Confidence in times of trial

Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid.​—Heb. 13:6.

“The person who knows God best will trust him the most in time of test.”

How true! To face persecution successfully, we must love Jehovah and trust in him completely.

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”+37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’+38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 (Matt. 22:36-38)

11 Look! We consider happy* those who have endured.+ You have heard of the endurance of Job+ and have seen the outcome Jehovah* gave,+ that Jehovah* is very tender in affection* and merciful.+ (Jas. 5:11)

Read the Bible daily with the goal of drawing closer to Jehovah.

8 Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.+ Cleanse your hands, you sinners,+ and purify your hearts,+ you indecisive ones. 9  (Jas. 4:8)

As you read, focus on Jehovah’s tender qualities. Feel his love and affection expressed in the things he says and does.

  6 Jehovah was passing before him and declaring: “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful+ and compassionate,*+ slow to anger+ and abundant in loyal love*+ and truth,*+ (Ex. 34:6)

Some may struggle to believe that God loves them because they have never been shown love. If you face that challenge, try making a list each day of ways that Jehovah has shown mercy and kindness to you.

38 But he was merciful;+ He would forgive* their error and not bring them to ruin.+ He often held back his anger+ Instead of stirring up all his wrath.39 For he remembered that they were flesh,+ A wind that blows past and does not return.* (Ps. 78:38, 39)

32 Since he did not even spare his own Son but handed him over for us all,+ will he not also, along with him, kindly give us all other things? (Rom. 8:32)

As you consider your own experiences and meditate on what you have read in God’s Word, you will likely be able to list many things that Jehovah has done for you. The more you appreciate what Jehovah does, the stronger your bond with him will be.​

116 I love Jehovah Because he hears* my voice, my pleas for help.+  2 For he inclines his ear* to me,+ And I will call on him as long as I live.* — Ps. 116:1, 2.

w19.07 2-3 ¶4-5

Confiance en temps d’épreuve

Jéhovah est mon secours ; je n’aurai pas peur (Héb. 13:6).

« C’est la personne qui connaît Dieu le mieux qui lui fera le plus confiance en temps d’épreuve. »

Comme c’est vrai ! Pour réussir à faire face à la persécution, il faut aimer Jéhovah et lui faire entièrement confiance.

36 « Enseignant, quel est le plus grand commandement de la Loi+ ? » 37 Il lui répondit : « “Tu dois aimer Jéhovah ton Dieu de tout ton cœur, de toute ton âme et de toute ta pensée+.” 38 C’est le plus grand et le premier commandement. (Mat. 22:36-38)

11 Voyez ! Nous déclarons heureux* ceux qui ont enduré+. Vous avez entendu parler de l’endurance de Job+ et vous avez vu ce que Jéhovah* a fait pour lui à la fin+, et vous avez constaté que Jéhovah* est plein de tendre affection* et miséricordieux+.(Jacq. 5:11).

Lis la Bible chaque jour dans l’objectif de te rapprocher de lui.

 8 Approchez-​vous de Dieu, et il s’approchera de vous+. Nettoyez vos mains, pécheurs+, et purifiez vos cœurs+, gens indécis. 9  (Jacq. 4:8).

Pendant ta lecture, concentre-​toi sur ses qualités touchantes. Ressens son amour et son affection, qui ressortent de ce qu’il dit et fait.

6 Jéhovah passait devant lui et proclamait : « Jéhovah, Jéhovah, Dieu miséricordieux+ et compatissant+, lent à se mettre en colère+ et abondant en amour fidèle*+ et en vérité*+ ; (Ex. 34:6).

Certains ont du mal à croire que Dieu les aime parce qu’ils n’ont jamais reçu d’amour. Si c’est ton cas, essaie de faire chaque jour une liste des différentes façons dont Jéhovah s’est montré miséricordieux et bon avec toi.

