Matthew 24 For Dummies - Part 2

Grammar

To review Part 1 of this conversation click HERE.   There I wrote, " 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. "  Jesus says to the rulers in Israel, “See, your house is left to you desolate.” (Matthew 23:38, ESV)

Hank Hanegraaff writes, Jesus began his famous Olivet Discourse by walking away from the very house that afforded the Jewish people their theological and sociological significance. He had pronounced seven woes on the Pharisees and then uttered the unthinkable: “Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38)."[1]

Jesus left the Temple with stunned Jews all around him.  A group that were no less traumatized were his own disciples.  They managed to point out this majestic Temple to Jesus who just said that it would be left desolate.  He did not mince words: “But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”” (Matthew 24:2, ESV)

They ask the obvious question: When will this happen (v.3)?   Further they ask, "What will be the sign of your coming?  When will the end of the age come?"  Now let's establish clearly in our minds that Jesus had already answered part of that question.  In Chapter 23, verse 36 he said that judgment would come upon this generation.  At the end of this part of the conversation he repeats that.  “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:34, ESV)

All that he tells them of the signs of this judgment will take place within their (the reader's) generation. That's not a difficult word to understand.  It is clear, unambiguous and it is without any metaphoric or cryptic significance.  What Jesus said would happen, would happen within the lifetime of the hearers.

It is also clear that the disciples saw this judgment as the "end of the age."  Granted, that is not so plain. These disciples will prove not to understand the role, the death, the resurrection of Jesus, but they do understand this build-up to judgment and destruction of the Temple as "the end of the age".   The KJV translators have misled people when they render this question, “. . .  and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3, AV).  The word is αἰών [aion /ahee·ohn] and must be understood in context.  Jesus has told the Nation that there is going to be a dynastic change (Matthew 21:43–45).  The entire corpus of Old Testament literature was pointing toward a covenantal revolution. In context the "age" can only mean the age started with the Temple (i.e., Moses/Sinai) and ending with the destruction of the Temple.

Jesus is then going to give all the indicators that will signal the end of the Mosaic period, the judgment of Israel, the destruction of the Temple, the end of the Levitical sacrificial system, and the end of the Old Covenant.  That age will end in judgment and "there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."^[2]

---

[1] Hanegraaff, Hank (2010-09-21). The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible REALLY Says About the End Times... and Why It Matters Today (p. 73). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Mt 24:2). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.