All signs point to Jesus: A journey through the book of Matthew, chapter 23-25

 

CHAPTER 23-25

QUESTIONS

Chapter 23 

Why did Jesus speak so harshly against the Pharisees and the scribes? Was He just finally fed up with them?

What does Jesus show us about His heart toward His people who rejected Him?

Chapter 24

Why were the disciples so impressed by the temple buildings?

What was Jesus impressing on the disciples and us?

What should we think about the various signs (earthquakes, famines, wars) when they have been going on for centuries and may keep going on for many centuries forward?

What is the “abomination of desolation” (v. 15)?

What will Jesus’ return be like?

Was Jesus wrong when He said, “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (v. 34)?

How can Jesus say He does not know the day or hour of His return if He is the Son of God?

Do verses 40 and 41 speak of the rapture?

Chapter 25

What are the “extra flasks of oil” Christians should have as we await Christ’s return?

What is Jesus teaching us about our talents and possessions?

Is Jesus teaching that we are saved by our works instead of faith?

I packed in a lot for this week, to catch up with the final days of Jesus and his resurrection. 

Last week was Holy Week and in some churches this week after Easter is considered ‘Easer’ or resurrection week.   Before we get there though, we get to learn more about what Jesus is teaching us.  First in chapter 23,  Jesus teaches the danger of damnation in sincere religion. 

Then in chapter 24-25 Jesus speaks more of prophecies concerning his second coming.  So much to dive into here, so I’ll just got straight to the part and summarize what spoke mostly to me. You might get something different.  Just remember, when you are done going over the questions and answers, to reflect and apply.   Ask your self, what does this teach me about God? Knowing this about God, what does it teach about me? Then, what am I going to do different in light of this truth? 

In chapter 23, where Jesus criticizes the religious leaders, its very easy to take an us vs. them approach.  Yes, you go Jesus, expose them for the hypocrites they are. But when I see when Jesus says you are like what washed tombs, righteous on outside, but dead on inside, he is calling us to be true.  But think about  it, these teachers were really  being sincere which is hard to fault.  They really thought they were doing the right thing.  How many times have I thought I was doing the right thing in God’s eyes only to be called out for my sin?  There are many today who may thing they are following the right way, but in reality going to a church that does’t teach the Bible.   Jesus teaches that the danger of spiritual deception is real, even for those who are sincere in their religious convictions, therefore we must submit to God’s Word and look to the mercy of christ in the Gospel.  I came across this quote in my study that really spoke to me and stopped me in my tracks. 

‘Before we can begin to see the cross as something done FOR us, leading us to faith and worship, we have to see it as something done BY us, leading us to repentance.  -John Stott, the of Christ.  WE are THEY! 

Jesus reassures us at the end of the chapter, ‘blessing to one who comes in the name of the Lord!’  While condemnation of sinners is eminent, salvation of sinners is possible and exaltation of Jesus is guaranteed.  

Jesus prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming are a call for His disciples to trust in His authority, persevere in his power and long for his return.   Although Christs’s delay may be long, His return in judgment will be sudden and irreversible as we learn in the parables in chapter 25.  So we must be prepared by trusting him now with a perusing faith that bears fruit. 

Read 23:1–36.

Q 118:

A 118:

Why did Jesus speak so harshly against the Pharisees and the scribes? Was He just finally fed up with them?

They had stubbornly refused to listen to His more gentle correction before. Now He makes the judgment standing against them clear— still mercifully trying to bring them to repentance while at the same time warning His followers not to be impressed by them or try to follow them.

Jesus now turns to the city of Jerusalem to express His sorrow at their refusal to repent and believe in Him.

Read 23:37–39.

Q 119:

A 119:

What does Jesus show us about His heart toward His people who rejected Him?

Jesus truly grieves their stubborn refusal to believe. He knows the heartache and agony they are bringing on themselves as they continue in unrepentance. He still loves them, though they reject Him.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.

FIFTH DISCOURSE: THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DISCOURSE

Jesus begins the final discourse in Matthew, teaching His disciples about the end times.

Read 24:1–2.

Q 120:

A 120:

Q 121:

A 121:

Why were the disciples so impressed by the temple buildings?

King Herod the Great (who met the Wise Men) had improved the temple built by the exiles who returned from Babylon. He used huge stone blocks (some measured 37 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 12 feet high) decorated with gold. The temple gleamed in the sun. So you can imagine their astonishment when Jesus told them not one stone would remain on another.

