Matthew

Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple
The signs of the Times and the end of age
The Great Tribulation
The coming of the Son of Man
The parable of the Fig tree
No one knows the day or hour
The faithful servant the evil servant

Matthew 24 is the beginning of the Olivet discourse.  While this discourse is seen in all three synoptic, Matthew's account is the most extensive (Mt. 24:3-25:46; Mk. 13:3-37; Lk. 21:5-36).  Mark tells us this discourse was given to Peter, James, John and Andrew. 

Matthew 24:1-2

This is Herod's temple that the disciples want to point out to Jesus.  They point it out because it was such an amazing site to behold, especially from the Mount of Olives.  The historian Josephus wrote about the temple.  The temple was huge; covering an area 400 yards by 500 yards.  He said that at one time Herod employed 10,000 men for an eight-year period.  The temple was still being worked on during Jesus' time.  Much of the exterior was covered in Gold plate and what wasn't gold was pure white marble.  Josephus said it was hard to look at because the glare from the sun hurt your eyes. 

There is no doubt the sight of the temple from the Mount of Olives was breathtaking and became a topic of conversation this day as the disciples pointed it out to Jesus.  As they looked on Jesus told these four men that this place would be destroyed; even to the point of all the stones being thrown down.  The main columns of the temple porch were thirty-seven feet long solid marble.  The stones were fifty feet long, twenty-four wide, and sixteen thick; some weighing over one hundred tons.  They weigh so much and fit so tightly together it is still a mystery today how they were cut and moved into place. 

It would be about forty years till the temple was destroyed.  Rome, at the command of Titus, came into Jerusalem to crush the Jewish rebellions.  People ran to the temple mount for protection.  As the Romans surrounded the temple it is said Titus was going to save the temple but a drunken soldier started a fire that spread.  All the people were killed, the temple burned up and the gold plate melted and ran into the stones.  Rome subsequently dismantled the remaining temple stone by stone to salvage the gold.  They did such a good job of this no one is really sure where on the temple mount the temple was located.

 

Matthew 24:3

We can only try to imagine the shock these men felt.  The temple was the center of Jewish life and it was massive and ornate.  How could it be destroyed?  This would have especially bothersome if they still had it in their mind that he would rule from the kingdom from the temple. 

Because of this, they ask two questions; one about when the temple would be destroyed and the other about the coming of the Lord and end of age.  In their mind all this would happen at the same time. 

 

Matthew 24:4

Jesus' response begins with the warning of deception.  The implication is some thing or some person is trying to deceive you.  To 'take heed' was to pay attention and watch closely. 

 

Matthew 24:5-8

None of these things mark the end of times.  There will be false messiah's spreading deception as there has been since the ascension of Jesus.  The term 'anti-christ' is the idea of 'instead of' Jesus or 'in place of' Jesus.  The spirit of anti-christ is alive and well as there are many who believe in a Jesus, just not the Jesus of the bible. 

There have always been wars and rumors of wars.  While this is true, we seem to be coming more proficient in killing each other.  We can now push a button and annihilate the world.  Man talks about peace and always has, while they kill each other.  This will happen right up to the end but by itself this is not a sign.

Nations will rise against each other.  The Greek word for nations is ethnos; meaning ethnic groups.  Ethnic groups will rise against other ethnic groups.  These are people groups identified by ethnicity regardless of location with not necessarily gathered under a leader.  Along with this ethnic wars, kingdoms will rise up against kingdoms.  These are people groups gathered together and following a leader. 

There will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes.  Famines is a shortage of food so severe as to bring starvation and death.  Pestilences is a word only used twice in the New Testament.  It means 'a pest' or a public nuisance; it would describe the plagues.  We might think of this in terms of bird flu, swine flu

None of these things are anything to be troubled about.  However all these things mark the beginning of sorrows.  The word for 'sorrows' literally means labor pains; the pains that bring birth. 

 

All these signs together are signs of a creation groaning together.  This groaning is a pain that can't be articulated; but it is explained as pangs of birth, the early signs of the revealing of Jesus Christ.  As the end draws near the intensity of these pains becomes greater. 

