As the disciples are walking through the temple courts with Jesus they are admiring the buildings. Jesus refocuses their attention by saying in Matthew 24:2 “not one stone will be left here on another stone that will not be thrown down!” They come to him later and ask in Matthew 24:3 “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus warns them about those that will come in his name and about the conflicts in Matthew 24:7 “nation will rise up against nation … and … famines and earthquakes”. But this is not what Jesus wants them to be concerned about. Instead, he tells them a parable about a master that returns and finds his servant faithfully working. But this servant isn’t just doing the jobs of normal maintenance that everyone must do, this servant was in charge of the household and was responsible for the provision others needed in Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their food at the right time?”. Yes, there will be conflict and tribulation until the end but we are called to be the supply, we are the conduit of God’s love as it says in John 7:38 the one who believes in me. Just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Blessed Is the One Who Comes In the Name of the Lord!
What Will Be The Sign of Your Coming
Matthew 24:1–8
Jesus and his disciples are walking through the temple courts and his disciples are admiring the buildings much as we might in
Matthew 24:1 And as Jesus went out of the temple courts he was going along, and his disciples came up to point out to him the buildings of the temple.
and Jesus reminds them that the things built by men’s hands don’t last. The things men admire, the things men worship, the things of our own creation have no eternal value. The disciples understand that Jesus is speaking about God’s kingdom so later, they ask in
Matthew 24:3 And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus responds with a warning in
Matthew 24:4–5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you! 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will deceive many.
and there are many that say, and there have been many who have said they have come in the name of the Lord, yet they are seeking their own will, or even worse, the will of the evil one. It says in
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
but we know in the end, conflict will arise in
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
and as Jesus went on to say, these are the beginning of the end in
Matthew 24:8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
This Gospel of the Kingdom Will Be Proclaimed
Matthew 24:9–14
As the Lightning Comes From the East and Flashes to the West
The Sign of the Son of Man Will Appear in Heaven
Matthew 24:29–35
As difficult as it seems to us, Jesus won’t return until “after the tribulation of those days” but when he comes, every person on earth will know it in
Matthew 24:29 “And immediately after the tribulation of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.’
then, they, all the tribes, Muslim or Christian, Catholic or Atheist, Palestinian or Israeli, will all see him, and they will not only know that he is God, but they will also mourn because of their unbelief, because of their rebellion in
Matthew 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Then comes the end. This is the last moment for anyone to accept Jesus Christ as who he is, the saviour of the world, their own personal saviour. And, after a moment of recognition, after a moment of mourning, after this last moment where some may turn and acknowledge Jesus, he will gather the elect in
Matthew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect together from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other end of it.
One Will Be Taken and One Left
Who Then Is the Faithful and Wise
Matthew 24:45–51
What will God find you doing when Jesus Christ returns? How will you be living your life? Are you one that now says in
Luke 13:35 Behold, your house has been left to you! And I tell you, you will never see me until the time will come when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
If you have accepted Jesus Christ, will you be declared a faithful servant? You will be if in
Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he comes back.
but we don’t know when he will return and this is where our faithfulness is tested and proven. We that believe, we will be “giving them their food”. We are God’s servants, but not only in worship to him but also in service, as the source of supply for those around us.
Study Verses
- Matthew 24:1–8 What Will Be The Sign of Your Coming
- Matthew 24:29–35 The Sign of the Son of Man Will Appear in Heaven
- Matthew 24:45–51 Who Then Is the Faithful and Wise
Today’s Reading
- Matthew 23:37-39
- Matthew 24:1-51