Gospel of Matthew Matthew 24:1-14 Christ s Second Coming and End-Time Events, Part 1 This passage includes the introduction of Christ s teaching in reference to His second coming and the end-times. This is the last of five teaching sections in the Gospel of Matthew. 1. The introduction and summary of Christ s teaching (vs. 1-3) A. The written record of His teaching Christ s teaching is recorded in Matthew 24-25 and also in Mark 13 and Luke 21. B. The time of His teaching This teaching of Jesus was given on Tuesday of the Passion Week (week of His crucifixion). Jesus had left the temple for the last time. His ministry there was over. The disciples were impressed with the outward glory of the temple complex, but Christ was deeply disappointed at the sight. It should have been a house of prayer, but instead it had become a den of thieves and would eventually be destroyed. Spurgeon offers this comment: We sometimes delight in the temporal prosperity of the Church as if it were something that must certainly endure; but all that is external will pass away or be destroyed. Let us only reckon that to be substantial which comes from God, and is God s work (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 212). C. The importance of His teaching This is one of Christ s extended teaching passages in the Gospels. This material provides valuable prophetic insights that supplement the teachings of 2 Thessalonians and Revelation. John Phillips comments on this teaching: Matthew bracketed the Lord s public ministry between two sermons: the Sermon on the Mount, in which the emphasis was practical; and the Olivet discourse, in which the emphasis is prophetical. In one sermon we read of the rules of the kingdom; in the other we read of the return of the King. Before giving the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord was baptized; after giving the Olivet discourse, the Lord was buried. Prior to the first sermon He proved that the tempter could not conquer Him; after the last sermon He proved that the tomb could not conquer Him (Exploring Matthew, 445). D. The original audience of His teaching According to Mark 13:3 Jesus taught these things to Peter, James, John, and Andrew. E. The occasion of His teaching Jesus had just predicted the complete future destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (vs. 2). As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives the four disciples asked Him about the timing of the temple s destruction and the sign of His coming and the end of the age (vs. 3). From this position on the Mount of Olives Christ and the disciples could see the temple (Mk. 13:3). His teaching is often referred to as the Olivet Discourse. It is fitting that Jesus taught them from the exact location where He is predicted to return (Zech. 14:4).
F. The outline of His teaching 1) The signs of His coming and the end-times (24:4-31) 2) The parable of the fig tree (24:32-35) 3) The lesson of Noah (24:36-44) 4) The parable of the two servants (24:45-51) 5) The parable of the ten virgins (25:1-13) 6) The parable of the talents (25:14-30) 7) The judgment of the nations (25:31-46) 2. The beginning of end-time events (vs. 4-14) A. There will be false Christs (vs. 4-5) The apostle John described this also in 1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. B. There will be wars and rumors of wars (vs. 6-7) C. There will be famines, epidemics, and earthquakes (vs. 7-8) Verse 8 states that all these signs (vs. 4-8) are the beginning of sorrows, a term used to describe birth pangs or labor pains. MacArthur explains the significance of this statement: Things will get notably and remarkably worse at the end of the era as these unique tribulations signal the soon arrival of Messiah to judge sinful humanity and set up His millennial kingdom (MacArthur Study Bible). D. There will be persecution and betrayal of Christians (vs. 9-10) E. There will be false prophets (vs. 11) F. There will be lawlessness and apostasy (vs. 12-13) The love of many growing cold is a description of apostasy. These people give evidence they never were true believers at all (Mt. 13:20-21). On the contrary, genuine believers will endure to the end. This does not teach salvation by human works, but rather endurance is the evidence of God s work in His people (Lk. 22:31-32; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5). G. There will be worldwide gospel preaching (vs. 14) In spite of widespread deception of teachers, disasters, defections from the faith, and other difficulties, the Gospel of Christ will ultimately come to every part of the world, and then the end will come.
