Devotionals

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only (Matthew 24:36).

Mark 13:32-33, But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. These verses provide another difficulty in interpreting Scripture regarding the 2nd coming of Christ. Since Jesus is God incarnate, and God knows all things, then why didn’t Jesus know the day and hour of His return? How was it possible for Jesus Christ not to know this? How could He have been ignorant of anything in light of John 1:1-18?

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away (Matthew 24:32-35).

This is another controversial text regarding the end-time. Many interpret the budding fig tree as the time when Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. If that is the case, how do we interpret, Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place?

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).

A ‘sign’ (semeion) is ‘an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally - a miracle, token, wonder’. The text tells us that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven. Truly mysterious - or is it? Scripture has not left us without some explanation.

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together (Matthew 24:27-28).

Jesus said (John 14:1-3), Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. The angels said to the disciples (Acts 1:11), Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it (Matthew 24:23-26).

Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:15-21).

Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:15-22).

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

Jesus has now shifted His focus from the end of the Jewish age to the end of the human age, the age that we are now living in. It will include the coming rapture, 7-year tribulation, and 1,000-year millennial kingdom. During this time, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be declared throughout the entire world to the extent that every person will have had heard or read the Gospel and had an opportunity to accept it for themselves.

But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13).

These words are some of the most controversial in the New Testament. Do these words teach a salvation by personal effort or works; that a person who doggedly hangs in there until the very end will be saved? Do these words teach that the truly saved person will persevere to the end of his/her life or to the end of the age; that a person who doggedly hangs in there until the very end is a person who truly is saved? What do you think? Better yet, what does the Bible say?

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matthew 24:11).

Josephus tells us that during the siege of Jerusalem, “The tyrannical zealots who ruled the city suborned ‘many false prophets’ to declare that aid would be given to the people from heaven. This was done to prevent them from attempting to desert, and to inspire confidence in God” (“Jewish Wars”, book 6, chapter 5, sections 2 & 3).

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake (Matthew 24:9).

When Jesus described the days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, He also described the days leading up to the future age that would end in the destruction of the world. Both eras would see the escalation of persecution toward those who are God’s people - the Jews and Christians prior to A.D. 70, and the Jews and Christians in the 7-year Tribulation.

“The fireplace just don’t warm our hearts like it ought to, the carols seem so hollow to our ears.
A million miles from home we’re feeling lonesome - lonesome for the place we love so dear.
We know the perfect way to spend a holiday, why don’t You come and take us home with You.
Why don’t You come and take us home for Christmas, wrap us all up in arms of shining love;
Ride us through the sky on magic sleighs, we’ll be the gifts for Your birthday, why don’t You come and take us home with You” (Reba Rambo).

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you (Matthew 24:3-4)

And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2).

The Temple in Jerusalem was the one great monument to Israel’s glory as a nation. It was the symbol of God’s presence, power, provision, and protection for the Jews. They believed as long as the Temple stood in Jerusalem, God stood with them as a nation. For Jesus to prophesy the destruction of the Temple was blasphemous. No nation could conquer God. 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” (Matthew 23:37-39).

Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar (Matthew 23:34-35).

The word ‘therefore’ is transitional, signaling a conclusion to an argument or a body of information. Jesus pronounced 7 ‘woes’ or words of judgment upon the Scribes and Pharisees for their many forms of hypocrisy. He then made a final statement to them that ‘sealed the deal’, that indicated they would fill up the measure of their fathers’ guilt (Matthew 23:32).

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. (Matthew 23:29-32).

In this final condemnation of the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus exposes the true nature of those who held the office of priest in Israel. The hypocrisy of these men was blatant and accusatory.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also (Matthew 23:25-26).

Jesus did not condemn the Scribes and Pharisees for poor kitchen sanitation. At issue here is consistency in one’s holiness and righteousness. These priests were very careful to present themselves to the public as holy and righteous men (the outside of the cup and dish). However, their heart, mind, and spirit were anything but holy or righteous (the inside of the cup and dish).

Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.” Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, “Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.” Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it (Matthew 23:16-22).

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation (Matthew 23:14).

To be pretentious is to be characterized by the assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved. It is the making of an exaggerated outward show without factual basis; to be false. It is the same thing as being a hypocrite - you are one thing to some people, and another thing to others.

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in (Matthew 23:13).

The problem with false religions and cults is not that they aren’t ethical, moral, or mentally, emotionally, or physically helpful. It’s that they aren’t spiritual. Religious organizations can feed the hungry, educate the ignorant, comfort the emotionally distressed, counsel families on interpersonal relationships, or teach employers and employees how to maximize their resources - and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if a religious organization does not lead a person to faith and salvation is Jesus Christ, it damns the soul to eternal separation from God.

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:11-12).

We’ve all heard the lyrics, or have heard people refer to Mac Davis’ 1980s hit, “Oh Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror ‘cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a **** of a man. Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, but I'm doing the best that I can.”

Jesus spoke to the multitudes and His disciples, saying: “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:1-7).

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:1-7).

But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:34-40).