It is necessary to look again at the question the disciples asked in verse 3 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  That was after Jesus said in verse 2 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. The question in verse 3 came as the result of what Jesus said in verse 2. These things of verse 2 have to refer to the temple because Jesus said the stones would be thrown down. Some would argue that Jesus did not speak the truth since all the stones were not thrown down because the western wall called the Wailing Wall is still standing. However, that wall formed part of Herod’s Palace which was connected the temple proper. It was not part of the temple itself so it remained when the temple was destroyed.

Jesus began in verse 4 to answer the question in verse 3. He told the disciples what was going to happen at some future date, but that future date is not 2000 years or more distant as many suppose and teach. Then in verse 13, after stating the peril that those who follow him, verses 5 through 12, will face, he said in verse 13, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. The verse has had various interpretations, most of which involve spiritual salvation. However, the verse must be kept in the context of the entire chapter to discover the meaning. Jesus spoke of the behavior of the unbelievers that would be directed at his disciples. Jesus was referring to physical safety for those who would heed his instructions regarding the turmoil and destruction that would arrive at a later time. By being faithful, they would escape according to the Greek word that is translated save sozo--pronounced: sode'-zo (G4982), to be protected or delivered, save self. They were also had to remain faithful to the end of their lives to be saved spiritually.

The gospel would be preached verse 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (heko--pronounced: hay'-ko G2240 to arrive or be present). The word for preached is kerusso--pronounced: kay-roos'-so (G2784), to herald or proclaim. Between the time of the Day of Pentecost and AD 70, the gospel would be preached to both the Jews and the Gentiles (all nations) throughout the Roman Empire. The word translated witness is marturion--pronounced: mar-too'-ree-on (G3142), showing proof, evidence, and testimony by those who saw and heard Jesus. It is as written in Acts 4:20, 22:15 and I John 1:3. The apostles saw, heard and preached the gospel until the end of their life, close to the end of the age in which they lived. John is the only apostle that lived to see the Mosaic age end. That is the meaning of verse 14 within the context of the chapter; not the end 2000 or more years removed.

Once the gospel was preached to the Jews, the Samaritans and the Gentiles, the end of that age came a few years later. The word for end is telos--pronounced: tel'-os (G5056), which means conclusion and a limit to something. What will end? In verse 14, it means the end of the temple and all that went with it in the Mosaic dispensation. Jesus was preparing the people for that end when the old would pass away and the new would come with mighty power to replace the mixture of the law and grace that existed between Pentecost and AD 70.

To whom was Jesus speaking? It had to be those who lived in that day due to the context and the events that transpired 37 years later. He continued in verse 15 with the first sign of the impeding trouble. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) The last part of the verse is a parenthetical insertion placed there by Mathew since the words of Jesus were spoken 17 plus years previously. Those of that day were told to understand the meaning given to them by Daniel in 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. Jesus said that which occurred in the Old Testament time was going to happen again and Matthew told readers to understand the meaning of the message.

Part VI will continue with the instructions that Jesus gave to the people to follow when they saw the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24, verse 16 and verses that follow will be studied.

 © 09-18-2012 DEC