"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" The Olivet Discourse - I (24:1-28) INTRODUCTION 1. A challenging passage in the Bible is Jesus' discourse on the Mount of Olives... a. Given shortly after He left the temple with His disciples b. Recorded in Mt 24:1-51; Mk 13:1-37; Lk 21:5-36 c. Commonly referred to as "The Olivet Discourse" -- Our focus will be primarily on Matthew's account - Mt 24:1-51 2. It's difficulty is apparent as one considers the diversity of interpretations offered... a. Some maintain that it is entirely about events preceding the Lord's second coming b. Others say that it is entirely about events related to the destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 A.D. c. Yet many believe it contains reference to both of these events 3. Even those who say it refers to both events differ as to when a particular event is being described in Matthew's account... a. Some say that verses 4-28 refer to the destruction of Jerusalem, and verse 29 begins the discussion about the Lord's second coming (cf. J. W. McGarvey, The Four-Fold Gospel) b. Others contend that verse 35 begins talking about the second coming c. Others say Jesus switches back and forth throughout the discourse 4. I have trouble with Mt 24 describing both events in the light of Lk 17... a. Where Jesus is talking about "one of the days of the Son of Man" - Lk 17:22-37 1) Note: He alludes to the fact there is more than one "day of the Son of Man" 2) I.e., the Lord will come in judgment in ways prior to His final coming at the Last Day b. In the discourse of Lk 17, Jesus uses language similar to Mt 24, but in ways that do not allow for a simple division of Mt 24, either at verse 29 or 35; notice... 1) Lk 17:26-29 is parallel to Mt 24:37-39 (found after verses 29,35) 2) Yet Lk 17:31 is parallel to Mt 24:17-18 (found before verses 29,35) 3) And then Lk 17:34-36 is parallel to Mt 24:40-41 (found after verses 29,35) -- If Jesus is describing just one event in Lk 17 (which I believe He is), then He is likely describing just one event in Mt 24 [At this time, I view "The Olivet Discourse" in Mt 24 as depicting the destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 A.D., though it certainly foreshadows His second coming. To see why, let's start with...] I. THE SETTING OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE A. THE WORDS OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE... 1. His parables depicting Israel's rejection of Him, and its consequence a. The parable of the two sons - Mt 21:28-32 (cf. v.31-32) b. The parable of the wicked vine dressers - Mt 21:33-46 (cf. v.42-45) c. The parable of the wedding feast - Mt 22:1-14 (cf. v.7-9) 2. His condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees a. Who would fill up the measure of their fathers' guilt - Mt 23:29-32 b. Who kill, crucify, scourge, and persecute the prophets, wise men, and scribes He would send to them - Mt 23:33-34 c. Upon whom the blood of all the righteous would come, upon that very generation - Mt 23:35-36 3. His lamentation over Jerusalem a. The city who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her - Mt 23:37a b. The city unwilling to accept the love shown her - Mt 23:37b c. Whose house would be left desolate - Mt 23:38-39 B. THE PROPHECY OF JESUS ABOUT THE TEMPLE... 1. After his disciples were showing Him the buildings of temple - Mt 24:1 2. Declaring that not one stone would be left upon another - Mt 24:2 C. THE QUESTIONS OF THE DISCIPLES... 1. In Mark's gospel, two questions are asked - Mk 13:4 a. "When will these things be?" b. "What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" 2. In Luke's gospel, the two questions are similar - Lk 21:7 a. "When will these things be?" b. "What sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" 3. In Matthew's gospel, the second question is worded differently - Mt 24:3 a. "When will these things be?" b. "What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4. Observations regarding these questions: a. Matthew wrote his gospel for a Jewish audience 1) He likely recorded the questions as asked by the disciples, who presumed the destruction of temple would mean His coming and the end of the age 2) Jewish readers of the gospel would likely have the same conception b. Mark and Luke wrote their gospels to Gentiles 1) To avoid possible misunderstanding by non-Jewish readers, they worded the disciples' questions to reflect what the discourse is actually about 2) I.e., the destruction of the temple and the sign when its destruction would be imminent [When the setting leading up to "The Olivet Discourse" is carefully considered, the subject of Jesus' words become clear. The destruction of the temple is the matter under consideration, not the second coming of Christ. Now let's proceed to examine more closely...] II. THE OLIVET DISCOURSE A. WHAT WILL "NOT" BE THE SIGN... 1. Be careful that none deceive you, claiming to be the Christ - Mt 24:4-5 2. Don't be troubled by wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilence - Mt 24:6-8 a. Such things will come, but the end (destruction of the temple) is not yet b. They are only the beginning of sorrows (not the sign of the end) 3. Anticipate persecution and hard times - Mt 24:9-13 a. You will be killed and hated for His name's sake b. Many will be offended, betray one another, and hate one another c. False prophets will deceive many d. The love of many will grow cold because of lawlessness e. But he who endures to "the end" will be saved -- "the end" refers here: 1) Not to the second coming (implying one must live until Christ comes again) 2) Nor to the destruction of Jerusalem (implying once one has survived that event, one's salvation is secured) 3) But to the end of one's life - cf. Re 2:10 4. