Context, Context, Context
To properly cite the number of authors I’ve read on Matthew 24 who have
shaped my thinking would be a momentous task.
I will offer a bibliography at the end of this series of material I have
read. Unfortunately most of these books
have failed to convince me on the simple grounds that I find them
confusing. When you consider that
Matthew 24 was spoken to ordinary people, in an ordinary place, it is hard for
me to believe that Jesus intended for this long prophetic announcement to be
misunderstood. There is within the
scope of Biblical interpretation a very common sense standard that some call “reader
relevance” which simply means that it had to make sense to the original
audience. Why would I warn my family
about an event that would take place in the days of my great grandchildren?
Why have we made this so confusing?
Answer: Because we have tried to
import our system – our viewpoint into the passage instead of simply taking the
passage at face value. To be clear, I
think the passage was prophesied by Jesus in the days of His ministry; and it
was fulfilled in A.D. 70 – completely.
If I try to import notions of future events into this passage I have to
squirm and wiggle with sentences to make them fit. At best this is manipulative.
A good place to start is the context.
Let me just highlight some things.
You can certainly take advantage of a number of Biblical helps that are more
detailed.
Matthew’s Gospel
This Gospel written by
the disciple of Jesus, Matthew, emphasizes the presentation of Jesus as Israel’s
Messiah. It can easily be divided into
three main sections:
1. Matt 1:1–4:16 include Christ’s
preliminary and preparatory events leading up to his public ministry
2. Matt 4:17–16:12 include his public
ministry
3. Matt 16:13–28:20 are events leading
up to his ultimate rejection culminating in his crucifixion, burial,
resurrection and the commissioning of his disciples.
So we readily see that
the passage we are dealing with falls within the third phase. What will prove true is what John foretold: “He came to his own, and his own
people did not receive him.” (John 1:11, ESV). In
Matthew 12, the author records the rejection of Jesus and the opposition to him
started. “But the Pharisees
went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.” (Matthew 12:14, ESV)
From that point on there is a general emphasis of Jesus teaching in
parables (that is important) about the Kingdom.
As he approaches his passion, he tells significant kingdom parables,
e.g.:
a.
The Parable of the Tenants (Matt 21:33ff). What is it’s point? God the Father had sent prophets to this
nation but they killed the prophets. He
sent His Son and they killed him. What did the crowd say should be done to this
nation? “They said to him, “He will put those wretches
to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give
him the fruits in their seasons.”” (Matthew 21:41, ESV). Indeed Christ affirmed that. “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and
given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone
will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When
the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he
was speaking about them.” (Matthew 21:43–45, ESV) [Emphasis mine].
Notice that the point did not escape the Jewish religious leaders.
b.
Another parable was the Parable of the Wedding
Feast (Matt 22:1ff). You of course can
read it. But what is important is what is to become of those who reject the
Son? “The king was angry, and he sent his troops and
destroyed those murderers and burned their city.” (Matthew 22:7, ESV) [Emphasis mine].
c.
Thirdly I invite you to read the chapter just preceding
Chapter 24. It is a chapter of “woe” –
of judgment and of our Savior’s lament.
Within the context of this chapter we read these words: “Truly, I say to you, all these
things will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:36, ESV)
The generation to
which these words were addressed represented the culminating point of the whole
sinful history of the nation, beginning with the murder of Abel by his brother
Cain (see Gen 4; Heb 11:4) and going on to the murder of Zacharias son of
Barachias. [1]
Jesus charged them with bloodshed of righteous people throughout the entire Old
Testament canon. It is these words that
propel us into Chapter 24.
The undeniable pattern thus far in Matthew’s Gospel is the rejection of
Jesus by his people, Israel that led to the rejection by Jesus and His
condemnation.
[1]
Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1946). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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