 

Matthew 24:9-14

Tribulation and persecution is part of the Christian life.  As a follower of Christ you will be hated by all the nations.  The word for 'nations' here is different word than that used in verse 7.  This is a general category, all encompassing group of a people representing many cultures, ethnic groups and people groups.  This hatred is treated poorly and scorned among all types of people.  All the nationalities will be joined in this hatred for Christianity.  It will be one of the few things that unite many of these cultures; it's a partnering of darkness.  This age will be marked by offense, betrayal and hatred.  It will usher in a time where false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  When life becomes difficult those strong in the faith grow stronger; those weak tend to fall away or look for answers in a false prophet. 

We could talk along time about lawlessness.  Can there be any doubt that it is becoming more prevalent?  We could talk about Ferguson Missouri or we might look at the attacks on Paris in November of 2015.  How the Russian air line blown out of the sky by a bomb?  We could go on and on testifying to the coldness of this world that is evident in the lawlessness.  It is amazing how quickly a group of people can turn to a mob mentality.  We don't like to think of ourselves that way but we can quickly resemble a pack of animals hunting and killing randomly. 

Among all this verse 13 calls for a perseverance all the way to the end.  We might look at these things and become frustrated and desire to give up.  "Why try?" is proclaiming defeat as one who lost hope.  It may feel like we are losing but we must endure this until the Lord rescues us through our natural death or through rapture. 

The gospel will then be preached in all the world.  The disciples may have been wondering what good news (gospel) Jesus was talking about.  This all sounded like bad news.  Some believe this preaching to the entire world has already happened.  We also know from Revelation 7 that there will be 144,000 Jewish evangelists; the result of which is seen people from all tribes, nations and tongues come to the Lord. 

Then in Revelation 14:6, when the Lord is standing on the Mt. Zion (Rev 14:1) we will here the proclamation of the gospel.

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-⁷ saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Its at this time that every knee will bow.  The Lamb of God is now the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the hour of judgment has come.  The gospel at this point stands as witness against those who rejected it.

 

Matthew 24:15-16

Let's go to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. ³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.^[2]

The Thessalonians had been dooped by a false teacher into thinking they had missed the second coming of Jesus.   Paul warned them in this letter to not be deceived.  That Day won't come until there is a falling away and the Anti-Christ steps onto the scene.  These events of this seven-year tribulation, the seventieth week of Daniel, have to take place first.  Because they had not seen these things happen, they could draw comfort.

This 'abomination of desolation' is the setting up of a idol in the Holy of holies of the temple.  It is blatant violation of the commands of God and the highest offense one could do in this earthly temple.  The holy of holies is where man met God; the abomination that defiles this sanctuary is the placing of someone or something in the place of God in the holy of holies. 

Let's go to 1 John 2:18 where John warns of this world leader who will lead many astray:

¹⁸ Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. ²¹ I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

²² Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.^[3]

Jesus pointed toward the prophecies of Daniel.  Look at Daniel 9:24:

 

Jer.30:4-7 calls this the time of Jacob's troubles:

One thing we should note is that if this abomination is done in the holy of holies in the temple then the temple must first be rebuilt.  Because there is no temple, some scholars or prophecy teachers assume this must mean something else.  Scripture does tells us that our body is the temple and that God's Spirit lives in the heart of a believer, I don't think we can assume this abomination is something that happens in a person.  The plain meaning of this seems to be that this man will do this for all the world to see.  So, I believe there will be a temple rebuilt.  There are Jews in Israel today ready to rebuild the temple.  And we have to wonder if this isn't part of a peace covenant that the Jews are allowed to build on the temple mount.

This abomination will be a turning point.  Those who see this need to flee.

 

Matthew 24:17-22

There will be great tribulation as the Lord unleashes his wrath of judgment on the earth.  The earth has never seen anything like this before.  No government program will help; no nation will be able to stop of alleviate the conditions.  There will be no ignoring it or any way to completely get away from all that will be unleashed in this Great Tribulation.  And if God were not to shorten those days, then nothing would survive them.  And if God were to instantly annihilate the earth, He would be just and right to do so.  But He shortens the days and times for the sake of the elect.  There are still those crying out in repentance and faith to their savior.  This is the ultimate in deathbed confessions as the world is brought to the brink of total destruction.

 

Matthew 24:23-25

People will be looking for hope.  The enemy will offer all kinds of false hope, even to the point of doing signs and wonders that will impress people.  Even the elect will look at these things and be tempted to follow these signs. 

 

Matthew 24:26-28

The coming of the son of man will be as plain and evident as lightning and thunder; easily visible, easily recognizable for what it is.  No one will have to wonder if that was the coming of Jesus or this other christ was him.  The world will now. 

