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BSF Matthew Lesson 24 Additional Bible Resources: Valentine’s Day Edition!
Tag: bsf matthew lesson 24
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 5: Matthew 24:32-51
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 24:32-51
You know summer is near when the twigs and leaves of a fig tree get tender and come out. This generation won’t pass away until all of these things have happened. Jesus’s words won’t pass away.
Only God knows when the Second Coming will be. When the Son comes again, life will be normal as it was in the days of Noah before the flood. People ate, drank, and got married as normal. Some will be taken; others won’t.
Jesus says to keep watch because no one knows what day he will come, and he will come at an hour no one expects. It’s good for the faithful and wise servant to be taking care of the master’s household until he returns. If he is wicked, however, and beats his fellow servants and hang out with drunkards, he will be cut to pieces when the master returns and assigned a place amongst the hypocrites with weeping and gnashing of teeth.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 5: Matthew 24:32-51
10) This generation won’t pass away until all of these things have happened. Jesus’s words won’t pass away.
11a) When the Son comes again, life will be normal as it was in the days of Noah before the flood. People ate, drank, and got married as normal. In Noah’s day, people were so wicked God destroyed them.
b) Only God knows when the Second Coming will be.
12) The man did not watch his house as he should, so thieves snuck in. We need to be watchful so we are not lost when Jesus comes.
13) We must keep the faith and God’s commands, so that we are ready when Jesus comes because no one knows when that will be. We are to be faithful and serve.
14) Just be mindful that Jesus is always watching, that this earth is temporary and not my home, that I belong elsewhere, and remind myself periodically that Jesus is coming again soon.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 5: Matthew 24:32-51
I didn’t remember that only God knows when Jesus will return. This is encouraging since none of us know, so it’s best to treat every day as if Jesus will appear.
Great reminder!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 5: Matthew 24:32-51
The fig tree grows abundantly in Isreal and is mentioned many times in the Old Testament as a symbol of abundance. We see in Jeremiah 24:1-10 and Hosea 9:10, figs or fig trees represent Israel. The Luke version of this story Luke 21:29-31: shows clearly that the fig tree is used a sign that the kingdom of God is near.
When these signs appear, so will Jesus:
- Catastrophes
- Abomination of desolation
- Israel will flee
- Tribulation and cosmic disturbances
The generation is the generation that sees these signs. Some Bible scholars believe that “generation” really means race and refers to the Jews, meaning they will survive to the end. No one knows which generation it will be.
Many are confused by how Jesus’s coming cannot be known since only God knows it, yest Daniel says it will be exactly 1,290 days after the abomination of desolation (Daniel 12:11).
The days of Noah were marked by evil, violence, and demons, which is why God destroyed humanity and decided to start over.(Genesis 6:1-5).
Again, how can people go on living with such evil all around them?
Bible scholar William Barclay on this passage: “It is in two sections and they seem to contradict each other. The first (verses 32-35) seem to indicate that, as a man can tell by the signs of nature when summer is on the way, so he can tell by the signs of the world when the Second Coming is on the way. The second section (verses 36-41) says quite definitely that no one knows the time of the Second Coming, not the angels, not even Jesus himself, but only God; and that it will come upon men with the suddenness of a rainstorm out of a blue sky.”
This dicotomy is explained by knowing that there are two second comings here: the rapture (where all believers will be caught up and meet the Lord in the air. The bodies of the dead will be resurrected, and all believers, living and dead, will be glorified) and then the Second Coming (where Jesus will set up his kingdom, judge his enemies, and reward the faithful).
While we wait for Jesus, we must wait for his coming, be faithful, and we’ll be rewarded when he comes. The evil servant is not ready, instead not attending to God’s business, mistreating others, and indulging in the pleasures of this world.
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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 4: Matthew 24:27-31
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 24:27-31
Jesus warns the disciples to not believe these false Christs. The coming of the Son of Man will be visible. The sun will be darkened, the moon won’t shine, the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will shake. The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. The Son of Man will come on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. His angels will sound a trumpet, and he will gather the elect.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 4: Matthew 24:27-31
8a) The coming of the Son of Man will be visible. The sun will be darkened, the moon won’t shine, the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will shake. The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. The Son of Man will come on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. His angels will sound a trumpet, and he will gather the elect.
b)
Zechariah 12:10: The House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will grieve for Jesus and mourn him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: The Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command wtih the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, those who are sill alive will be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
Revelation 1:7: Jesus will come with the clouds and everyone will see him, even those who pierced him and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
9) It’s encourging to know that Jesus will come and that there is life not full of calamity like now. It gives me hope.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 4: Matthew 24:27-31
The events in Matthew 24 have not yet been fulfilled. It’s good to know the signs so we can be ready.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 4: Matthew 24:27-31
Many other Bible passages describe what will happen at the End Times (Joel 2:10, Revelation 6:12-14, Isaiah 34:4).
No one knows what this sign will be except that it will come before his return and it will be visible to the point no one will miss it.