38 Mais il était miséricordieux+ ; il pardonnait* leur faute et ne les supprimait pas+. Souvent, il retint sa colère+ au lieu de déchaîner toute sa fureur.39 Car il se souvenait qu’ils n’étaient que chair+,un souffle qui passe et ne revient pas*. (Ps. 78:38, 39)

32 Il n’a même pas épargné son propre Fils, mais l’a livré pour nous tous+. Ne nous donnera-​t-​il donc pas aussi volontiers, en plus de lui, toutes les autres choses ? (Rom. 8:32).

En méditant sur ce que tu lis dans la Bible et en réfléchissant à des situations que tu as vécues, tu penseras sans doute à de nombreuses choses que Jéhovah a faites pour toi. Plus tu apprécieras ce qu’il fait, plus ta relation avec lui sera forte.

116 J’aime Jéhovah, parce qu’il* entend ma voix, mes appels à l’aide+.  2 Car il incline son oreille vers moi*+,et je ferai appel à lui aussi longtemps que je vivrai*. (Ps. 116:1, 2)

w19.07 2-3 § 4-5.

When feeling alone, afraid to connect with others in order to grow in faith

In this life where there does not seem to be much interest in Jehovah God, sometimes we can feel just on our own, certainly when we have no church to connect with.

To break that chain of loneliness we should try to be courageous to make others know we are loving God and following the real Christ. We may be proud of our heavenly Father, Jehovah, and want others to come to know Him, but often, because we do feel so lonely we do feel on our own and too weak to go out to let others know our choice for life.

One of the best ways we can show love to others is by sharing the good news with them.

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations,+ baptizing them+ in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.+ And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”+(Matt. 28:19, 20)

Often, when we are on our own, we think we shall not be able to “make learners”, because we do not see people who want to be around us. The Greek verb ma·the·teuʹo has the basic meaning “to teach” with the intent of making pupils or disciples. As such we encounter situations when there are no direct people around us to be taught, but when we look around we shall see there are people whom we could attract by the right words to hear and follow our words.

There is given a command to those who want to be followers of Christ. This command to reach “people of all the nations” was new in the first century. Prior to Jesus’ ministry, the Scriptures indicate that Gentiles were welcomed to Israel if they came to serve Jehovah.

41 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not part of your people Israel and who comes from a distant land because of your name*+ 42 (for they will hear about your great name+ and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm), and he comes and prays toward this house, 43 may you then listen from the heavens, your dwelling place,+ and do all that the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you,+ as your people Israel do, and may know that your name has been called on this house that I have built. (1Ki 8:41-43)

Today we cannot hear the Name of Jehovah resound over the land. We do not hear the Great Name of Jehovah mentioned often. Because of the Name not being known and not being spoken about a lot, people can not easily come to meet with others who love that Great Name and want to praise that Divine Creator.

What if we are timid? How can we become bold? How can we find the guts to go out and speak about that Great Name?

We grow bold when we focus on how happy we can make Jehovah and how much others will benefit from learning about him. Though we might feel on our own, without people feeling likewise about Jehovah God, we should come to know and come to feel that This Great God above all gods, is willing to help us when we are willing to work for Him.

Jehovah will give us the courage we need. He helped our first-century brothers to become bold, and he will help us too.​

2 For although we had first suffered and been insolently treated in Phi·lipʹpi,+ as you know, we mustered up boldness* by means of our God to tell you the good news of God+ in the face of much opposition.* (1 Thess. 2:2).

Even when we live in a country where the government is not having people to talk about Jehovah, we should think about the first Christians and their prosecution.
At the beginning of the expansion of the movement of followers of Christ, those true Christians bore the consequences of their faith. In the first centuries after Christ had died, his followers expected to be persecuted.

True Christians expect to be persecuted.  No matter where we live, secular authorities may suddenly and unexpectedly ban us from worshipping our loving God, Jehovah. If a government bans our worship, we might wrongly conclude that we do not have God’s blessing. But remember, persecution does not mean that Jehovah is unhappy with us. Take, for example, the apostle Paul. He certainly had God’s approval. He had the privilege of writing 14 letters of the Christian Greek Scriptures, and he was an apostle to the nations. Yet, he faced intense persecution.

