fallibility leads me to a
wrong answer it is not sin. If I say 2+2=5 in order to confuse a young person so that they will make
a mistake and get a problem wrong then it becomes a sin, for it is a deliberate attempt to deceive. It
is no longer an error but a lie, and, therefore, a sin. The motive determines the difference between a
sin and an error.
When it comes to matters of Biblical doctrine we find the same distinction. If I had believed that
Jesus was to come in 1988, I have been proven wrong. I was in error to believe that, but I was not
sinning in believing that. That was an error in calculation and interpretation. Christians have been
wrong about a good many things because they did not properly understand God's Word. This is not
sin, but the natural result of the inadequacy of human knowledge. However, if my error is the direct
result of disobeying, or of paying no heed to the clear words of Christ, then it becomes sin, for it is
error due to willful negligence. Whenever we can avoid error easily and do not do so because of
laziness and indifference, it becomes a sin to be wrong. To be in error about the obscure or
unrevealed is perfectly normal, but to be in error about the clearly revealed is to be guilty of sinful
negligence.
Jesus predicted that error would be successful, and false prophets would lead many astray just
because people will refuse to give heed to His warning. They will allow themselves to be frightened,
and led into unstable emotionalism over the very things He clearly stated were no cause for alarm.
G. Campbell Morgan wrote, "Observe...that in this prophecy we have the definite declaration that
wars and rumors of wars are not the sign of the end of the age." Yet every crisis and international
conflict will bring many false prophets out of the darkness to confuse and frighten.
Whenever you find Christians being alarmists and acting like chicken little scampering around
the barnyard screaming that the sky is falling, you know they have missed the purpose of Christ's
teaching on last things. His key word is watch. Do not be alarmed He urges. Don't go off half
cocked. Don't lose control of your emotional stability. Be steady, be alert, be watchful. A few
minutes of calm reflection upon the evidence would have saved chicken little from his emotional
blunder and premature warning that caused so much chaos. So also a few moments of calm
reflection on the clear teaching of Jesus will help us avoid confusing the end with the beginning.
Jesus said that all these things are the beginning of sufferings. Let us not be guilty of willful error by
saying these things are signs of the end.
In verse 9 Jesus goes on to tell the disciples some of the very specific forms of suffering they will
have to endure. Let us keep in mind that Jesus answered their question primarily to give them
understanding. The first application of His teaching is to the immediate future of the disciples, and
not to the 20th century, or any other century. For example, Jesus says they will be beaten in
synagogues, and taken before governors and kings. This is obviously a picture of law enforcement
and persecution which fits what the Apostles faced, but would not apply after 70 A. D. After that
the Jews no longer had the power or authority. It was not long before the picture was reversed
completely and Christians were persecuting Jews and beating them.
The point is, Jesus is not describing what is going to happen all through history, though similar
things have always happened. He is telling them what they must endure as the first proclaimers of
the Gospel. Both Jews and the Romans would arrest them because of all the trouble Christianity
would stir up. The Romans would have to intervene because of the dangerous tension between the
old Israel and new Israel. It was a civil war within Judaism that the Gospel caused, and as verse 12
shows, it was a conflict unto death. The Romans had to step in to maintain order. You will notice
that the beatings are to take place in the synagogue at the hands of the Jews, but the being brought
before the governors and kings was for the purpose of bearing testimony. Of course, no beatings
have been allowed in synagogues for many centuries, and so this passage obviously refers to the
immediate future of the disciples.
Jesus indicates that one of the key ways of getting the Gospel spread would be through the courts.
The persecution would lead to opportunities to defend the Gospel before high officials and leaders in
high places. This would give the Gospel a world wide sounding board. Just as today an obscure
matter known only to a few people can become the talk of the nation if it comes before the Supreme
Court. Some people break a law on purpose just to get the matter before the courts, and to get their
voice heard. This is what was going to happen in the early church. Old Israel was dying, but it was
going to take down the new Israel with it, but their very efforts to destroy it were the cause for its
becoming a world wide movement. God makes even the wrath of man to praise Him.
