Matthew 24: Signs of His Coming (1)

Pray Psalm 56.10-13.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the LORD (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,
For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?

Sing Psalm 56.10-13
(Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart)
I will not fear what foes might do to me.
I give You thanks, my vows will I renew.
You have redeemed me, set my spirit free,
and ever in Your light I’ll walk with You.

Read and meditate on Matthew 24.1-8.

Prepare.
1. About what two matters did the disciples ask?

2. What did Jesus describe as the “beginning of sorrows”?

Meditate.
Matthew 24 is one of most difficult passages in all of the New Testament. It’s also one of the most important. Commentators differ widely in their interpretations, so we’ll walk slowly through these words of Jesus to learn their importance for us.

Jesus teaching in this chapter is introduced by the disciples’ comment about the temple buildings (v. 1). Jesus’ answer is intended to turn their minds from the earthly trappings of religion – had He not just excoriated the religious leaders for such a focus (Matt. 23)? – and to refocus them on eternal matters. Jesus’ comment in verse 2 is a clue to how to interpret the rest of this chapter. A day is coming, He says, when the temple and all its buildings will be thrown down. That happened in 70 AD by the armies of Titus Andronichus, when they destroyed the city of Jerusalem (the wailing wall, so venerated today in Jerusalem, is not part of the temple, which has been entirely destroyed, but only a retaining wall that was beneath the temple). Part of what He will say in this chapter related to that, to events that would occur in the disciple’s lifetime.

Later, on the Mount of Olives, the disciples pressed Jesus on the matter. They actually asked two questions (v. 3), although, in their minds, they may have been conflating the events of Jesus’ answer. The first question was, “when will these things be?” Here they were obviously thinking about the destruction of the temple. Jesus did not answer that question right away.

The second question was “And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” The disciples may not have separated the two questions, but Jesus would throughout the remainder of chapter 24.

But first, a word of warning: Jesus says the disciples must not be deceived concerning the identity of Jesus Christ (vv. 4, 5). Many would appear claiming to be a savior. Next, He told them that they would hear of “wars and rumors of wars”, but they must not allow this to trouble them: neither the appearance of false saviors nor of wars and rumors of wars signal the end of the age (v. 6). In verses 7 and 8, Jesus elaborated: Great national and international conflagrations will arise. This happened within the lifetime of at least some of the disciples, and others of the first generation of believers. It would also happen throughout the course of human history, and “these are the beginnings of sorrows” (v. 8).

Jesus began answering the disciples’ two questions here, answering in a way that would be true of both. The destruction of Jerusalem would feature false saviors and international war; the “end of the age” – which Joel and Peter referred to as “the last days” (cf. Acts 2.16, 17), will feature both phenomena. But the appearance of these characterizes the end of the age; they do not announce “the end” of all things.

For the world, the end of the age – the last days – is a time of sorrows. But not for those who have entered the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflect.
1. What would be some examples of false saviors in our day?

2. Why is Jesus our only true Savior?

3. How does Jesus help us overcome the sorrows of these last days?

They eagerly desired to behold that glory and the countless blessing that will accompany it. Yet they asked him two things. When will these things come to pass—especially the overturning of the temple? And what will be the sign of his coming at the close of the age? John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 75.1

Help me to keep focused on You and grounded in Your Word, Lord, as I…

Pray Psalm 56.1-9.
Seek the grace of Jesus to guard and guide you in all you do today, and to give you courage to live for and bear witness to him.

Sing Psalm 56.1-9.
Psalm 56.1-9 (Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart)
Savior, be gracious, gracious unto me!
Weary, I seek the shelter of Your wings.
Till trouble passes, till my sighings flee,
I seek the Lord Who for me does all things.

When I’m afraid I’ll put my trust in You,
You, Lord, Whose everlasting Word I praise;
I will not fear what foes to me might do,
but will in faith to You my crying raise.

Wickedly how my foes distort my words;
constant attacks and snares await my way.
Pour out Your wrath, consume them, mighty Lord!
Bring evil to its end, O Lord, I pray!

Lord, see my wand’rings, see my anxious tears!
Help me to trust and praise Your holy Word.
Gladly I know that when I call You hear;
I will not fear but trust in You, O Lord.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).