23 Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman, I am more outstandingly one: I have done more work,+ been imprisoned more often,+ suffered countless beatings, and experienced many near-deaths.+ 24 Five times I received 40 strokes less one from the Jews,+ 25 three times I was beaten with rods,+ once I was stoned,+ three times I experienced shipwreck,+ a night and a day I have spent in the open sea; 26 in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people,+ in dangers from the nations,+ in dangers in the city,+ in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, 27 in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often,+ in hunger and thirst,+ frequently without food,+ in cold and lacking clothing.  (2 Cor. 11:23-27)

We learn from the apostle Paul’s experience that Jehovah allows his faithful servants to be persecuted.

Jehovah is not partial, He does not judge by outward appearance, favouring people because of their race, nationality, social standing, or any external factors and He is happy when He sees us show love to others, no matter what their background may be.

34 At this Peter began to speak, and he said: “Now I truly understand that God is not partial,+ 35 but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.+ (Acts 10:34, 35)

Out of love for our neighbours or fellow man, we should be willing to step out of our isolation and should dare to come to talk about Jehovah. We should master our fear for the other, and dare to speak to them around using our neighbourhood. We should know we have something special to offer. Those who listen to us can improve their lives now and gain the prospect of enjoying everlasting life in the future.​

16 Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.+ Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.+ (1 Tim. 4:16).

Jehovah is a loving parent, so He wants His family to be happy.

65 “I have let myself be searched for by those who did not ask for me; I have let myself be found by those who did not look for me.+

I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that was not calling on my name.+ (Isaiah 65:1)

14 Look! My servants will shout joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, But you will cry out because of the pain of heart And you will wail because of a broken spirit. (Isa. 65:14)

Even when we are just one servant of God in isolation, not having it easy to feel connected with other believers, we in our heart should be pleased that we can be partakers of the Body of His son and be part of His widespread family. It is true our spirit may often being hurt and feel like a piece of crystal glass thrown on the ground completely shattered into many pieces. Our courage can often sink deeply into our shoes, yet we have to put our hope that one day there will be more people around us who want to be connected with us. In the meantime, we should not let ourselves be caught by depressed moods from feeling lonely.

We should look up and aim for Jehovah God as our Sustainer and Inspirer.

Trusting God we shall have to find the courage to keep going on in our solitude and to prepare the path for others still to come. Trust and patience are what should keep us going. This should make us not afraid to invite others to dwell with us in the house of the Highest God above all gods, all the days of our life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

 4 One thing I have asked from Jehovah  —It is what I will look for— That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life,+ To gaze upon the pleasantness of Jehovah And to look with appreciation* upon his temple.*+ (Psalms 27:4)

We can remain happy because we have the sure hope that life will get even better in the future. We know that soon Jehovah will remove all the wicked and that under the direction of His Kingdom, the earth will be restored to Paradise. We also have the wonderful hope that those who have died will be raised to life and reunited with their loved ones.

28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice+29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.+30  (John 5:28, 29)

What a joy that will be! And most important, we are sure that soon everyone in heaven and on earth will give our loving Father the honour, praise, and devotion that he deserves.

So let us find the courage to overcome our sadness of being alone. Jehovah God is always with us, like our shadow, and it is Him Who can give us wings and strength.

 4 I will be a guest in your tent forever;+ I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.+ (Selah) (Psalm 61:4)

We might feel in the dark, but by our faith in the resurrection of Christ light should shine in our life. We should let others know that he is the way to God, the light and life, but also the one who provides us with a grand hope. With our hope for a better life out of brotherly love, let us share our hope with others. Those who listen to us can improve their lives now and gain the prospect of enjoying everlasting life in the future.

16 Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.+ Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.+ (1 Tim. 4:16).

+

Preceding

Let us not fret or worry about next season

There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving

Inculcate God’s words and speak of them

Testimonies to observe, inspired by God

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 5:17-20 – The Nazarene Rabbi’s Commentary on the Torah

Matthew 10:24-31 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Do Not Fear – Preach!