What was Jesus impressing on the disciples and us?

Nothing in this world is permanent, no matter how well it is constructed. Remembering everything and everyone is temporal, we should set our hearts on eternal things and the new heavens and new earth, which Jesus is preparing for us.

Jesus starts by answering the disciples’ question about the signs that will indicate His return on Judgment Day and the end of this world.

Read 24:3–14.

Q 122:

A 122:

What should we think about the various signs (earthquakes, famines, wars) when they have been going on for centuries and may keep going on for many centuries forward?

Each time we hear or see one of these signs, we would do well to remember how temporary this life is—and realize that Judgment Day could come at any minute. That will drive us to repentance and faith in Christ.

Jesus now answers the disciples’ first question about when the temple will be destroyed so that one stone will not remain upon another.

Read 24:15–28.

Q 123:

A 123:

What is the “abomination of desolation” (v. 15)?

Gentiles standing in the temple courts—that is, the Roman army forcing its way into the temple courts and destroying the temple. Jesus warns Christians to flee Jerusalem when they see the Roman legions marching in—and church historians tell us that many Christians remembered Jesus’ warning and quickly fled the city when they saw the advance of the Romans. In that desperate hour, many false christs will rise up to deceive people. But Christ’s return from the sky will be unmistakable.

Returning to the disciples’ second question about His coming, Jesus describes the manner of His return—though not the time.

Read 24:29–31.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.

Q 124: What will Jesus’ return be like?

A 124: Jesus will not return quietly. His coming on the clouds will be bright and glorious as His angels go out to gather believers. It will be seen all around the world.

Jesus teaches His signs of the end times are as dependable as the indications a fig tree gives that summer is near.

Read 24:32–35.

Q 125:

A 125:

Was Jesus wrong when He said, “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (v. 34)?

No. He was not speaking of a generation in the sense of all those born during a certain span of years (in the sense of baby boomers, millennials, and so on). He is speaking of a group of people through the years who will be just like the Jews who demanded signs, rejected Jesus, and refused to recognize Him as the Savior and Son of God.

Jesus impresses upon His disciples that they must always be ready and watchful for His return on Judgment Day because they cannot know when it will be.

Read 24:36–51.

Q 126:

A 126:

Q 127:

A 127:

How can Jesus say He does not know the day or hour of His return if He is the Son of God?

Jesus is omniscient, that is, He knows all things because He is the Son of God. But during His earthly life, He laid aside His heavenly glory—including His divine knowledge, and thus at the moment He spoke this passage, He did not know when that day would be. Also notice that Jesus speaks of Noah and the flood as actual history,

so we should reject the idea that the flood was a myth, allegory, or fairy tale. If Jesus said it occurred, we can be confident it really occurred.

Do verses 40 and 41 speak of the rapture?

No. The rapture is a misunderstanding of Jesus’ teaching that pulls verses out of their context. In this whole passage, Jesus is speaking of what will happen the hour He returns to judge the world—not a separate event that will happen before that day. He already told us in verse 31 that His angels will gather the elect from the four winds. Here He is describing what it will look like in various places when the angels separate believers from unbelievers as Jesus returns.

Jesus gives a parable of ten virgins to remind us to be watching and ready for His return.

Read 25:1–13.

Q 128: What are the “extra flasks of oil” Christians should have as we await Christ’s return?

A 128: The Word and Sacraments keep the lamp of faith alive and strong, shining in our hearts as we await Christ’s return. It is important not to neglect weekly worship for this reason.

Jesus gives another parable, this time about servants using their master’s talents before He returns.

Read 25:14–30.

Q 129:

A 129:

What is Jesus teaching us about our talents and possessions?

Everything we are and have belong to Christ and have been entrusted to us to use for the benefit of His kingdom. When the Holy Spirit empowers us to faithfully use our powers to serve our families and our neighbors, especially sharing the Gospel, we can look forward to sharing Christ’s reign in the new heavens and the new earth after He returns.

Jesus describes the public judgment on Judgment Day.

Read 25:31–46.

Q 130:

A 130:

Is Jesus teaching that we are saved by our works instead of faith?

No. The purpose of this public judgment is to reveal the faith that empowered believers to do good works for others. The works themselves reveal that faith—just as the lack of good works for others exhibits the lack of faith in Christ, because without faith, any good work we do is done for ourselves, not for Christ. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.