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.
Jesus’ teaching in this chapter is prompted 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).
Later, on the Mount of Olives, the disciples pressed Jesus on the matter (v. 3). They asked two questions. The first 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 do so throughout the remainder of chapter 24.
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. He told them that neither the appearance of false saviors nor of wars and rumors of wars would signal the end of the age (v. 6). In verses 7 and 8, Jesus elaborated: Great national and international disturbances will occur. This would happen throughout the course of human history, and “these are the beginnings of sorrows” (v. 8). For the world, the end of the age—the last days—is a time of sorrows. But for those who have entered the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is a time of labor, anticipation, and hope (Matt. 9.37, 38; 13.36-43).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Jesus was being gracious, humble, and kind with His disciples.
I find the hubris of the twelve extraordinary. Maybe even a little amusing?
“Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple [so far so good],
and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple” (Matt. 24.1).
Really? They found it necessary and helpful to explain to the Architect the wonders of the buildings?
This, most surely, was the first case ever of “mansplaining” to occur—usually taking place between a man
and a woman, but the condescending manner, man to man, is astonishing. But probably well-intentioned.
On the other hand, though, you have to applaud the disciples for beginning to understand that Jesus was going to die, rise from the dead, ascend to heaven, and one day return at the end of the age.
Tell us, they said:
When will these things be?
What will be the sign of Your coming?
What will be the sign of the end of the age? (Matt. 24.3)
Expression deepens impression.
Instead of opining, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (Matt. 16.22),
they were asking questions pertaining to truth—the truth of His death, resurrection, and return.
They were speaking words of faith according to Jesus’ words of life.
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith,
as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world,
and not according to Christ.
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him,
Who is the head of all principality and power (Col. 2.6-10).
“Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matt. 24.4).
The prophet Haggai spoke clearly of the time to come when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will replace the building of the temple with His majestic glory—in time, and in the future:
“For thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth,
the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations,
and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations,
and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.
‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.
‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts.
‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Hag. 2.6-9).
Indeed, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118.22, 23; Matt. 21.42).
“It is a little while” yet; but we believe it will happen. Jesus will return.
Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words of truth (1 Thess. 4.18).
Reflect.
1. That Jesus is coming again should be enough for us. Why should we not speculate on the details of His return beyond what Scripture plainly teaches?
2. What are we supposed to be doing toward the time of Jesus’ return?
3. Why is the glory of Jesus—“this latter Temple”—greater than the glory of the one Titus destroyed?
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
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.
Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
Savior, be gracious, gracious unto me! Weary, I seek the shelter of Your wings.
’TiI trouble passes, ’til 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. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings about St. Patrick from the book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVisioncolumn continues our new study of “Everyday Christianity”. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