So crucial was this in the plan of God that Jesus tells them in verse 11 not to be anxious about
what to say, for the Holy Spirit was promised to make sure this opportunity would be used to the
fullest extent. Under this unique situation the direct work of the Holy Spirit was essential for the
success of the spread of the Gospel. If we go to the book of Acts, we discover that almost all of the
great preaching, and all of the great defenses of the Gospel were delivered before official bodies, or
men in high places. We find Peter and John before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:8-21 and 5:29f. The
seventh chapter is Stephen's great defense before his martyrdom. Paul is before the Sanhedrin in
Acts 23; before Felix in Acts 24; before Festus in Acts 25; before Agrippa in Acts 26, and in a
Roman prison in Acts 28. It is no less than fantastic when we see the role of the legal system of
Rome in the spread of the Gospel. Had God not prepared the world through the development of the
Roman legal system, the church would not have gotten off the ground to such a rapid start.
Freedom of speech and liberty to be heard, and to present your side of the case, was essential for
the growth of Christianity. At other times and under other systems Christianity would have been
denied this privilege. We see another explanation of the statement, "In the fullness of time God sent
forth His Son." God knew all of these factors before time began. He is never too early or too late in
His actions. It would be interesting to digress here, and consider the whole history of how the
Gospel has spread through its conflicts within the courts of this world, but this would take us too far
afield. Many of the great men of God and movements of God became that due to conflict with the
law or official bodies. The Baptist General Conference began with the trial of F.O. Nielson in
Sweden where his defense of the Baptist position was published all over the nation by reporters at his
trial. This led to many believing and becoming followers. Never underestimate the value of the
truth being brought before the courts.
Jesus wants to encourage His disciples with this knowledge that what they suffer will be worth
while, for it is part of the necessary price to pay for the success of the church. In verse 10 He makes
it clear that the persecution will not destroy the church. The Gospel will be preached in all nations
before the end. This has both an immediate and ultimate application. The Gospel did reach all
nations before 70 A. D., in the sense that through the synagogues Jews all over the world had a
chance to choose Christ as their Messiah before Judaism was judged in the fall of Jerusalem. This is
the primary application for the benefit of the disciples, and to comfort them as to the immediate
success of the Gospel before the fall of old Israel.
If our assumption is valid that the judgment on Judaism is a type of the coming final judgment on
the world, then we can see the application of this promise to our own day also. The end will not
come until the great commission is fulfilled, and people of every nation have the chance to respond
to the Gospel. Not knowing the precise definition of this means that this goal is certainly within
sight in our day.
Mark's record of the statement clearly makes it a reference to the world of the disciples. It is put
between verses 9 and 11 which are references to their own personal trials. In verse 11 Jesus tells
them not to be anxious about what to say when they are brought to trial. This has nothing to do with
their responsibility to expound the Word and their study habits. Paul said, "Bring me the books and
the parchments." He was a student of the Word, but he did not have time to prepare speeches when
he was brought before the courts. Jesus is saying, do not worry at such a time, for all you need to
do is defend your right to believe, and the basis for your belief. All that is necessary is your love for
and faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Anyone who gets a wide open opportunity to
express their faith in Christ is able to do a good job of it, for the Holy Spirit continues to operate this
way under such circumstances. When there is perfect liberty the Christian needs no preparation, but
simply a living faith in Christ.
Verse 12 is the saddest part of this prophecy, for the tension will be so terrific in homes where
some believe and others do not that there will be hatred unto death developed between loved ones.
Here is clear civil war; not between Jews and Gentiles, but between believers and unbelievers. This
is why Jesus said that if you love father or mother, or son or daughter, or brother or sister, more
than me you are not worthy of me. He knew the day would come when men would have to choose
between Him and family loyalty. This was true for both Jews and Gentiles. Emperor Domitian slew
Flavius Clemens and his niece because they were Christians. Emperor Maximin killed Artemia his
own sister. Diocletian killed his own wife and other relatives for being Christians. Only eternity
will reveal how many Christians were killed by their own family.
In verse 13 Jesus indicates that men of all places will be hateful toward believers. There will be
no sanctuary, for Christians will suffer universal persecution. Jesus promises no escape, but
encourages them to endure to the end and be saved. He promises no cheap grace, but He says it is
worth going through all the suffering, for all who do shall be saved. Be faithful unto death and you
will receive the crown of life. This was true in the first century, and is true for Christians today who
suffer all over the world.
