Part 2: INDUCTIVE LESSON THREE

Part 2: INDUCTIVE LESSON THREE Jesus Foretells the Future Presently there seems to be a genre of movies in which the White House comes under attack by terrorists where it along with other national monuments are nearly destroyed. The writers are counting on the shock and awe of these unlikely events capturing the attention of moviegoers. The disciples undoubtedly had a similar response when Jesus informed them that Herod s temple, the national treasure of the Jewish people, would be completely leveled within their lifetime. Herod s temple and its courtyards at the time of Jesus occupied a square 250 yards long on each side while the temple itself was nearly 150 feet wide and stood 150 feet tall. Some of the white marble block that composed the temple measured as large as 68 feet long, 9 feet wide and 7 feet high. The possibility of no two stones left in place as predicted by Jesus seemed absolutely incredulous. But nothing is impossible with God (see Luke 1:37). In 66 AD, the Jews rebelled against Roman rule and General Titus (later to become Emperor) was sent to quell the Great Jewish Revolt. In 70 AD, Jerusalem fell to Titus and with the city ablaze the gold of the temple melted into the seams between the stones causing the legionaries to dismantle the temple to extract the precious metal. It is estimated that nearly 1.6 million Jews died during the rebellion. During His earthly ministry, on occasions such as the Transfiguration, Jesus opened the door and allowed His true divine nature to shine through. We see the omniscience (all knowing nature) of God as Jesus speaks of future events in this week s passage. Looking closely at Matthew 24:22 we hear Jesus say, Unless these days had been cut short (speaking as only God could of a future event in the past tense) no life would have been saved, but for the sake of the elect those days will (speaking of a future event in the future tense) be cut short. (Parenthesis is mine) The prophecies in our passage reference different time frames, both short term, as in the destruction of Jerusalem, and long term, as fulfilled during the tribulation. Because of this dualism, it makes sense that the intended audience includes not only His disciples who would experience some of these events firsthand but also future readers of God s Word (see Mark 13:15). This is the only time the Bible addresses future readers of God s Word. The word used, anaginsko in the Greek, is compounded from two words meaning to read and to know with certainty. What a great source of assurance for believers; to know we can read His Word, trusting with certainty in His promises and plans for us. Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. 1

Memory Verse I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9 Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. Parallel Passages This week we study a passage commonly called the Olivet Discourse because it was delivered by Jesus to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. Since all three of the synoptic Gospels were completed prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, these were prophetic writings for all three authors. It is time well spent to read each of the Gospel accounts as each author includes unique details. Matthew Mark Luke John Jesus is... Promised King Servant of God Son of Man Son of God Original Jews Romans/Gentiles Greeks/Gentiles Universal Audience Theme Jesus is Messiah- Fulfilled OT Prophesy Jesus Backed Up Words with Action Jesus was Fully God and Fully Man Belief in Jesus is Required for Salvation Writer s Style Teacher Storyteller Historian Theologian Greatest Sermons and Miracles and His Humanity Principles Taught Emphasis Words Actions Author Apostle/ Eyewitness Eyewitness/Peter Collected Information Apostle/ Eyewitness Author s Tax Collector Evangelist Physician Fisherman Profession Date of Writing 50 70 AD 50 70 AD 60 61 AD 85 90 AD Location of Jerusalem Rome Greece Ephesus Writing Outstanding Five Major Miracles Parables Signs Feature Discourses Allusions to OT 76 27 42 105 Unique Material 42% only in 7% only in Mark 59% only in Luke 92% only in John Matthew Number of Verses 1071 678 1151 873 Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple Matthew 24:1 2 (see also Mark 13:1 2 and Luke 21:5 6) 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him 2

the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Jesus Foretells Signs of the Times and the End of the Age Matthew 24:3 14 (see also Mark 13:5 13 and Luke 21:8 19) 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Jesus Foretells The Great Tribulation Matthew 24:15-28 (see also Mark 13:14-23 and Luke 21:20-24) 15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect s sake those days will be shortened. 23 Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or There! do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs 3

and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 Therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the desert! do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms! do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Jesus Foretells Judgment and Gives Warning Matthew 24:34 51 (see also Mark 13:30 37 and Luke 21:32 36) 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 4

Jesus Foretells Judgment and Crucifixion Matthew 25:31 46 and 26:1 2 31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40 And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. 41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. 44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. 1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, 2 You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified. (NKJV) 5

Observation My Observations: In the left column write down observations you make directly from the text. Inductive tips (things to look for): a) What are the promises? b) What are the commands? c) What are the sources of conflict? d) What are the cause/effect relationships? e) What are the repeated words and ideas? f) What do we know about who is speaking and who is receiving the message? g) What comparisons and contrasts can you identify and what do they illustrate? h) What details are unique to the different gospel accounts (what did Luke include or emphasize that Matthew may have omitted) i) We are very familiar with many of the accounts we will be studying in the life of Jesus. What new insights or observations did you discover when you took a closer look? j) Do you have unanswered questions on part of the passage? (Share them with your group.) Digging Deeper: In the right column write down any additional observations you can add from other sources such as: a) other scriptures that apply (cross references) b) dictionaries for specific words (English or Greek dictionary) c) Bible dictionaries for historical information d) commentaries. See the Tool Box at the end of the study for suggested sources. d) Study parallel passages in other gospels. Each of the gospel writers, while inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote with a definite audience in mind. Accounts found in parallel passages, while very similar, often reveal small but critical details omitted by another author. Interpretation Webster tells us that interpret means to explain the meaning or make understandable. What is the spiritual truth or lesson that God is trying to teach in this passage? Don t isolate the passage but read into it and read out of it. Look for commands, imperatives, promises, or warnings. What is God saying to those people at that time? You will share what God is saying to you in the next section. State the spiritual truth or lesson in a single sentence. Application This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you in your time with Him. It is through applying the Word that God changes lives. Application does not happen by osmosis but by intent. God enlightens us with His Word, we apply what we ve learned with our wills, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for... Teaching: What did I learn? Reproof: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall short? Correction: What will I do about it? Training in righteousness: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life? 6

Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple Matthew 24:1-2 (see also Mark 13:1-2, 5-13 and Luke 21:5-19 My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: Jesus Foretells Signs of the Times and the End of the Age Matthew 24:3-14 (see also Mark 5-13 and Luke 21:8-19) My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: 7

Jesus Foretells The Great Tribulation Matthew 24:15-28 (see also Mark 13:14-23 and Luke 21:20-24) My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: Jesus Foretells Judgment and Gives Warning Matthew 24:34-51 (see also Mark 13:30-37 and Luke 21:32-36) My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: 8

Jesus Foretells Judgment and Crucifixion Matthew 25:31-46 and 26:1-2 My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did last night, you would tell them you went to a Bible Study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 4:26 9

Key Words / Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Disciples (Matthew 23:1) Humbles (Matthew 23:12) Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, chose a more dynamic version such as New Living Translation or The Message). To focus in on the exact meaning of a verse chose a more literal translation such as New American Standard Bible or New King James Version. Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com Word Studies: 1) Zodhiate s The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words 4) The two websites listed above Step 3: Commentaries. Do not use in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Listed by author/title: John MacArthur, J. Vernon McGee, The Expositors Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications). Step 4: Where Does This Week s Study Fit into the Life of Jesus 10

Message Notes 12