Jesus returns for us. Beautiful thought!
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 24:15-26
Jesus continues describing the End Times to his disciples on the Mount of Olives. He describes what will happen and says that those in Judea should flee. Don’t take anything with you. If their flight takes place in winter or on the Sabbath, there will be great distress. However, those days will be cut short for the sake of the elect. False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive you.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26
6a) The destruction of the Jewish temple
b) Flee
c) Jesus will confirm a covenant with many. Forces will desecrate the temple and abolish daily sacrifices. There will be 1,290 days from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up.
7a) “Unequaled from the beginning of the world till now — and never to be equaled again.” “No one would survive” “How dreadful it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers.” “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.”
b) You should take the warnings very seriously. They should respond with prayer.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26
I’m wondering how the disciples felt hearing from this. I would have been afraid.
An interesting read on the Olivet Discourse.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26
The abomination of desolation is when the Jewish temple will be destroyed and an idolatrous image will be set up in the holy place. This act brings desolation.
Daniel describes the complete desecration of the temple, and Paul discusses this event more in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
There will be 3.5 years after the sign is set up before the consummation of all things.
When the abomination appears, you (the Jewish people) must flee immediately.
Bible scholars believe that the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 AD and the subsequent fleeing of God’s people was a foreshadowing of the coming End Times.
God will remove His church before the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Great Tribulation will be terrible, indeed.
All will know that Christ has arrived by his sign. Many will look for false prophets to save them.
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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 2: Matthew 24:1-14
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 24:1-14
After pronouncing the Seven Woes on the Pharisees, Jesus exits the temple and tells his disciples that the temple will be destroyed. When Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked him when will the temple be destroyed, what will be the sign of his coming, and what will be the sign of the end of the age. Jesus warns them to watch out for those who come in his name but are not him. Wars will happen, and nations will be pitted against nations. There will be famines and earthquakes.
They will be handed over, persecuted, and put to death because of him. They will be hated. Many will turn away from Christ and many false prophets will appear. Those who stand firm in the face of wickedness will be saved. The Gospel will be preached to the whole world and then the end will come.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 2: Matthew 24:1-14
3a) “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
b) The disciples asked Jesus when will the temple be destroyed, what will be the sign of his coming, and what will be the sign of the end of the age.
4a) “Watch out that no one deceives you.” God sent Jesus, but the false prophets are from the devil. He is a liar.
b) Jesus warns them to watch out for those who come in his name but are not him. Wars will happen, and nations will be pitted against nations and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes. They (the disciples) will be handed over, persecuted, and put to death because of him. They will be hated. Many will turn away from Christ and many false prophets will appear.
c) All of them: wars, nations against each other, famines, earthquakes, death, false prophets, and those turning from Christ.
5) Christ is coming, and it could be any time, so we need to be ready by preparing our hearts.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 2: Matthew 24:1-14
I like how Jesus doesn’t hold anything back, nor does he sugarcoat what is about to happen to him and to them. Honesty is always the best policy.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 2: Matthew 24:1-14
Jesus never again returns to the temple, nor will he ever debate the Pharisees and leaders again. He is departing in finality.
The temple was the center of life for every Jew in Jerusalem. It was begun by Zerubbabel and Ezra (Ezra 6:15) and expanded by Herod. People swore by it (Matthew 23:16), and speaking against is was considered blasphemy. (Acts 6:13). Incredibly, the temple was expanded and finished in 63 AD — a mere 7 years before it would be destroyed forever.
The temple was burned in 70 AD, melting all of the precious gold. The Romans wanted the gold, so they dismantled the entire temple to retrieve it.
The Olivet Discourse
Jesus has made his way to the Mount of Olives now. The disciples want to know more about Jesus’s prediction. They most likely thought the End Times would be when the temple fell. They were wrong.
Bible scholars debate why Jesus was not clear here and just told the disciples (and us) when the End Times would come. Some speculate it’s to confound the devil; others say it’s so we will always be ready for Jesus’s return. All we know is that he will return.
Biblical prophecy often contains a near-term event coupled with one that is further away.
Satan is the father of lies, and he will be very active at the End Times. False prophets will appear, too.
Jesus mentions things that will occur (wars, famines, earthquakes, etc), but they are not THE sign of the End Times, but they are a sign of the End Times coming.
Jesus now talks about the period after he ascends to heaven but before he comes again. Here:
- The disciples will be persecuted
- There will be many false prophets who will deceive many
- Wickedness will continue to increase in the world
- Natural disasters, famines, and earthquakes (signs of God’s judgment) will intensify
- The Gospel will be preached to the entire world. Nothing will prevent the Word of God from being known before the End Times
Jesus’s disciples don’t even fully understand Jesus’s first coming, so they must be insanely confused here.
Fun Fact: The Olivet Discourse is Jesus’s last major teaching recorded before his death.
Learn more about the Olivet Discourse HERE