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world - Mt 24:14 a. As a witness to all the nations b. Then the end (the destruction of the temple) will come 1) This would end the Jewish sacrifices, and other remnants of OT worship 2) That which was nailed to the cross, abolished by Jesus' death, would pass away - cf. Col 2:14-17; Ep 2:14-16; He 8:13 -- Was the gospel preached to all nations prior to the destruction of the temple? Note what Paul wrote prior to 70 A.D. - Ro 10:16-18; Col 1:23 B. WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN... 1. The "abomination of desolation" - Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14 a. Standing in the holy place (the holy city Jerusalem) b. As foretold by Daniel - cf. Dan 9:26-27 2. When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies - Lk 21:20 a. Luke therefore explains the "abomination of desolation" b. In 70 A.D., Roman armies surrounded and besieged Jerusalem prior to destroying it and the temple -- Thus Jesus answers the disciples' question: "What sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" C. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE THE SIGN... 1. Those in Judea are to flee to the mountains - Mt 24:16-22 a. Don't delay by going to your homes and getting your clothes b. It will be a difficult time for pregnant and nursing mothers c. Pray that your flight be not in winter (when travel is difficult) or on the Sabbath (when city gates are closed to travel) d. For there will be "great tribulation", though shortened for the elect's sake 1) Luke specifies the nature of this tribulation - Lk 21: 23b-24 2) A Jewish general taking captive by the Romans just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 offered this summary: a) All the calamities which had befallen any nation from the beginning of the world were but small in comparison with those of the Jews b) In the siege of Jerusalem, no fewer than 1,100,000 perished (it was during the time of the Passover, when more than 3,000,000 Jews were assembled) c) In surrounding provinces 250,000 were slain d) 97,000 were taken captive, some killed by beasts in Roman theaters, some sent to work in Egypt, others sold as slaves -- Flavius Josephus, Jewish Wars (as quoted in Barnes Commentary on Matthew) 3) The "elect" were Christians, spared by a shortened siege a) The Jews in the city engaged the Romans in battle b) Titus, the Roman general, being called to return to Rome, proceeded to end the siege and stormed the city (Barnes Commentary) 2. Don't be misled by false christs and false prophets - Mt 24: 23-28 a. Even those who show great signs and wonders to deceive b. For the coming (judgment) of the Son of Man will be like lightning across the sky 1) Do not expect to find Him in the desert or in inner rooms 2) When He comes in judgment, it will be swift - cf. Lk 17: 22-24 c. Where the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered 1) Alluding to Jerusalem surrounded by armies 2) This is the "sign" to warn them it is time to flee Jerusalem and Judea! CONCLUSION (Part One) 1. So far, all this depicts a local, escapable judgment... a. Where Jesus warned those in Judea of what is to come b. Where they are given a sign to let them know when to flee -- Indeed, many believe that up to verse 29 (or 35), Jesus is foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem (and its temple) that did occur in 70 A. D. 2. It certainly does not fit a worldwide, inescapable judgment... a. As will characterize the second coming of Christ b. As Paul and Peter taught Christians throughout the Mediterranean world - cf. 1Th 5:2-3; 2Th 1:7-10; 2Pe 3:10-12 3. Our next study will continue "The Olivet Discourse", starting with verse 29... a. Which certainly sounds like the second coming of Christ b. But is it? Or was Jesus still describing events pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem? Eusebius (ca. 300 A.D.) in his "Ecclesiastical History" wrote that Christians heeded the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 24, and fled Jerusalem when it was surrounded by the Roman army. May we likewise heed the words of Jesus and not be misled by false prophets and false christs, not be troubled by wars, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, or even persecution, but endure to the end by remaining faithful to Him, and look forward to His final coming at the Last Day!Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
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