Realizing his sin in betraying innocent blood, Judas offered the money back to the chief priests and elders. Judas was remorseful, but would this action that leads to salvation? This is one of the rewards of treachery. Judas was remorseful, but this was not a godly repentance that leads to salvation. Sorry for the effects which his crime brought on himself, he was yet unwilling to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In the midst of Jesus’ trail before Pilate, the proceedings were momentarily interrupted by a messenger from Pilate’s wife.

It was obvious to Pilate that the people were implacable and that a riot was beginning. So he washed his hands in sight of the mob, declaring his innocence of the blood of the Accused. The crowd was willing to bear the blame: “His blood be on us and on our children!” Do you believe that a curse will remain to Jewish Nation until they accept Jesus as the Messiah? (Matthew 24 and Revelation 6-19). They still face the fearsome Time of Jacob’s Trouble—those seven years of tribulation described in Matthew 24 and Revelation 6–19. The curse will remain until they acknowledge the rejected Jesus as their Messiah-King.

It was customary, the condemned One was scourged. A large leather whip with bits of sharp metal embedded in it was brought down across His back, each lash opening up the flesh and releasing streams of blood. Now there was nothing for the spineless governor to do but to turn Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.  The scourging symbolize He bore the indescribable curse of our sins and take all the suffering for us.

From the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), there was darkness not only over all the land of Palestine but in His holy soul as well. It was during that time that He bore the indescribable curse of our sins. In those three hours were compressed the hell which we deserved, the wrath of God against all our transgressions. We only know that in those three hours He paid the price, settled the debt, and finished the work necessary for man’s redemption. We should give thanks to our Lord Jesus to redeem us with His perfect sacrifice to God.

At the time Jesus gave up His spirit, the heavy, woven curtain separating the two main rooms of the temple was torn by an Unseen Hand from top to bottom. The death of God’s Son also produced tremendous upheavals in nature—as if there was an empathy between inanimate creation and its Creator. There was an earthquake which split great rocks and opened many graves.  But notice that it was not until after the resurrection of Jesus that the occupants of these tombs were raised and went into Jerusalem where they appeared to many.  But notice that it was not until after the resurrection of Jesus that the occupants of these tombs were raised and went into Jerusalem where they appeared to many. The Bible does not say whether these risen saints died again or went to heaven with the Lord Jesus.

Reading Assignment

The Empty Tomb – 28:1-8; The appearance of Jesus to the Women – 28:9-10; The Bribery of the Soldiers – 28:11-15; The Appearance of Jesus to the Disciples – 28:16-17; The Great Commission – 28:18-20.

Application and Discussion

1. In this section, the resurrection of Jesus is announced, not explained. The central focus of 28:1–10 is the empty tomb, revealed by an angel who rolled away the stone, causing an earthquake. He then showed the two women that their crucified master was no longer entombed. The glorious angel and the empty tomb caused the guards to faint. For the faithful women, the significance was that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and that they no longer needed to mourn him. They ran to tell his disciples the good news that he had risen.
   • According to this passage, how many witnesses to the resurrection?
   • What is the theological significance of Jesus’ resurrection to the Christian faith
2. In Galilee the risen Lord Jesus appeared to His disciples at an unnamed mountain. This is the same appearance recorded in Mark 16:15–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:6. What a wonderful reunion! His sufferings were passed forever. Because He lived, they too would live. He stood before them in His glorified body. They worshiped the living, loving Lord—though doubts still lurked in the minds of some.
   • Why there are doubts among the disciples?
3. Then the Lord explained that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth. In one sense, of course, He always had all authority. But here He was speaking of authority as Head of the new creation. Since His death and resurrection, He had authority to give eternal life to all whom God had given to Him. He had always had power as the firstborn of all creation. But now that He had completed the work of redemption, He had authority as the first-born from the dead—“that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:15, 18).  As Head of the new creation, He then issued the Great Commission, containing “standing orders” for all believers during the present phase of the kingdom—the time between the rejection of the King and His Second Advent.  
   • What are the three commands in the Great Commission?
   • There is a repetition of word in this passage and action words, what are they? What is the significance of these words in the context of Great Commission? 

