I have spent most of my life afraid of the “great tribulation” prophesied to come sometime in the future, but likely in my lifetime…a great distress that would be unlike anything history had ever seen. While I was still in high school, it was said that the decade of the 80s could be the last decade of history as we know it.(1) In 1977, it was said that the stage was “being set for this final world catastrophe which will culminate in the Battle of Armageddon ..a battle where 200 million will die!”(2) At that time, Iran was the prophetic bogeyman. Those who had read their Bibles could easily see the handwriting on the wall…the end time clock had reached it’s final minutes.
Now, here we are, nearing at the end of the 2nd decade of a new millennium… 30 years removed from that final decade of history…and prognosticators still continue to make predictions that, while details vary, are similar to those made over the past 30 years…all based from a misinterpretation of Matthew 24 that was removed from its context and used to warn of things that would allegedly occur at the end of the world.
But, when we place it back in its context, the message of Jesus Olivet Discourse becomes clear. He delivered this message to His disciples on Tuesday of His final week as they were gathered on the Mount of Olives. But it didn’t occur in isolation. Let’s look at the context found in chapters 21-24 of Matthew.
The week opens with the triumphal entry recorded in Matthew 21. Then we read of Jesus cleansing the temple. This is not just a purifying of things that contaminated but was a prophetic act of judgment…Jesus taking on the part of an Old Testament prophet. He references Jeremiah in His accusation of the temple being turned into a den of thieves. These acts provoked the religious leaders into questioning Jesus’ authority. “By what authority does He act in judgment against the temple?” He answers them with three parables that reveal God’s judgment for them for not fulfilling their responsibility among the people to respond to His invitation to the kingdom of God. These parables, causing the religious leaders to squirm, are followed by four interactions in which they attempt to trap Him and He turns the tables on them, silencing them and revealing His true identity.
The first parable is the parable of the 2 sons. Both are told to go work in the vineyard. The first says he won’t go, but changes his mind and goes to work; the other agrees to go, but doesn’t. He finishes this parable with this accusation, “Truly I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”(21:31-32, ESV)
The second parable is of the tenants to whom a land owner places in charge of his farm. When the time came to collect the harvest, he sent a servants to collect his fruit. But, they beat one, kill another and stoned another. So, he sends his son. But, recognizing him as the heir, they decided to kill him so they can have his inheritance. The message is obvious. The tenants represented the religious leaders and the servants represented the prophets. They would not give God His due, killing and persecuting the prophets who He sent to them. Jesus finishes this parable by telling them, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”(23:43) When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew He was speaking about them.
The third parable was of a wedding feast to whom many were invited. When the time came, those who were invited wouldn’t come so invitations were sent out to the highways and byways to invite all who would come. Again, the religious leaders were invited into the kingdom but refused so others, tax collectors, prostitutes and the like, were invited.
By now, it’s obvious to everyone that Jesus is chastising the religious leaders for not fulfilling their responsibility. These parables were directed at them, indicating a coming judgment against them. They are most likely irritated and their attempts to trap Him begin. In short, they ask Him about paying taxes in the presence of those who supported Herod. That fails to trap Him so the Sadducees ask Him about marriage and the resurrection and His answer silence them. Seeing that Jesus succeeds in silencing them, the Pharisees ask Him about the greatest commandment. He silences them as well. Then, He turns the tables and asks Him whose son is the Christ…how can he be David’s son if David calls Him ‘my Lord?’ No one dared answer him nor ask Him any more questions.
This brings us to chapter 23 where Matthew records a litany of woes Jesus pronounced against the religious leaders. He begins by describing their hypocrisy. “For they preach, but they do not practice.”(v. 3) They made life difficult for those who sought to serve God…”They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”(v. 4) He accuses them of doing everything they do for show without sincerity. They refuse to allow any to enter the kingdom of heaven and refuse to go in themselves. They are picky about small matters and neglect the weightier matters. They were the “sons of those who murdered the prophets.” The measure of their father’s guilt was filed up with their generation. He called them hypocrites, blind guides, serpents, brood of vipers and declared they would not escape “the sentence of hell.” He accuses them of scourging, persecuting, crucifying, and killing some of the prophets and others that Jesus will send.
“On you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”(23:35-36
Immediately before leaving the temple, Jesus laments “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under he wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”(23:37-39, ESV)
So, we see here a context in which Jesus is repeatedly declaring judgment that the religious leaders will face because they have neglected to fulfill their responsibility to lead others into the kingdom, and have refused to come into the kingdom themselves. Is it possible that Matthew 24 continues that theme? Jesus ended this polemic message filled with accusation and judgment with the words, “Your house is left to you desolate.”
Imagine the disciples hearing this frightening…and shocking…prediction about the destruction of the temple and the judgment of Jerusalem that was going to take place in their own lifetimes. Would not the natural question be…”When will this happen? How will we know it’s about to happen?” And that’s exactly what they asked…
Endnotes:
1. Hal Lindsay, The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon, as quoted in Gary Demar, Last Days Madness (Powder Springs, CO: 1999) , p. 118.
2. Salem Kirban, Countdown to Rapture, as quoted in Last Days Madness, p. 117.