Verse 28 was probably a figure of speech of that day.  We might apply it this way; when the time is right, He will come. 

 

Matthew 24:29-31

The first thing that strikes me in this verse is that the elect are gathered from heaven.  We can study the rapture at another time, but this is noteworthy.  God didn't appoint us to wrath.  There are many scriptures that lead us to believe the Lord will snatch away His church before this tribulation period.  Then as a result of the tribulation and all that it entails, many will come to the Lord.  Many will be martyred for receiving Christ during this time.  We also know that the eyes of the Israel will be opened to see Jesus as their messiah.  The 144,000 Jewish evangelist will evangelize the world during this time and many will come to Christ. 

1 Thess 2:19

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

What a sight this will be!!  Jesus is coming in great power and great glory with all His angels and at the sound of the trumpet all believers will be called to come with Him.  Let's look to Revelation 19 to see more of this scene:

¹¹ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, ¹⁸ that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."

¹⁹ And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. ²⁰ Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹ And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.^[6]

 

Matthew 24:32-35

We are commanded to learn this parable of the fig tree.  While we can sometimes see the figs or fig tree is symbolic, in this parable it is more about the pattern of the tree.  It was reliable in its pattern of growth.  When the branch put forth leaves it was a sign that summer was near.  Jesus is using this parable to answer the question asked in verse 3; what will be the signs.  So, when we see all these things we need to know it is close.  In fact, Daniel said it was exactly 1290 days after the abomination of desolation (Dan 12:11).

Jesus said there would be worldwide upheaval, catastrophes and persecution.  Then there would be a sign that would mark the midpoint in the tribulation; the abomination of desolation.  At this, Israel was told to flea for things were about to be worse.  Then there would be great tribulation and cosmic upheaval.  Then, Jesus would return in glory.

The generation that sees these signs will not pass until this all takes place.  Verse thirty-five stands as an eternal guarantee from the eternal God that this is coming.  There is no expiration on what He said.  Every generation has seen some signs and a slow progression toward this time; each subsequent generation draws closer.  And the closer it gets the more deception we see; the more apostasy we see; the more we see people who claim to belong to the Lord no longer watching and waiting for Him.  It's as if people have decided its been too many years and the Lord hasn't returned; as if they think he was never coming or has forgotten about us.  But this church age, this time of waiting is God's own attribute of being longsuffering.  This day won't come until the fullness of the gentiles; that day when the last person turns from their sins and trusts in Jesus.  It is then we will see all this come about.  

Jesus began this by commanding us to not be deceived.  There is a deception in the thought that its been too long and that he's not coming back.  Jesus said, the bible reveals it in many places, the promise is made and it is true.  The Word will never pass away.  It is a deception of the enemy, the same deception of the garden, to think the promise has expired.  Satan would say, "Did God really say?" or "Is that really what He meant?" and discourage and deceive us so that some would fall away.   

 

Matthew 24:36

It is noteworthy that Jesus Himself did not even know what day or hour; it is only for the Father to know at this time.  This leads us to understand that, to some degree, Jesus had set aside His omniscience while in his earthly ministry.  (Read also Philippians 2:7) This is known as the kenosis and it widely debated.

The point we need to know here though is that no one knows the hour or day.  Yet, Jesus referred to Daniel and the abomination of desolation; of which we can count 1290 days to the coming.  How can this be?  This too is hotly debated.  The answer to the disciples, regarding their question of when this will happen, was that no one knows.  No one knows the whether it was a year, ten or a thousand years.  The same answer is given to us; we can't know if it starts tomorrow, next year or ten.  However, we can see the signs.  While we don't know the hour or day, we can certainly see we are in the right season. 

 

Matthew 24:37-39

The days of Noah were filled with violence and wickedness.  The sons of God took wives from among the daughters of men.  The offspring of these fallen angels and human women were giants who were mighty men of old, men of renown.  This demonic influence appears to be a means to destroy and defile blood lines that would one day bring the messiah.

⁵ Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷ So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." ⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.^[7] (Genesis 6:5-7)

Noah spent a hundred years building an ark in a time when there was no rain.  All the time he preached that judgment was coming and people needed to prepare.  They scoffed and laughed at the crazy religious man who was devoting His life to hard work, and for what?  Meanwhile they went about their lives of eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage; doing what would have been considered normal life.  All this happened until Noah entered the ark and God shut the door.  And when God shuts the door, no man will open it.  Then the floods came.

