Sermon Tone Analysis

Don’t be confused

This passage we are looking at today and next week is one of the most challenging sections of scripture that you find in Mt24; Lk21 and Mk13; There is a diversity of interpretations offered but don’t let diversity cause division.

There is much we can learn from this passage of scripture.

A few view points on this passage.

View one- It is entirely about the return of the Lord and events leading up to that.

View two- It is about the events leading up and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D.70.

View three- combines both of these events and they are intermixed within the passage.

You can link this passage along with Jesus teaching in Lk17:22-37 also and that may help get more insight to this passage.

My view on this and how these two lessons will be is from the view of the events leading up to A.D.70 and for alluding/foreshadowing of the return of Christ.

Open Story Book to (pgs.125-7);

Bible to Mt24:1-28 for today

I do want us to read the entire discourse so to keep everything in context then we will focus on 24:1-28 today; 29-51 next week.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

I.

The Setting for the Discourse

What has just previously transpired.

The words of Jesus in the Temple that depict the rejection of Him and the consequences.

Parable of two sons (23:28-32)

Parable of wicked servants (vinedressers) (21:33-46)

Parable of wedding feast (Mt22:1-14)

We also had looked at how Jesus had stopped them all dead in their tracks and they dare not question Him anymore.

Then there is the lament and the promise that they would be left in desolation (Mt23:37-39) and that now leads us to our section today.

Filled with their fathers guilt (Mt23:29-32)

Jesus is leaving the temple, not to return there.

But this is not the only time God has left the temple.

(Eze10:18-19)

Because killed the prophets, etc. (Mt23:33-34)

What is Jesus declaration about the temple (v.2)?

What are the two questions asked (v.3)?

When will these things happen?

What will be a sign?

In Mark and in Luke the questions are a little different (Mk13:4; Lk21:7)

Mark says fulfilled; now look what Luke says

So, do you wonder why they are worded different?

Matthew wrote to mostly Jewish audience - with that in mind the question would be with the destruction of the temple it would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age.

Mark/Luke wrote to mostly Gentiles - and with that it was clearly understood that this had to do with the destruction of the temple and that it was imminent.

Having said that I think you can see that this is in view of the destruction of the Temple that happens in A.D.70 that is the matter before us today.

Not the return of the Lord.

II.

The Olivet Discourse

Starts with Mt24:4-8

Don’t be mislead, don’t be deceived.

It was known after the Christ many came claiming to be the Christ.

Josephus writes about some of them in his chronicles.

So don’t troubled (Mt24:6-7)

Act526-27

Wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilence will come, but the end is not yet, it is only the beginning not the end.

Clarify, who is Jesus speaking to?

How do you know?

(see Mt24:1)

So knowing who He is speaking to we need to then look at who He is speaking about in (vv.9-13) the persecutions, hard times that were coming.

You will be killed (v.9)

Some will fall away and betray one another (v.10)

There will be false prophets, deceivers, and they will be effective (v.11)

Look at (v.12) why were these things going to happen?

Lawlessness

Love grows cold

Do you think that is an issue today?

What will be the result of it?

(Judgment)

But there is hope (Mt24:13-14, Rev2:10)

The one who endures, the one who is faithful to the end, is that end of age, NO, it is end of life, their life they will be saved.

Obedience is important.

This is another example of proof that once saved always saved is not doctrinal strong or accurate.

Remember when we are faithful what we have coming!

That brings us to the challenge issued to them on what must occur (Mt24:14)

Gospel preached

Gospel preached to all the nations

Then the end will come, end of what?

The temple, the temple sacrifices that were no longer needed since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as the perfect sacrifice.

So the ability for any O.T. worship will be taken away.

Spiritually already taken away and nailed to the cross.

Check out (Col2:14-17, Heb8:13; Eph2:14-16) to go with all of this.

Or how about

You can further look at Eph2:14-16 too, today we have limited time so you can do that on your own.

So, the gospel must be preached to all nations prior to destruction of temple, right?

(Rom10:16-18)

Paul says it was!

Rom10”18

Or better yet, look at (COl1:23)

But they asked for a sign didn’t they?

Here is it.

(Mt24:15; Dan9:26-27)

This prophesy is found

Luke explains this abomination of desolation as mentioned in Lk17:22ff and Lk21:20ff , This happened in A.D. 70 when the Roman armies under General Titus destroyed the temple and the city.

The stones were torn apart to get the gold that had been melted into the cracks when they lite the temple of fire.

So we have seen the when and the what will happen, how about pressing on to the what they were told to do when it happened

This is covering (vv.16-22) -

What are they told to do (v.16)?

What are they told not to do (v.17)?

What are they told (v.17)?

Don’t do what in (v.18)?

It was going to be perilous times, hard times.

For those who are pregnant or are nursing (v.19)

FOr those who are pregnant

Pray not in winter or on Sabbath (v.20)

There will be great tribulation like never before or again (v.21)

It’s important to keep in context He is speaking to Apostles, Jews about what is going to happen to Jews in Judea.

For those that are His they will have the time of tribulation shortened (v.22) - those who heeded the warning and got out!

In Josephus book Jewish Wars it is recorded that this seige took place in the time of the Passover and there were no fewer than 1.1m who perished in Jerusalem, 250k in surrounding areas and 97k taken captive.