The disciples followed Jesus around Jerusalem as he ultimately continued his preaching at the temple. Drip by drip their anticipation of his kingdom was diminishing. All their expectations, all of their hopes were rapidly crushed on the Wednesday that Jesus offered his spiritual declarations to the disciples and to the people.
As Jesus and the 12 were leaving Jerusalem, one of the disciples exclaimed his admiration of the temple. It had been built by Herod of white limestone stones some of which were 30 feet long, 18 feet wide and 12 feet thick. In all of the temple’s grantor, including the various courts, the temple covered an area of 20 acres. In essence, it was like a fort that was easily visible afar off. The reply of Jesus was shocking when he said there was coming a time in which one stone would not be standing on another.
Matthew, in chapter 24, Jesus answered the questions of the disciples concerning the future of their nation and of the world. He warned them of false messiahs. He mentioned wars, famines, and earthquakes. He encouraged them to be strong against any hearing of wars and rumors of wars. The disciples certainly did not want to hear his proclamation about coming famines and pestilences and earthquakes. It must’ve been frightening for them when Jesus prophesied about their martyrdom as they took the gospel elsewhere. His encouragement came when he said, “He that endures to the end shall be saved.” He encouraged them about their eternal welfare. Jesus reinforced their strength, and he warned them to flee, when necessary, when the Roman armies would encircle the city. Forty years later his warning was taken to heart by some who did leave.
Jesus reminded the disciples of the sinful lifestyle of the people at the time of Noah. There are two interpretations for Jesus’ warning about two men in the field or two women grinding at the mill in which he said one would be taken and the other left. One thought teaches that the one taken would leave this earth in the rapture. The other thought is one would be taken as a draft in the battle of Armageddon. Either way, there will be a dividing of friends and family. This urgency declares the need for readiness regardless of what happens.
Our Lord taught a series of parables to the disciples illustrating the need for watching. He talked of a man who went on a journey into another country leaving his servants to care for the property. He also taught about the thief who could dig through the wall of the house because it was sun-dried brick. Jesus offered a parable about wise and unfaithful servants who would receive commendation or condemnation. In addition, Jesus gave forth the parable of the 10 virgins, five of which were wise to become bridesmaids and the other five who lacked wisdom to be prepared when the bridegroom came. Then he presented the parable of the talents discussing faithful servants in the absence of the property owner. (Matthew 25:14-30)
The teaching of Jesus was quite extensive after they left Jerusalem so they might return to Bethany for another night’s rest. Here the futuristic judgment Jesus would make on the nations, in which he divided people as the shepherd divided sheep from goats. The one would be delegated to a place of joy while the other would be sent to a place of rejection. He even blesses those on his right inviting them to enter into paradise. Those on the right demonstrated their apprehension of what it was to be a follower of Christ by caring for those around them even using a little act of charity giving food and water to those in need. The condemnation that Jesus made about goats reinforces the fact that hell is real. It was prepared for Satan and his demons. The entrance of human beings into hell was not God’s design but by human decisions against God’s love. They determine their own destiny by the choices they made in life and their lack of response in faith. We could say that those who have wicked character belong in hell to demonstrate their rebellion. They would receive a place of regret, hopelessness, and despair.
The minutes were ticking away, but Jesus used those minutes to the advantage of the disciples for further education and encouragement. As we read this area of Scripture, we must also look at what is written in Matthew as uplifting from the Lord himself for us today.
Christian Writer 