As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude

Good or bad preacher

A Society pleading poverty

Be strong

++

Additional reading

1. “Unnoticed”
2. Alone in the cold and dark
3. Loneliness (as seen by Tess Connor)
4. What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?
5. When I Get Lost in My Loneliness
6. So many people are shut up tight inside themselves like boxes
7. Walking alone?
8. What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?
9. God’s forgotten Word 2 Lost Lawbook 1 Who has still interest
10. The Field is the World #4 Many who leave the church
11. The post-Christian world
12. Dealing with worries in our lives
13. Not staying alone in your search for truth
14. Measure of loneliness whilst time drags
15. Christadelphian Support Network Meeting: The Age of Loneliness
16. Pascal’s Possibility
17. Today’s thought “Ability to receive ableness from God” (May 11)
18. The Big Conversation – Christadelphians in the United Kingdom
19. Being in isolation #2 Looking at the word “Isolation”
20. Being in isolation #3 Gathering and Sharing
21. Being in isolation #5 Isolated Biblical figures and Confessional isolation
22. When not seeing or not finding a biblically sound church
23. Avoiding the big questions
24. Life’s challenges may not paralyse you
25. Determine the drive
26. Courage is fear that has said its prayers
27. Courage for every day living
28. Be strong and take courage
29. Be Not Thou Weary
30. Courage doesn’t always roar
31. Fearing the right person
32. Commit your self to the trustworthy creator
33. God is my refuge and my fortress in Him I will trust
34. Trust God to shelter, safety and security
35. Trust the future to God
36. Finding our identity in serving God
37. Believe that moves stones
38. Companionship
39. Creating Community and Togetherness
40. How should we worship God? #4 Christian Congregations
41. Ecclesia – Church – Minding your reference
42. Church indeed critical in faith development
43. Parish, local church community – Parochie, plaatselijke kerkgemeenschap
44. In all circumstances preaching Christ
45. Blogging in the world for Jesus and his Father
46. Daily thought for July the 8th and the Summer months
47. Prayer theme in this Corona time: Compassion
48. Bijbelvorser looking for ways to reach others
49. The Most Appropriate teacher and Scoffers in our contemporary age
50. Today’s thought “A blessing and a curse” (April 25)
51. Today’s thought “When approaching the battle against your enemies today” (May 03)
52. Today’s thought “When in need of encouragement” (May 18)
53. Today’s thought “If we endure” (May 26)
54. The Big Conversation
55. The Big conversation Why it matters
56. Reason to preach #5 Trained to do it God’s way
57. Beautiful feet of those who announce the good news
58. Abound To Every Good Work (2 Cor. 9:8)
59. Only once and with consequences
60. Missional hermeneutics 4/5
61. Learning from ourselves
62. Reflections on Existence and Teaching
63. Preaching by example
64. Looking for True Spirituality 7 Preaching of the Good News
65. Evangelizing in the “Time of the End”
66. A Million Ways To Live: Al Muhyi (The One Who Gives Life)
67. God is Positive
68. When God Moved a Mountain
69. A way to prepare for the Kingdom
70. From house to house #2: Continuing to bring the good news right to the world
71. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies
72. Paradise restored