For the fourth and last time in this Gospel our Lord forewarned His disciples that He must die (16:21; 17:23; 20:18). His announcement implied a close time relationship between the Passover and His crucifixion: “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”  The Passover normally served with a perfect lamb and unleavened bread. The perfect lamb symbolizes Jesus Christ and unleavened bread symbolizes sinless sacrifice who is Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany, a woman came in and poured out very expensive perfume on His head. The costliness of her sacrifice expressed the depth of her devotion for the Lord Jesus, saying, in effect, that there was nothing too good for Him. His disciples, and Judas in particular (John 12:4, 5), looked upon the act as an enormous waste. They thought the money might better have been given to the poor.  Her act was not wasteful, but beautiful. Not only so, it was perfectly timed. The poor can be helped at any time. But only once in the world’s history could the Savior be anointed for burial. This is an act of adoration and worship.  The fragrance of perfume symbolizes fir the act of worship.

One of the disciples who had lived with the Lord Jesus, traveled with Him, seen His miracles, heard His incomparable teaching, and witnessed the miracle of a sinless life—one whom Jesus could call “my familiar friend … who ate my bread” (Ps. 41:9)—it was that one who lifted up his heel against the Son of God. Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and agreed to sell his Master for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus made the shocking announcement that one of the twelve would betray Him in the Last Supper. It is clear to us Judas is the traitor, but nobody among the eleven know that answer. Keeping this scenario in mind, do you believe that there are traitors among us in the present day?

Recall Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23

²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²²Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

This Scripture indicates there are traitors among us. If you read further Matthew 7:24

²⁴“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

Thus, believing is not enough, you got to be the doer of His Words. For those lip service to our Lord Jesus Christ will become the traitors to Him.

After observing His last Passover, the Savior instituted what we know as the Lord’s Supper. The essential elements of bread and wine that were already on the table as part of the Paschal meal; Jesus clothed them with new meaning.  Since His body had not yet been given on the cross, it is clear that He was speaking figuratively, using the bread to symbolize His body.

The cup contained the fruit of the vine, which in turn was a symbol of the blood of the new covenant. The new, unconditional covenant of grace would be ratified by His precious blood shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. His blood was sufficient to provide forgiveness for all. But here it was shed for many in that it was only effective in removing the sins of those who believe.

Jesus reminded His disciples that He would not drink from the fruit of wine with them again until He returned to earth to reign.  Then the wine would have a new significance; it would speak of the joy and blessedness of His Father’s kingdom.

Following the Lord’s Supper, the little band sang a hymn; He told them that they would all dissociate themselves from Him that night. Fear would overwhelm them when they saw the fury of the storm breaking. To save their own skins, they would forsake their Master. Peter rashly interrupted to assure the Lord that although the others might desert Him, he would never do such a thing. Jesus corrected the “never” to “this night … three times.” Before the rooster crowed, Jesus predicted Peter would deny Him three times. Peter insisted that he would die with Christ rather than deny Him. All the disciples chimed in their agreement. They were sincere; they meant what they said. It was just that they didn’t know their own hearts.  Zechariah’s prophecy would be fulfilled: “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (13:7). But He did not leave them without hope. Though they would be ashamed of their association with Him, He would never forsake them. After rising from the dead, He would meet them in Galilee. Wonderful, never-failing Friend!

After entering Gethsemane (olive press), Jesus told eight of the eleven disciples with Him to sit and wait, then took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee deeper into the garden.  Might this suggest that different disciples have different capacities for empathizing with the Savior in His agony?

Jesus left the three and went a little farther into the garden and pray “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”   Jesus prayed that the cup might pass from Him, He was not asking to be delivered from going to the cross. That was the very purpose of His coming into the world! Jesus was saying in effect, “My Father, if there is any other way by which ungodly sinners can be saved than by My going to the cross, reveal that way now! But in all of this, I want it known that I desire nothing contrary to Your will.”

Returning to the disciples, He found them sleeping. Their spirits were willing; their flesh was weak.. How often the Lord has to say to you as He said to Peter, “Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”?  We dare not condemn them when we think of our own prayer lives; we sleep better than we pray, and our minds wander when they should be watching. We should continually pray with ceasing and willing to surrender our will to our Father’s will.

After Jesus was betrayed and arrested, Peter sat outside in the courtyard; a young woman came by and accused him of being an associate of Jesus. His denial was vigorous and prompt, “I do not know what you are saying.” He went out to the gateway, perhaps to escape further notice. But there another girl publicly identified him as one who had been with Jesus of Nazareth. This time he swore that he did not know the Man. “The Man” was his Master. A little later several bystanders came saying, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” A simple denial was no longer sufficient; this time he confirmed it with oaths and curses. “I do not know the Man!” With disquieting timing, a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what the Lord had said, went out and wept bitterly. Throughout the Gospel Jesus institutes many commandments for His followers, do you agree that we all have denied Jesus in the course of your faith walk?

