New Testament 2
Lecture 23
The Olivet Discourse 1
Matthew 24
Introduction
•	This passage is best understood as one reviews Matthew 23: 37-39.  Jesus had been rejected by Israel’s leaders and its people, now Jesus rejects them.  He laments over the city of ________________________as He is on the edge of the Kidron Valley across from the Temple Mount.  The repetition of “Jerusalem” shows His great love for the nation. It is a reminder of David’s cry over Absalom in 2 Sam 18:33; 19:4.
In the Midst of Sorrow
•	There is an expression of judgment.  The final pronouncement is 39, “For I say to you ..”.  The rabbis spoke of the Messiah as bringing ________________________, rest and ________________________.  Thus, by His departure, the Messiah was leaving Israel’s house (an illusion to the temple) to them.  Another indication of His rejection of Israel are the words “your house”.  The Messiah no longer lays claim to the temple as His.  (5:35, 17:25-26, 21:12-16). Make sure that this rejection of Israel is not an eternal one. The word “until’ in 39 seems to point to a repentant nation in the future.
Matthew’s Purpose in Chapters 24 and 25
•	Are to provide a balanced eschatological ________________________. On the one hand, seriously expecting the imminent return of the Messiah and, on the other, careful attention to personal readiness, faithfulness to sacred trust, obedience to the commission to ________________________the ________________________to all nations, and a refusal to be misled by false prophets or christs or to speculate about the time of Christ’s return.
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold (24:1-2)
•	A clue to the interpretation of the eschatological discourse is given at the onset.  It has to do first of all with the destruction of the ________________________in ________________________. That it looks past this historical event to the return of Christ becomes apparent in the discourse.
The Temple
•	Was the third one in Israel’s history and stood on Mt. Moriah.  Solomon’s was destroyed in 587 BC by the Babylonians. The second was built under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:68f). The third began under Herod the Great in 20-19 BC as a replacement of the smaller one.  The buildings were white marble and decorated with gold, precious stones, and rich tapestries. This was one of the ________________________of the ancient ________________________.
The Temple
Jesus Foretold
•	Of the ________________________, carried out by the Roman ________________________in AD 70 (Josephus, Wars 7.1).  Some of the blocks thrown down were 36 by 12 by 18 feet in size.  Some stones are said to be 60 feet long (Josephus).
A Picture of Destruction
2. Woes Before the End of the Age (24:3-14)
•	Jesus was on the Mount of Olives across the Kidron from the temple.  The disciples raised a cluster of questions.  They asked when these things (plural) were to be and what would be the sign of Jesus’ coming (Parousia) and of the close of the age.  The question implies that a number of things would be bound together in one bundle: the destruction of the temple and the end were distinct events in the least, however much related.  The ________________________of the ________________________is a foreshadow of ________________________at the close of the age, but would not automatically coincide with it.
Your Coming
•	Is a technical term for “your parousia”. Parousia is Greek for ________________________or ________________________.  Here the idea of coming seems to be intended. The expression “second coming” does not appear in the NT, the nearest approach is in Heb 9:28 (Christ … will appear a second time).   At the coming of Christ the consummation of the age (aion) will see the kingdom ushered in, bringing all men and nations under God’s judgment.
The Introductory “Take Heed”
•	Sets the tone for the discourse.  It is weighted on the side of warnings against such preoccupations with end-time speculations that leaves one open to end time false prophets or false christs.  These usually result in the neglect of the commission of preaching the gospel.  Matthew 24 is a strong reminder that ________________________is ________________________and that the end of the Temple is NOT the end of the age.
A Major Concern
•	Is to affirm a period of indefinite length between the destruction of the Temple and the Return of Christ at the end of the age.  Matthew’s concern is the ________________________of the ________________________during this period: to avoid being misled and personal attention focused on the wrong things.  
Verse 8 is a Key Verse
•	To understanding these first 14. These things are just the beginning of ________________________or ________________________.  This are birth pains of a woman in labor expecting a baby.  They get more intense as time gets closer and more severe.  So wars, and rumors of wars, and wickedness, earthquakes, etc.
Verses 10-13
•	Deals with the problem of a mixed church, that is, true and false disciples within the church.  This is another of Matthew’s major concerns.  This is seen in the parables of the Tares, Dragnet, 10 virgins, and sheep and goats.  Many will fail the test and fall away.  Some will betray and inform on others to the authorities.  Under persecution some will ________________________one ________________________. False prophets will arise and lead many astray.  
Those Alone Are Saved
•	Who ________________________to the ________________________.  This clearly implies that not all nominal disciples will be saved.  To conclude that one can or cannot lose salvation once possessed is to go beyond verse 13’s purpose.  The chief condemnation is the desertion or betrayal of the church in times of persecution (10:16, 22, 33).  The gospel of the kingdom is to be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to the nations. 