+++

Related

1. Lonely and Depressed…
2. “Empty”
3. Changing the World
4. When is a ‘Church’ Not a ‘Church’?
5. Church: Mind Your Reference!
6. The Good and The Bad Within the Church Part-1 – Unleashed
7. Darrell L. Guder – The Continuing Conversion of the Church (2000)
8. Seeing is Disbelieving (2020)
9. Power and authority (Part two)
10. Proverbs 25:21-22
11. Selah – סֶלָה
12. Easter Sunday 2021: out of darkness
13. Walk and talk!
14. What the church needs
15. Daily Bible Verse For The Day 7th April, 2021
16. The wind blows where it wishes
17. Matthew 13:44
18. Making Disciples
19. Why do we make disciples
20. Yes To The Cost
21. Who do we Listen to God or Man
22. Making Space to Do What We are Called to Do–Make Disciples
23. In Search of More Mountain Guides: Making Disciples by “Traveling With” Instead of “Talking At”
24. Making disciples is the Biblical-mandate
25. Bringing Up Baby
26. What Snacks Teach Us About Making Disciples
27. The Supply and Demand of Making Disciples
28. Where are the Shepherds?
29. How Deeply Do You Care?
30. Belief and Behavior
31. Celtic Evangelism and a New/Old Way to Win a World
32. What makes a man cry
33. Scripture for Meditation #1
34. Scripture for Meditation #2
35. Do You Care If Anyone Knows Jesus? (Christian Leadership In Today’s Culture Part 5)
36. Tumbling Stones and the Art of Pastoral Care
37. Don’t Be Ashamed
38. Forget Public Opinion…Keep Your Eyes on God’s Opinion of You.
39. A Passionless Christian Asked a Question.
40. Preaching to the Hard hearted with Joy
41. Making Disciples
42. The Master “Group Plan” of Discipleship
43. Mentoring: Harnessing God’s Overflowing Love
44. Who is the “Buddy” that is Pushing You to Grow in Christ?
45. Christ’s Church – Part 3
46. The Spread of the Gospel
47. Harvest Workers; February 27, 2021
48. Where is the Harvest?
49. Straight Methods, Narrow Message

Matthew 24 about temples or Houses of God and the end of the age

Today we start with a chapter where Jesus, after he has been discoursing all day in the courts of the temple, went out from the temple, going on his way to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples coming to him to show him the buildings of the temple. (Matthew 21:23; 24:3)

The apostle Mark let us know that the disciples particularly pointed out the stones of the temple, as well as the buildings.

“In that temple,”

says Josephus, the Jewish historian,

“were several stones which were forty-five cubits in length, five in height, and sixth in breadth”;

that is, more than seventy feet long, ten wide, and eight high. These stones, of such enormous size, were principally used in building the high wall on the east side, from the base to the top of the mountain. They were also, it is said, beautifully painted with variegated colours.

The Temple was renowned for its beauty and was considered to be one of the wonders of the world. It is written in the Talmud,

‘Whoever has not seen Herod’s Temple has never yet seen a beautiful building.’ (SB I,944).

We find the disciples on the Mount of Olives where they question the Nazarene in particular about his own future coming, the time of the desolation of God’s temple and its destruction and the sign of its advent and the end of the world (verses 1-3). They do not understand Jesus his predictions and cannot believe that the temple should be destroyed in their time. – The one by Herod I in 20 BCE. The new construction of the temple that was started was only really completed seven years before it was destroyed.

We are coming closer to the imprisonment of Christ. The writing here can well be talking about the last private school before their final gathering at the upper room. Jesus comes to talk once more about a future time, namely of the last things, and extends to the end of the world, modelled on the impending end of the Jewish Republic. But this private school is still somewhat linked to the previous lesson. – Jesus went out, as he said, and away from the temple,
in which he made the previous speech, of which the last words were that their house should be left deserted to them. Thus, these words refer back to chapter 23:38, where is mentioned that the House shall be left abandoned.

We shall find a discourse that foretells in the outset the destruction of Jerusalem (e. g., v. 15-21, v. 34); and in the conclusion certainly foretells the final coming of the son of man, with the gathering of all nations, the general judgment of mankind and the resulting permanent state of the good and the bad, (Matthew 25:31-46) in a way substantially equivalent to the predictive descriptions afterwards given by the apostles.

The question of the disciples in verse 3 was obviously misguided, because it attracts the response from Jesus

“Take heed that no man deceive you”.

which echoes the words of God to Zedekiah (Jeremiah 37:9) where he was anticipating a deliverance from the Chaldeans. – When the Romans were surrounding Jerusalem there would have been Jews who encouraged the people, falsely, saying that the Romans would not over throw the city.

Did the disciples think that the coming of Jesus, and the end of the world was to be very soon? Jesus goes to great lengths to let them in gently on the fact that the “time of the gentiles” was to come in the intervening period. (v. 6, 8, 14).