Reading Assignment

Jesus is delivered to Pilate – 27:1-2; Judas’ remorse – 27:3-10; Jesus is examined – 27:11-14; Barabbas is freed – 27:15-25; Jesus is scourged – 27:26-28; Jesus is lead to Golgotha – 27:29-34; Jesus is crucified – 27:35-44; Jesus dies – 27:45-50; Signs accompanying Jesus’ death – 27:51-56; Jesus is buried – 27:57-66

Application and Discussion

1. Realizing his sin in betraying innocent blood, Judas offered the money back to the chief priests and elders. Judas was remorseful, but would this action that leads to salvation? If no, what is the genuine meaning of repentance? Share your thought.
2. In the midst of Jesus’ trail before Pilate, the proceedings were momentarily interrupted by a messenger from Pilate’s wife. Why she urged Pilate to adopt a hands-off policy with regard to Jesus?
3. It was obvious to Pilate that the people were implacable and that a riot was beginning. So he washed his hands in sight of the mob, declaring his innocence of the blood of the Accused. The crowd was willing to bear the blame: “His blood be on us and on our children!” Do you believe that a curse will remain to Jewish Nation until they accept Jesus as the Messiah? (Matthew 24 and Revelation 6-19)
4. It was customary, the condemned One was scourged. A large leather whip with bits of sharp metal embedded in it was brought down across His back, each lash opening up the flesh and releasing streams of blood. Now there was nothing for the spineless governor to do but to turn Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.  What is the significance of Jesus’ scourging?
5. From the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), there was darkness not only over all the land of Palestine but in His holy soul as well. It was during that time that He bore the indescribable curse of our sins. In those three hours were compressed the hell which we deserved, the wrath of God against all our transgressions. We only know that in those three hours He paid the price, settled the debt, and finished the work necessary for man’s redemption.  Any words you will use to express what Jesus had done for you?
6. At the time Jesus gave up His spirit, the heavy, woven curtain separating the two main rooms of the temple was torn by an Unseen Hand from top to bottom. The death of God’s Son also produced tremendous upheavals in nature—as if there was an empathy between inanimate creation and its Creator. There was an earthquake which split great rocks and opened many graves.  But notice that it was not until after the resurrection of Jesus that the occupants of these tombs were raised and went into Jerusalem where they appeared to many. Are there any significant for these events took place?

The first word of the parables of the ten, Then, referring back to chapter 24, clearly places this parable in the time preceding and during the King’s return to earth. Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven at that time to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and had oil for their lamps; the others had none. While waiting, all fell asleep and shows that outwardly there was not much to differentiate them.

The five wise virgins represent true disciples of Christ in the Tribulation, and foolish virgins represent those who profess to hold the Messianic hope but who have never been converted and thus do not have the Holy Spirit. The lamps speak of profession, and oil is generally acknowledged to be a type of the Holy Spirit.  His delay symbolizes the period between His two Advents.

At midnight the announcement rang out that the bridegroom was coming. In the previous chapter we learned that His arrival will be heralded by awesome signs. The foolish ones, lacking oil, asked the others for some, but were sent to buy some.  The wise ones’ refusal seems selfish, but in the spiritual realm, no one can dispense the Spirit to another. Of course, the Holy Spirit cannot be purchased, but the Bible does use the literary figure of buying salvation without money and without price. The trimmed lamps with oil signifies the readiness of Christ’s return. We suppose to be the lamp of the world and the oil which symbolize the Holy Spirit to be the fuel of the light.

The parable of talents also teaches that when the Lord returns, there will be true and false servants. The story revolves around a man who, before going on a long journey, assembled his own servants and gave to each varying amounts of money, according to his own ability. One got five talents; another got two, and the last, one. They were to use this money to bring income to the master. The man with five earned another five talents. The man with two doubled his also. But the man with one went and dug a hole and buried it.  Every individual has his/her abilities to perform God’s work. I Corinthians 12:11 says “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” After the long time the Lord come back and settle the account with servants. The first two received exactly the same commendation, it seems the reward does not depend on how much they earned.   The test of their service was not how much they earned, but how hard they tried. Each used his ability fully and earned one hundred percent. These represent true believers whose reward is to enjoy the blessings of the Messianic kingdom.

