Matthew 24 (1) - Background

One of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible is Matthew 24, sometimes known as the Olivet discourse (there are parallel accounts in Mark 13 and Luke 21). This passage is often misunderstood, so it needs careful consideration. Most people assume that this passage gives a number of signs of the second coming of Jesus. This is not true. Verses 1-35 are actually a warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus was giving a strong warning to the Jews of what would happen to them, if they rejected him. Only at the end of the passage is the second coming described, and here no signs are given.

Before looking at Matthew 24 in detail, we must get an understanding of the context in which Jesus was speaking. Matthew records a long confrontation between Jesus and the leaders of the Jewish nation. It began in the time of John the Baptist. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came out to him, he told them to flee from the coming wrath and produce fruit worthy of repentance. He warned them that the axe was already at the root of the trees, and every tree that did not produce good fruit would be cut down and thrown on the fire (Matt 3:7-12). This was the first ominous warning to the Jewish nation. History shows that they did not repent, and Matthew 24 describes how the axe would fall.

Early in his ministry, Jesus gave a similar warning. After seeing the faith of the Gentile Centurion he said that many of the Gentiles would take a place in the kingdom of heaven, but many of the Jews, to whom the kingdom really belonged, would be thrown our into the place of darkness, and weeping, and gnashing of teeth (Matt 8:11,12).

Matthew 12 records how the Jews accused Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons. From that time on Jesus spoke in parables, so that they would not be able to understand what he was saying (Matt 13:13). The Jewish nation seemed to be set on a collision course with the purposes of God. This confrontation came to a head after the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matt 21). The Jewish leaders again questioned Jesus’ authority. Jesus responded with the parables of the Wicked Tenants and the Wedding Banquet, which warn that those who refuse to acknowledge him will find themselves shut out of the Kingdom.

This debate reached a climax in Matthew 22. The Jewish leaders had already begun to plot ways in which to kill Jesus (Matt 12:14). Now they tried to trap him with trick questions about paying taxes to Caesar, the resurrection, and the commandments. Jesus’ answers were so confounding, that no one dared to ask any more questions.

Jesus responded by denouncing the Pharisees and Teachers of the law publicly. Matthew 23 records this terrible accusation: of pride, false teaching, lack of mercy and faith, false judgment, dishonesty, greed and self indulgence. They are denounced in a series of seven woes. Jesus then announces:

Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers. Matt 23:32

This sentence gives a picture of a cup which is nearly full, and is being filled up to overflowing by the present generation of Jews. The nation has been rebelling against God, and grieving him for many centuries. Now with the rejection of the Son of God, they would fill up the cup of God’s wrath, bringing judgment on their nation. The law had warned that a nation that refused to be corrected would be punished for its sins, seven times over (Lev 26:23,24). This is exactly what would happen.

Jesus pronounced a terrible sentence against the Jewish nation.

Upon you will come all the righteous blood, that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berakiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all these things will come upon this generation. Matt 23:35

Upon this generation will come judgment, for all the prophets that have been killed. They will pay the price with their blood. Jesus then wept for Jerusalem and said.

Look, your house is left to you desolate. Matt 23:38

Jesus had longed to draw the people of Jerusalem to himself. Now he knew that they would reject him. He declared that God’s immediate purposes for the Jews were finished. Their house would be left desolate. The temple, which had been the dwelling place of God, had become a place of desolation. It was now deserted by God, so its destruction was inevitable. After pronouncing this terrible sentence, Jesus left the temple, never to return.

The disciples expected the Messiah to rule from the temple, and that it would be a centre of worship for all people on the earth (Acts 1:6). They were shocked by Jesus’ words. They could not accept the idea that God would desert the temple, so they pointed out the wonder of its buildings. But Jesus made his meaning clear when he said,

Do you see all these things…I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down. Matt 24:2

The temple would be totally destroyed. This is the context in which Jesus made his prophetic statement on the Mount of Olives. The leaders of the nation had repeatedly questioned and rejected his authority. Jesus declared that the consequence of this rebellion, would be the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. All these things would come upon the present generation.