Fate of Judea and Warning Against False Messiahs and Prophets (24:15-28)
•	This paragraph has an unmistakable reference to the destruction of the ________________________ (AD 70).  Luke removes all doubt as he pictures the city under siege and being trampled by the Gentiles (21:20-24).  
The Desolating Sacrilege 
•	Or abomination of desolation is a phrase (Dan 9:27, 11:31; 12:11) that refers to the replacement of the sacrificial offerings in the Temple by the “abomination that makes desolate”.  This is generally understood as a reference to Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), the Syrian ruler in 163 BC sacrificed a hog on the altar to the Greek gods.  The term here is applied to a symbol for the most arrogant and atrocious acts in the mind of the Jews.  This is probably a reference to the ________________________  ________________________or ________________________in AD 70.  
Christians in Judea
•	Were to ________________________to the ________________________to ________________________.  IN AD 70 they actually fled to Pella in the Jordan Valley.  Winter flight would be hard and sabbath observances would make it hard to flee on that day.  
The False Prophets and False Christs
•	Were constant warnings of Jesus for His disciples.  They would promise ________________________but lead to ________________________.  When the Son of Man comes at the end of the age, there will be no secrecy to it. It will be as apparent as lightening across the sky.  
The Coming of The Son of Man (24:29-31)
•	The tribulation of verse 29 apparently looks back upon that of verse 21. The great tribulation just described pertained to the ________________________and ________________________of men. Thus days following the tribulation are marked by cosmic upheavels, described in typical apocalyptic language.  Many point to the fulfillment of this on Pentecost (Acts 2:16-20).  The coming of the Son of Man on clouds is His return in power and glory.  While on earth, He was the suffering servant. Then He will be coming as the conquering Judge.  He will be gathering His people.  
Lessons of the Fig Tree (24:32-35)
•	This parable admonishes alertness to the signs which point to a forthcoming event.  The rise of the sap in the tree, indicated by tender buds and then leaves, it is a sure sign that summer is near.  These signs in verse 33 point to the signs of the previous paragraph. He is near could also be translated, “It is near” for the Greek text has no expressed subject at this point. The meaning is that either the ________________________of ________________________is near or the ________________________is near. 
This Generation
•	Has been interpreted several ways: Jerome said it meant the Jewish race. Origen and Chysostom refer it to all Christians.  Others see it as a reference to the contemporaries of Jesus, as in 11:16 and elsewhere.  If it refers to the destruction of the Temple, its ________________________is ________________________.  If it refers to the coming of the Son of Man, that too had a fulfillment in the judgment upon Israel in AD 70.
Verse 36
•	Shows that Jesus did not know of the ________________________of His own return when still here and sharing these things with His ________________________.
Time of Parousia (24:36-44)
•	Various expressions are used to refer to the end of the age: “that ________________________and ________________________”, “the coming of the Son of man” and “day your Lord is coming”.  The point is that the coming is a certainty.  It is known only by the Father.  It will take men by surprise while they are eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, working in the fields, and grinding in the mills.  
The Time Will Be Observed
•	As a time like the days of ________________________.  Men will be unprepared.  What is fatal is the preoccupation with normal and necessary matters so that men neglect watching for the return of Christ.  The idea of the householder and the thief show that no announcement will precede the coming. The ________________________must be prepared for any coming of the ________________________.  
Those Taken and Those Left 
•	Will not follow normal lines of separation by ________________________and ________________________.  The lines will run through families and neighbors, separating those who had close ties.  What is clear is the separation and contrast of fates. Some see the one take as the evil man while others see it as a reference to the good man.  
Be Prepared: Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (24:45-51)
•	The followers of Jesus are not only to be watching for His return, but to keep ________________________with the ________________________Christ left them.  The faithful and wise (phronimous=prudent) servant will be found doing what he is supposed to do.  Servant is the word doulos.  The servant shows he belongs to God by obedience.  The reward to obedience is not retirement, but a promotion to greater service.  
The Wicked Servant
•	Misinterpreted the masters delayed return. Delayed translates chronizoi, tarries.  The warning is against assuming that since the Son of Man has not already come he will not come, or at least the coming is so remote that it does not concern the ________________________.  Punish translates dichotomizesei (our dichotomize), a strong term for cutting down. 
The Parables Meaning
•	The parable is a strong warning for Christians to be responsible in their assignments and to watch that one’s personal position is not used to hinder another.  Notice Jesus warned His disciples as strongly as He did the ________________________and ________________________.