At the beginning of this lesson and for the next parts, keep in mind the meaning of this and this generation and to whom the words refer. If that isn’t done, then a trip into error on what the chapter reveals will be the result. In addition, Matthew and the other three books of the gospel weren’t written at the time Jesus spoke the words. The dates of the gospels vary from A.D. 58 for Luke to possibly A.D. 67-68 for John (some date John in A.D. 95, but there are textual and historical reasons for the early date), with Matthew and Mark falling in between. What is important at this point is that the gospels are a historical record of the life of Jesus before the cross, his resurrection and the few weeks that remained until Pentecost.

The recipients were members of God’s assembly, the saved, created on the Day of Pentecost 25 to 30-33 years before. The books reminded the people of the truth Jesus spoke, and their reason for obeying the gospel; confession and baptism into Christ. Matthew and Luke also reminded them again of the horrible events of which Jesus spoke and which would soon take place. Since Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 (the persecution started in A.D. 62 and the destruction which actually began in A.D. 66 to 67), the gospels served to remind the people of the events to come that were foretold by Daniel, John the Baptist and Jesus. In that regard, a misunderstanding of the word tribulation in Matthew 24 and the time (age) has lead to the error being taught.  

The study of Chapter 24 begins with verse one. The disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. In verse two Jesus said, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. These are the first words of Jesus that indicate the nature of the grave peril soon to come upon the temple and the city. Not to look ahead, but those words conform to and begin the revealing of the prophecy of Daniel 8:26-27.

Verse 3 tells us that the disciples understood the message concerning the temple destruction by asking him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Many assume that each part of the question is a separate question for a separate time, when in fact the question parts are one question with all of them related to verse two. The error made in the teachings is that the expositors believe erroneously that the question refers to events, signs and the end of the age in which we presently live. As the lessons progress, the false nature of that belief will be shown.  

What then did the disciples desire to know? They wanted to know when those things of which Jesus spoke in Chapter 23, the woes, and the destruction of the temple would take place. Those things are all that Jesus spoke on this matter previously and most definitely refer to the events that will be associated with the A.D. 70 destruction of the temple. The teaching was uppermost in their minds and they wanted to know what and when the event was going to happen.

Recall that Jesus had previously said the temple would be destroyed which became part of the items in the three part question the disciples asked in verse 3. The other parts were about signs and the end of the world. The word world is a translation of the Greek word aion (aion -- pronounced: ahee-ohn') that means age or time. It is apparent that the disciples knew that the destruction would end the Jewish time-period or age.

Further more, we can turn to Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7 and see that the disciples connected things and signs of the coming together as one event. Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? (Mark13:4) then, And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? (Luke 21:7) There is no doubt that they understood that things and fulfilled were about the same subject, the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish age.

© 12-15-2009 DEC                               

                        The next lesson part IV will begin with verse 4.