Today still many may wonder what an unfolding end with beginnings of birth pains and those rumors of wars may imply. They should remember it shall only be when the Good News of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

In this last of the five major sermons, Jesus focuses on prophetic and apocalyptic themes of judgment and the end times. The disciples have been listening to the prophetic judgment Jesus has issued on the religious leaders. They have images of collapsing temple buildings, of prophets pursued from town to town, of floggings, and of blood-soaked garments. They can imagine themselves blood-soaked. They wonder when this all will happen, and what it means.

Their master teacher Jeshua answers them to be careful that no one leads them astray, which we should take at heart also! We too must be be aware of it for many will come in Jesus name, doing as if they are the Messiah or the one who can bring people to salvation. Jesus warns for all those people, preachers and so called prophets who, by their talking and frigtening people will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4-5,11)

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but should not directly be alarmed, for this must happen but it is not yet the end. In Scriptures many signs of times to come are notated. In the Book of books is written that nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of birth pains, it is to say the start of a generation which shall come to see more. (Matthew 24:4-8)

In Scriptures is told that God provides time for man to listen to His Words, and as such, first all over the world, shall the Good News being preached, before the worst battle commences. And we should know that those who preach the Good News and worship the Only One True God, Who is One (and not two or three), shall be mocked and laughed at, and even worse being hand over to persecution and being killed. They that pronounce the Name of the Only One True God  and the true name of the Messiah, Christ (Jeshua the Messiah) will be hated by all the nations because of Jesus and his Father’s name’s sake. (Matthew 24:9-14)

We shall have to face it that many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one other. All that leading astray might happen because of people prefering to listen to false prophets and human dogma‘s instead of listening to the the Word of God and the believe in the Biblical dogma‘s. It shall all happen also because lawlessness will multiply and the love of many will grow cold, by their selfishness.
Though we might have hope, because those who endures to the end will be saved. They that take time to listen to this Good News of the kingdom which shall be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, shall recognise the signs when there will be great trouble such as has not happened since the beginning of the world, the end will come. We must hear and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, know and believe that for the sake of the chosen, those days will be cut short.(Matthew 24:10-14, 21-22)

Even when false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen, we should be alert and keep tot he writings of Scripture and the call of God and His master teacher, because that last one told us beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25)

We should know that it shall be with the coming of the Son of Man, being as lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, that we should come to see the signs clearly. Because immediately after the trouble 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 the heavens will be shaken.
That is when the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. (Matthew 24:26-28, 29-30)
At that time all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a great shofar, and those heavenly messengers will gather his beloved faithful elect from the four corners of creation, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)

This 24th chapter concludes with a parable of a fig tree. We too should learn from that parable from the fig tree. (Matthew 24:32-33)
Jesus tells them that story because he wants to warn that generation which will not pass away until all these things happen. Though it will pass away, Jeshua’s words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:34-35) But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven nor the Son, except the Father alone, because only Jehovah God is the Only God above all gods Who knows everything. (Matthew 24:36)

Afterwards Jesus also reminds his disciples of those days before the flood, when people enjoyed all the best things of life and were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. We may not forget that at that time they did not understand until the flood came and swept them all away, but then it was too late. So shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37-39) Then many shal be at work as well, but also find some one taken and the other one left. (Matthew 24:40-41) Therefore we all have to stay alert; for like Jesus and his disciples did not know the time of the end, we do not know what day our Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42) But know this, that if the master of the house had known what time the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:43-44)

The chapter ends by talking about the “Faithful Servant“, a subject that can also confuse or despair many, or use some to present their leaders as that only reliable servant.
Jesus questions

“ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?” (Mt 24:45 NIV)

and then continues with telling that the faithful and wise servant, has to be some one who takes good care of that household to give them the necessary things at the proper time (Matthew 24:45-46)

+

Preceding

Matthew 11:20-24 Encouragement for John and Reproach for cities 5 Reproached Cities a Lesson for Judgment Day

Matthew 12:33-37 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment Day

Matthew 13:36-43 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Zizania in the Field Explained

Matthew 13:47-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Dragnet

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Signs of the Times

Signs of the last days when difficult times will come

Matthew 23:37-39 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jerusalem, Jerusalem – Your House Is Abandoned!