The Lord rebuked the one talent servant as wicked and lazy, and he should deposit his money with the bankers to earn interest.  We should always put our talent to work, don’t waste our time and resousces. The mention of the bankers in verse 27 suggests that if we cannot use our possessions for the Lord, we should turn them over to others who can. The bankers in this case may be missionaries, Bible societies, Christian publishing houses, gospel radio programs, etc. In a world like ours, there is no excuse for leaving money idle.

At the end Jesus conclude the parable with a spiritual rule: “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”   Those who desire to be used for God’s glory are given the means. The more they do, the more they are enabled to do for Him. Conversely, we lose what we don’t use.

The last section describes the King places the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. He then invites the sheep to enter His glorious kingdom, prepared for them from the foundation of the world. The reason given is that they fed Him when hungry, gave Him drink when thirsty, and welcomed Him when a stranger, clothed Him when naked, visited Him in sickness, and went to Him in prison. The righteous sheep profess ignorance of ever showing such kindnesses to the King; He had not even been on earth in their generation. He explains that in befriending one of the least of His brethren, they befriended Him. It seems both classes encounter exactly the same situation and their response will determine their eternal destiny.  We are constantly tested by the Lord as the Spirit guiding us to do His work.  Should we read these verses literally: “feeding the hunger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and the prisoners” We should read these verses literally. God expect us to perform all these in His name showing His love.

The Bible teaches salvation is by faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8, 9), and the parable of the sheep and goat tell us the opposite.  The passage cannot be used to teach salvation by works. The uniform testimony of the Bible is that salvation is by faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8, 9). But the Bible is just as emphatic in teaching that true faith produces good works. If there are no good works, it is an indication that the person was never saved. So we must understand that the Gentiles are not saved by befriending the Jewish remnant, but that this kindness reflects their love for the Lord.

Reading Assignment

The religious leaders plot to kill Jesus – 26:1-5; Mary anoints Jesus for burial – 26:6-13; Judas agrees to betray Jesus – 26:14-16; the Passover is prepared – 26:17-19; the Passover is celebrated – 26:20-25; the Lord’s Supper is instituted – 26:26-29; Peter’s denial is predicted – 26:30-35; Jesus’ three prayers – 26:36-46; Jesus’ betrayal and arrest – 26:47-56; two false witnesses – 26:57-68; three denials of Peter – 26:69-75.

