What's the word: Matthew 24 — Jesus’ teachable moment

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This is prophecy, which the Romans fulfilled in 70 A.D.

And this was not Jesus being dramatic, making the destruction of the temple sound more complete than it truly was. When He said “not one stone would be left upon another“ this is exactly what happened. Jesus had spoken literally, not figuratively. He did not add any colorful, descriptive wording but told them straight.

Doesn’t it stand to reason that what He said next would be the straight truth as well?

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The next verse, Matthew 24:3, has Jesus and the twelve on the mount of Olives, some distance from where they had been. It would seem they walked mostly in silence during the hike down the temple mount, across the Brook Kidron and up the Mount of Olives.

So, why the awkward silence? Jesus had just left the teachers of the law and the pharisees, and He called them out. That’s putting it mildly. He pronounced seven woes upon them, calling out their hypocrisy and scolding them for their religious practices, supposedly in the name of His Father, God. This is not Jesus making friends but holding to a standard of uncompromised holiness.

I picture the apostles trying to process what Jesus had said about the temple and His talk about having to die. There had been times when they would ask Jesus a question and He would answer with a parable, a kind of riddle if you will. So they probably talked among themselves about how they would approach Christ, and how to question Him. Their words were chosen carefully. We pick up the story in verse 3:

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

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A three pronged question in which they collectively hoped to get a straight answer. Firstly, when will the temple be destroyed; secondly, what sign will there be pointing to your return; and thirdly, how will it all end? What follows is known as the Olivet Discourse, in which Jesus tells the apostles that they will be persecuted and put to death, and He warns of hatred, betrayal, deception and wickedness. And He speaks of signs to look for concerning the end of the age, or the end of the world as we know it. Read it for yourself, Matthew chapter 24. There is much prophecy in scripture regarding the end times, but this is Jesus Himself telling it like it is.

And, incidentally, He begins the discourse with these words “see to it that you are not deceived.”

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This content is sponsored by Lyle Celebration Center, www.lylecelebrationcenter.org.