Next:

Matthew 24:1-2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Setting

Photo from the blog of Aaron Richert, pastor of The Church at North Pole in North Pole, Alaska. From the article: Is Matthew 24 about the Rapture?

++

Additional reading

1. Looking into the Future
2. Prophecies over coming days
3. Signs of the Last Days
4. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #1 The Son of man revealing
5. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #2 Wars, natural disasters, famine and false Messiahs
6. Signs of the times – “An object of scorn and ridicule”
7. The Rapture Wars
8. Jesus … will come in the same way as you saw him go
9. Memorizing wonderfully 35 When the son returns it shall be As it came to pass in the days of Noah
10. Be not afraid of those trials which God may see fit to send upon thee
11. From pain to purpose

+++

The ice in the photo above reminded Tekoa Manning of judgment that often is described using hail. Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara, has an Arabic name meaning ‘valley of stones and also, a valley of streams.’ – Photo from Obadiah’s Cave article Comfortably Numb

Related

1. Give Your Precious Time To God
2. The Events of 70 AD do not Fulfill End Times Prophecies Jesus prophesied that the Great Tribulation will be the most severe time in world history. It will surpass all other times of crisis. Some seek to minimize this prophecy by reducing it to symbolism or by seeing it as being totally fulfilled in 70 AD.
   The Great Tribulation will be so severe that God shortens it to three and a half years to keep the entire human race from being physically killed (Matthew 24:21-22). One million people died in 70 AD and in World War II, 50 million died.
3. This is Not the Way It’s Supposed To Be
4. Abundant Fruit (Matthew 24: 6, 11)
5. Famine
6. Storm Clouds
7. Stars Falling From the Sky: Figurative Language
8. Day 159: There will be wars
9. A Rising Called For!
10. Fear Not!
11. Be alert
12. Comfortably Numb
13. Trouble Such as Never Was before
14. “This Generation” Shall Not Pass Away “Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”
15. What Did Jesus Mean When He Said “This Generation Won’t Pass Away”?
16. The darker it gets
17. The Olivet Discourse: For Israelis Only?
18. The Olivet Discourse: 02 – The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
19. The Last Days Acceleration of Time
20. Study Guide for Matthew 24: (Matthew 24:1-2) Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple. (Mat 24:3) Jesus’ prediction brings up two questions. (Matthew 24:4-8) Jesus describes general world conditions during the period between His Ascension and the time immediately preceding His second coming. (Matthew 24:9-14) Jesus describes what His disciples must expect during the time between His Ascension and Second Coming. (Matthew 24:15) The sign: the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel.
21. 71. Yet when we understand the importance and what is said about this event – the abomination of desolation – we must give priority to this event, even more than the easiest interpretation of Matthew 24:34.

• • • It is the critical sign mentioned in Matthew 24.
    • It is the warning to flee mentioned in Matthew 24.
    • It is the sign of the consummation of all things in Daniel 9:27.
    • It is the sign foreshadowed by Antiochus Epiphanies in Daniel 11:31.
    • It is the precise marker of days to the end in Daniel 12:11.
    • It is the revelation of the man of sinin 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
      • It is the image of the beast in Revelation 13:14-15.