Application and Discussion

1. For the fourth and last time in this Gospel our Lord forewarned His disciples that He must die (16:21; 17:23; 20:18). His announcement implied a close time relationship between the Passover and His crucifixion: “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Is there any significance of His crucifixion occurring close to the Passover?
2. When Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany, a woman came in and poured out very expensive perfume on His head. The costliness of her sacrifice expressed the depth of her devotion for the Lord Jesus, saying, in effect, that there was nothing too good for Him. His disciples, and Judas in particular (John 12:4, 5), looked upon the act as an enormous waste. They thought the money might better have been given to the poor.
   • Why Jesus had to correct His disciples’ thinking?
   • What does the fragrance of perfume symbolize for in this act that will record in the Lord’s memory (26:13)
3. One of the disciples who had lived with the Lord Jesus, traveled with Him, seen His miracles, heard His incomparable teaching, and witnessed the miracle of a sinless life—one whom Jesus could call “my familiar friend … who ate my bread” (Ps. 41:9)—it was that one who lifted up his heel against the Son of God. Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and agreed to sell his Master for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus made the shocking announcement that one of the twelve would betray Him in the Last Supper. It is clear to us Judas is the traitor, but nobody among the eleven know that answer. Keeping this scenario in mind, do you believe that there are traitors among us in the present day? Share your thought.
4. After observing His last Passover, the Savior instituted what we know as the Lord’s Supper. The essential elements of bread and wine that were already on the table as part of the Paschal meal; Jesus clothed them with new meaning.
   • What does the unleavened bread symbolize for?
   • What does the wine symbolize for?
   • Jesus reminded His disciples that He would not drink from the fruit of wine with them again until He returned to earth to reign. What is the significance meaning of the wine when He returns
5. Following the Lord’s Supper, the little band sang a hymn; He told them that they would all dissociate themselves from Him that night. Fear would overwhelm them when they saw the fury of the storm breaking. To save their own skins, they would forsake their Master. Peter rashly interrupted to assure the Lord that although the others might desert Him, he would never do such a thing. Jesus corrected the “never” to “this night … three times.” Before the rooster crowed, Jesus predicted Peter would deny Him three times. Peter insisted that he would die with Christ rather than deny Him. All the disciples chimed in their agreement. They were sincere; they meant what they said. It was just that they didn’t know their own hearts.
   • What prophesy did Jesus fulfill that night?
   • How many times have you encountered similar self-confident situations that you mean what you say, but you fail the Lord for not knowing your heart
6. After entering Gethsemane (olive press), Jesus told eight of the eleven disciples with Him to sit and wait, then took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee deeper into the garden.
   • Why did Jesus only take Peter, James and John deeper into the garden
   • Jesus left the three and went a little farther into the garden and pray “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” What lesson we can learn from this prayer
   • Returning to the disciples, He found them sleeping. Their spirits were willing; their flesh was weak.. How often the Lord has to say to you as He said to Peter, “Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”? How can you improve your prayer lives?
   • Jesus was necessarily alone in His prayer life. He taught the disciples to pray, and He prayed in their presence, but He never prayed with them. Why?
7. After Jesus was betrayed and arrested, Peter sat outside in the courtyard; a young woman came by and accused him of being an associate of Jesus. His denial was vigorous and prompt, “I do not know what you are saying.” He went out to the gateway, perhaps to escape further notice. But there another girl publicly identified him as one who had been with Jesus of Nazareth. This time he swore that he did not know the Man. “The Man” was his Master. A little later several bystanders came saying, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” A simple denial was no longer sufficient; this time he confirmed it with oaths and curses. “I do not know the Man!” With disquieting timing, a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what the Lord had said, went out and wept bitterly. Throughout the Gospel Jesus institutes many commandments for His followers, do you agree that we all have denied Jesus in the course of your faith walk? Share your thought.

After Jesus had crossed over to the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and asked Him three questions: (The first half of the tribulation – 24:3-14; the great tribulation – 24:15-28; The second advent: 14:29-31). This judgment was executed in A.D. 70 when the Romans under Titus sacked Jerusalem. The second and third questions are answered in verses 4–44 of chapter 24. These verses describe the seven year Tribulation Period which will precede Christ’s glorious Advent. The first three and one-half years are described in verses 4–14. The final three and one-half years, known as the Great Tribulation and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jer. 30:7), will be a time of unprecedented suffering for those on earth. We believe that the church will be taken out of the world (1 Thess. 4:13–18) before the day of God’s wrath begins (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; 2 Thess. 2:1–12; Rev. 3:10).

During the first half of the Tribulation, many false messiahs will appear who will succeed in deceiving multitudes. There will be wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. It would be easy to think that we are seeing this fulfilled today, but what we see is mild compared to what will be. Actually the next event in God’s time schedule is the Rapture of the church (John 14:1–6; 1 Cor. 15:51–57). There is no prophecy to be fulfilled before then. After the church is removed, God’s prophetic clock will begin and these conditions will quickly manifest themselves. Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes will occur in various parts of the earth. Even today world leaders are alarmed by the specter of famine due to the population explosion. But this will be accentuated by the shortages caused by wars. Verse 8 clearly identifies this period as the beginning of sorrows—the onset of birth-pangs which will bring forth a new order under Israel’s Messiah-King.

Faithful believers will experience great personal testing during the Tribulation. The nations will conduct a bitter hate campaign against all who are true to Him. Not only will they be tried in religious and civil courts (Mark 13:9), but many will be martyred because they refuse to recant. While such testings have occurred during all periods of Christian testimony, this seems to have particular reference to the 144,000 Jewish believers who will have a special ministry during this period.

