Matthew 24: Signs of His Coming (2)
Pray Psalm 56.3, 4.
Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?
Sing Psalm 56.3, 4.
Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
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.
Read Matthew 24.1-14; meditate on verses 9-14.
What is “lawlessness”?
Prepare.
1. When did Jesus say that tribulation and persecution would begin (cf. v. 8)?
2. Why would people’s love grow cold?
Meditate.
Jesus is not speaking of some distant, unknown time, when Christians will suddenly and brutally be persecuted by their enemies. That’s been going on for centuries. Rather, He is telling us what to expect in the time which the disciples referred to as “the end of the age”, but which Peter insisted are “the last days”.
We should not be surprised when tribulation, persecution, and hatred break out against us for our faith in Jesus. He tells us to expect it (v. 9). He also said that the presence of the Gospel will be like a sword, dividing peoples and causing some to hate (v. 10; cf. Matt. 10.34-46). And He warned that false prophets will arise and try to deceive many (v. 11)—precisely as has happened throughout the course of Church history.
Others will hate us if they choose, and persecute us if they can. We should not be surprised when it happens, nor should we strike back in kind. Jesus told us to love our enemies and to pray for them, and that’s what we must be prepared to do (Matt. 5.44-48).
We must not allow our love to grow cold, which we will do if we neglect the Law of God (v. 12). The love that people in the world express might well grow cold, given their hostility to the Law of God. But we must guard against this; and we must walk the path of obedience and love for the long haul, come what may (v. 13). We must be always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to preach the Gospel at every opportunity (v. 14; cf. 1 Pet. 3.15). The end of the last days will come when the Gospel has been “preached in all the world as a witness to all nations.” But this is a task that must be renewed in every generation, including our own.
The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We enter that Kingdom more deeply only through tribulations of various kinds (Acts 14.22). Let’s be realistic about what to expect in this world, and faithful in our duties to love and bear witness to Christ.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Temptation is easy to deal with if the decision about what we will do or not do has been made beforehand.
As was stated in the quote from John Chrysostom: “Most men’s love will grow cold. Even all this, however, will in no way harm those who are noble and firm. So do not be afraid. Do not be troubled…you will be above all these things that would otherwise alarm you. You will preach everywhere. You will not waste away in despair asking whether you will survive.”
We will survive, because we have already decided that we will.
This, of course, does not mean that we will always stay alive, but we will not fall away;
because more than anything, we want this to be true of us:
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24.13).
“I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end” (Ps. 119.112).
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,
and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad,
for great is your reward in heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets
who were before you” (Matt. 5.11, 12).
Although God cares for our needs, and tenderly loves us, enough to give us a way to be with Him eternally,
He never promised us a health and wealth gospel, or one where we would feel happy clappy all the time.
Many today are “deceived” about this very thing (Matt. 24.11)—that “Just pray this prayer” and all will go well for you financially, or sexually, or healthfully, or popularityfully—that is a lie. Jesus never promised that.
In fact, He promised just the opposite.
But somehow, what He promised is better than anything the world could ever supply.
“You will show me the path of life;
in Your Presence is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16.11).
We are to be mindful of the gospel that we preach: it is not just the gospel of salvation.
It is the “gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt. 24.14).
If you live in a country. or a kingdom, there are rules that must be followed
in order to survive and thrive within that homeland.
In God’s Kingdom His Law must be followed.
It is part of the whole travel package.
We don’t just receive the ticket to get there.
We get there, then live there. Here and now. And there and then.
“But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain” (Is. 57.13).
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure,
for if you do these things you will never stumble;
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into
the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1.10, 11).
Most importantly, the King of that Kingdom says to the occupants:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15).
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (Jn. 15.14).
“For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matt. 11.30).
We are in His loving hands; even while the promise of tribulation is fulfilled.
Reflect.
1. James refers to the Law of God as the “perfect law of liberty” (Jms. 1.25). How does obeying the Law of God give us liberty? From what? Unto what?
2. The writer of Hebrews says that true faith, saving faith, yields “evidence” of itself (Heb. 11.1). What kind of evidence?
3. What did Jesus say is the cause of a lack of love in a society? How can we as believers work to redress that?
“Most men’s love will grow cold.” Even all this, however, will in no way harm those who are noble and firm. So do not be afraid. Do not be troubled. If you demonstrate the patience that fits your faith, these dangers will not prevail over you. You will see proof of this when the gospel will be preached everywhere in the world. Then you will be above all these things that would otherwise alarm you. You will preach everywhere. You will not waste away in despair asking whether you will survive. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 75.2
Pray Psalm 56.1, 2, 5-13.
Thank God that He is with you no matter what you have to face today. Then offer yourself to Him completely, that He might use you for the progress of His Kingdom today.
Sing Psalm 56.1, 2, 5-13.
Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
Savior, be gracious, gracious unto me! Weary, I seek the shelter of Your wings.
’Til trouble passes, ’til my sighings flee I seek the LORD Who for me does all things.
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.
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.
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.