+

1. Explaining Matthew 24
2. Matthew 24:1 // Reboot – The end of times
3. Matthew 24:3 And Olivet’s Structure
4. AND when you SEE these THINGS BEGIN
5. Apocalypse Talks: Temporary Temples – Matthew 24:1-8
6. Apocalypse Talks: The Fall Is Approaching – Matthew 24:9-14
7. Apocalypse Talks: Mitigating Disaster – Matthew 24:15-22
8. Apocalypse Talks: The Bigger Picture
9. Apocalypse Talks: The Mean Time
10. Armageddon, Part 3: Are there ‘signs’ that the end is coming?
11. 11.24.19 Matthew 24 Part I
12. 11.24.19 Matthew 24 Part II
13. 11.24.19 Matthew 24 Part III
14. 11.24.19 Matthew 24 Part IV
15. 11.24.19 Matthew 24 Part V
16. Matthew 24:12,13
17. Matthew 24:14
18. Matthew 24:23,24
19. Matthew 24:36-44 Sunday School Lessons and Activities
20. Matthew 24 and the Fig Tree Matthew 24:32-33
21. Three things that must happen before Jesus returns – Matthew 23:37-39; Matthew 24:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
22. End Times Q&A
23. Christ’s Coming Again to Judge
24. Timing of Christ’s second coming
25. Don’t Be Deceived (about the Coming of Christ)
26. The Parable of the Fig Tree
27. Mark 11 – Fig Tree
28. The Fig Tree Growing in a Vineyard
29. Being a good servant – talk-notes for 27th Oct 2019
30. Called or Chosen?
31. Paul Explains the Second Coming
32. Hope in the Second-Coming
33. We MUST Let our Light Shine!
34. Faith That Is Fruitful For God

Matthew 23:33-36 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Treatment of Future Prophets

Matthew 23:33-36 – Treatment of Future Prophets

|| Luke 11:49-51

MT23:33 “Serpents, born of vipers,[1] how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?[2] MT23:34 Because of this, look! I am sending to you prophets, wise persons, and scribes.[3] You will kill some of them, others you will impale, and still others you will scourge in your synagogues.[4] You will persecute from city to city.[5] MT23:35 As a result there will come upon you all the righteous blood poured out on earth – from the blood of righteous Abel[6] to the blood of Zechariah (son of Barachiah)[7] whom your murdered between the Divine Habitat[8] and the altar. MT23:36 I tell you this truth: all this will come upon this generation!

*

[1] Serpents, born of vipers: Or, birthed by viperous mothers; KJV: generation of vipers; RSV: brood of vipers; LAM: seed of scorpions. Compare GENNEMATA in verse 33 with GENEAN in verse 36.

[2] Gehenna: See notes else where on Gehenna. Or, PME: the rubbish heap.

[3] Prophets, wise persons, and scribes: These would be Christian prophets, wise ones, and scribes. Or, RIEU: wise and learned men; NOR: scholars; NEB: prophets, sages, and teachers; BECK: who are wise and know the Bible.

[4] You will kill some of them, others you will impale, and still others you will scourge in your synagogues: See the responsibility of the Jews in the Book of Acts (Acts 5:40; 7:54-60; 22:19). Note how Jesus foretells the same in the next chapter (See notes on Matthew 24:9; Mark 13:9).

[5] You will persecute from city to city: Or, WEY: chase from town to town; NEB: hound from city to city. Note Saul’s authority in Acts 9:1-3. Note Jesus’ counsel to his apostles at Matthew 10:23.

[6] Abel: See Genesis 4:10. Jesus classes these religious clergy with Cain. So there is a type of persecutor from the beginning. There is a bloodguilt on such a class of persons. Luke 11:50 adds, “… from the founding of the world.”

[7] Zechariah (son of Barachiah): Some think this is the same Zechariah of 2 Chronicles 24:17-22, 25. Others view the phrase Abel to Zechariah as a way of saying “Genesis to Revelation.”

[8] Divine Habitat: The Greek is NAOU and is often rendered either “temple” or “sanctuary.” Luke 11:51 uses “house” indicating that the NAOS is the Temple proper.

+

Preceding

Matthew 23:1-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Prominence and Humility

Matthew 23:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Shutting Up the Kingdom

Matthew 23:15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 2: Evangelists of Gehenna

Matthew 23:16-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 3: Blind Guides and Gold

Matthew 23:23-24 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 4: A Disregard for Justice and Mercy

Matthew 23:25-26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 5: Greed and Uncleanness

Matthew 23:27-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 6: Whitewashed Graves

Matthew 23:29-32 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Woe 7: The Only Good Prophet Is a Dead Prophet!