It rained, the floods of the deep were unleashed and the water rose.  We can imagine the inconvenience of lots of rain.  Then the concern that it wasn't stopping.  Then the loss as people left their homes and went to high ground.  And at some point the realization that what this crazy religious man preached was happening.  The realization came suddenly but the warnings had always been there.  But now the door was shut.  I always wonder if they ever do discover the ark if they will find claw marks on its side as the people tried to climb aboard or claw open the door. 

As the flood took these people all away, so will coming of the Son of Man.  I believe the people that were eating and drinking did not know, but the people who were taken away by the flood were Noah and his family.  This is consistent with what Jesus says next.

 

Matthew 24:40-44

This seems to be such a dilemma on the surface.  We are given signs of the times, then the sign of the midpoint of the tribulation, as well as length of the tribulation.  We are told that Jesus will come at the end of the tribulation and we are told what it will look like and where he will arrive. 

Then we are told we don't know the hour or day and that it will come suddenly.  Two folks will be going about life and one will be taken, the other left.  Men will be about their work, one taken, one left.  How is this possible? 

The study of all end times events and scripture is a large undertaking beyond the scope of studying this chapter.  But the dilemma is easily resolved when we see there are two comings of Jesus.  The first is a coming of Jesus to meet His bride in the air where He will hide them away from the tribulation to come.  This is God removing the righteous from the wrath to come; this is consistent with what God says and what He's done previously; particularly in reference to Noah.  No one knows when this will happen, not the hour or the day.

The second coming of Jesus is then at the end of the tribulation.  Much is known about this time of wrath poured out on the earth.  The anti-christ will appear to rule for a time in peace till he breaks the treaty and sets himself up as God.  Then the second half of this seven-year period is known as the Great Tribulation.  We see the culmination of God's plan played out in what we might call biblical proportions on all the earth. 

We are to live watchful then, because we don't know when He is coming.  We are to live expectantly. Like a thief that comes and surprises the owner of the house, so will the coming of Jesus be.  This coming is going to surprise many people; believer and unbeliever alike.  The master of the house (of this world) is Satan.  If he knew the hour and time Jesus was coming for you he would work diligently to prevent it.  He doesn't want his house broken into.  But Satan will also be surprised when this happens; but you and I, we need not be surprised, we are to be ready.

 

Matthew 24:45-51

A faithful and wise servant is one who acts the same whether the master is home or not; whether the master is watching or not.  The faithful and wise servant doesn't have to altar his behavior when the master arrives.  The faithful servant keeps the masters house and goods as if the master will return any moment.  Should the door swing open and the master step in unexpectedly, the faithful servant will be ready, prepared and not at all surprised; and ready to welcome the master (or go with him). 

The evil servant still calls himself a servant of the master.  However, when the master is away the evil servant will play.  He begins to lord it over others, he beats his fellow servants and carouses with the heathen.  It's as if the heathen themselves asked the servant, "What about your master, are you not concerned he will come back?"  The answer was, "My master is delaying his coming!"  The implication is, I can lord over my life as I see fit and live how I want.  Then a day will come, when the evil servant least expects it and he will be cut in two.  He will be appointed to his inheritance among the hypocrites where he will be among others weeping and gnashing their teeth. 

The cutting in two bothers many people.  Some commentators say it is a figure of speech for a severe beating or thrashing with a whip.  No master would cut his servant in two.  The picture may be one that comes out of the 'cutting of a covenant'.  The thought was that a covenant was cut when the sacrifice was divided and the two parties agreed in a covenant; should either party break the covenant they would be cut in two as the sacrifice was.  Regardless, the analogy is complete in its severity and the message is clear, we don't want to be on the receiving end of that. 

A deception had occurred, not by accident but by design:  Barclay tells a fable regarding this designed deception:

There is a fable which tells of three apprentice devils who were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and ruin men and women. The first said: 'I will tell them there is no God.' Satan said: 'That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God.' The second said: 'I will tell them there is no hell.' Satan answered: 'You will deceive no one that way; they know even now that there is a hell for sin.' The third said: 'I will tell them there is no hurry.' 'Go,' said Satan, 'and you will ruin them by the thousand.' The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time. The most dangerous day of our lives is when we learn that there is such a word as tomorrow. There are things which must not be put off, for none of us knows if for us tomorrow will ever come.^[8]

 

©2015 Doug Ford