3. The interpretation of Christ s teaching John MacArthur offers these helpful comments: The disciples were expecting Jesus to complete His messianic mission at any moment, perhaps in the next few days or weeks. They were on their tiptoes, as it were, waiting for something dramatic to happen. They sensed that the son of Isaiah 9:6 was ready to take on His shoulders the government of the kingdom of God, that the stone cut out without hands of Daniel 2:34 was ready to crush the power of evil men. The Messiah, the Prince, was ready to make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, and be anointed the most holy King. They sensed that the Son of Man would very soon be given dominion and glory in an eternal kingdom... But in the Olivet discourse, Jesus makes clear that that fulfillment was in the future. The message of Matthew 24-25 is a prophetic sermon that sweeps the Twelve into a time not yet come, a time they themselves would never experience (Matthew 24-28, 14).
Gospel of Matthew Matthew 24:1-14 Christ s Second Coming and End-Time Events, Part 1 This passage includes the introduction of Christ s teaching in reference to His second coming and the end-times. This is the last of five teaching sections in the Gospel of Matthew. 1. of Christ s teaching (vs. 1-3) A. of His teaching Christ s teaching is recorded in Matthew 24-25 and also in Mark 13 and Luke 21. B. of His teaching The disciples were impressed with the outward glory of the temple complex, but Christ was deeply disappointed at the sight. It should have been a house of prayer, but instead it had become a den of thieves and would eventually be destroyed. Spurgeon offers this comment: We sometimes delight in the temporal prosperity of the Church as if it were something that must certainly endure; but all that is external will pass away or be destroyed. Let us only reckon that to be substantial which comes from God, and is God s work (The Gospel of the Kingdom, 212). C. of His teaching This is one of Christ s extended teaching passages in the Gospels. This material provides valuable prophetic insights that supplement the teachings of 2 Thessalonians and Revelation. D. of His teaching According to Mark 13:3 Jesus taught these things to Peter, James, John, and Andrew. E. of His teaching Jesus had just predicted the complete future destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (vs. 2). As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives the four disciples asked Him about the timing of the temple s destruction and the sign of His coming and the end of the age (vs. 3). From this position on the Mount of Olives Christ and the disciples could see the temple (Mk. 13:3). It is fitting that Jesus taught them from the exact location where He will return (Zech. 14:4). F. of His teaching 1) The signs of (24:4-31) 2) The parable of (24:32-35) 3) The lesson of (24:36-44) 4) The parable of (24:45-51)
5) The parable of (25:1-13) 6) The parable of (25:14-30) 7) The judgment of (25:31-46) 2. of end-time events (vs. 4-14) A. There will be (vs. 4-5) 1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. B. There will be (vs. 6-7) C. There will be (vs. 7-8) Verse 8 states that all these signs (vs. 4-8) are the beginning of sorrows, a term used to describe birth pangs or labor pains. D. There will be (vs. 9-10) E. There will be (vs. 11) F. There will be (vs. 12-13) The love of many growing cold is a description of apostasy. These people give evidence they never were true believers at all (Mt. 13:20-21). On the contrary, genuine believers will endure to the end. This does not teach salvation by human works, but rather endurance is the evidence of God s work in His people (Lk. 22:31-32; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5). G. There will be (vs. 14) In spite of widespread deception of teachers, disasters, defections from the faith, and other difficulties, the Gospel of Christ will ultimately come to every part of the world, and then the end will come. 3. of Christ s teaching John MacArthur offers these helpful comments: The disciples were expecting Jesus to complete His messianic mission at any moment, perhaps in the next few days or weeks. They were on their tiptoes, as it were, waiting for something dramatic to happen. They sensed that the son of Isaiah 9:6 was ready to take on His shoulders the government of the kingdom of God, that the stone cut out without hands of Daniel 2:34 was ready to crush the power of evil men. The Messiah, the Prince, was ready to make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, and be anointed the most holy King. They sensed that the Son of Man would very soon be given dominion and glory in an eternal kingdom... But in the Olivet discourse, Jesus makes clear that that fulfillment was in the future. The message of Matthew 24-25 is a prophetic sermon that sweeps the Twelve into a time not yet come, a time they themselves would never experience (Matthew 24-28, 14).