Many will apostatize rather than suffer and die. Family members will inform against their own relatives and betray them into the hands of bestial persecutors.  Many false prophets will appear and deceive hordes of people. These are not to be confused with the false messiahs of verse 5. False prophets claim to be spokesmen for God. They can be detected in two ways: their prophecies do not always come to pass, and their teachings always lead men away from the true God. The mention of false prophets adds confirmation to our statement that the Tribulation is primarily Jewish in character. False prophets are associated with the nation of Israel; in the church the danger comes from false teachers (2 Pet. 2:1).  With wickedness rampaging, human affections will be less and less evident. Acts of unloved will be commonplace. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” This obviously does not mean that men’s souls will be saved at that time by their enduring; salvation is always presented in the Bible as a gift of God’s grace, received by faith in Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection. Neither can it mean that all who endure will escape physical harm; we have already learned that many believers will be martyred (v. 9). It is a general statement that those who stand fast, enduring persecution without apostatizing, will be delivered at Christ’s Second Advent. No one should imagine that apostasy will be a means of escape or safety. Only those who have true faith shall be saved. Although saving faith may have lapses, it always has the quality of permanence. During this period, the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed worldwide, as a witness to all nations

Verse 14 is often misused to show that Christ could not return for His church at any moment because so many tribes have not yet heard the gospel. The difficulty is removed when we realize that this refers to His coming with His saints, rather than for His saints. And this refers to the gospel of the kingdom, not the gospel of the grace of God.

There is a striking parallel between the events listed in verses 3–14 and those of Revelation 6:1–11. The rider on the white horse—false messiah; the rider of the red horse—war; the rider of the black horse—famine; the rider of the pale horse—pestilence or death. The souls under the altar are martyrs. The events described in Revelation 6:12–17 are linked with those in Matthew 24:19–31.

At this point we have come to the middle of the Tribulation. We know this by comparing verse 15 with Daniel 9:27. Daniel predicted that in the middle of the seventieth week, that is, at the end of three and a half years, an idolatrous image would be set up in the holy place, i.e., the temple in Jerusalem. All men will be ordered to worship this abominable idol. Failure to comply will be punishable by death (Rev. 13:15).

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand). … The erection of the idol will be the signal to those who know the Word of God that the Great Tribulation has begun. Note that the Lord wants the one who reads the prophecy to understand it.

Those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains; in the vicinity of Jerusalem their refusal to bow to the image would be quickly detected.  Utmost haste will be necessary. If a man is sitting on the housetop, he should leave all his possessions behind. Time spent in gathering belongings might mean the difference between life and death. The man working in the field should not return for his clothes, wherever he may have left them. Pregnant women and nursing mothers will be at a distinct disadvantage—it will be hard for them to make a speedy escape. Believers should pray that the crisis will not come in winter with its added travel hazards, and that it will not come on the Sabbath, when the distance they could travel would be limited by law (Ex. 16:29). A Sabbath day’s journey would not be enough to take them out of the danger area.  “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This description isolates the period from all the inquisitions, pogroms, purges, massacres, and genocides of history. This prophecy could not have been fulfilled by any previous persecutions because it is clearly stated that it will be ended by the Second Advent of Christ. The tribulation will be so intense that unless those days were shortened, nobody would survive. This cannot mean that the Great Tribulation, so often specified as lasting three and a half years, will be shortened. It probably means that God will miraculously shorten the daylight hours—during which most fighting and slaughter occur. For the elect’s sake, (those who have received Jesus) the Lord will grant the respite of earlier darkness.

24:23–26 Verses 23 and 24 contain renewed warnings against false messiahs and false prophets. In an atmosphere of crisis, reports will circulate that the Messiah is in some secret location. Such reports could be used to trap those who sincerely and lovingly look for Christ. So the Lord warns all disciples not to believe reports of a local, secret Advent. Even those who perform miracles are not necessarily from God; miracles can be satanic in origin. The Man of Sin will be given satanic power to perform miracles (2 Thess. 2:9, 10). Christ’s Advent will be unmistakable—it will be sudden, public, universal, and glorious. Like the lightning, it will be instantly and clearly visible to all.  And no moral corruption will escape its fury and judgment. “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” The carcass pictures apostate Judaism, Christendom, and the whole world system that is leagued against God and His Christ. The eagles or vultures typify the judgments of God which will be unleashed in connection with the Messiah’s appearing.

At the close of the Great Tribulation there will be terrifying disturbances in the heavens. The sun will be darkened, and since the moon’s light is only a reflection of the sun’s, the moon will also withhold its light. The stars will plunge from heaven and planets will be moved out of their orbits. Needless to say, such vast cosmic upheavals will affect the weather, tides, and seasons on earth. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven.” We are not told what this sign will be. His First Advent was accompanied by a sign in heaven—the star. Perhaps a miracle star will also announce His Second Coming. Some believe the Son of Man is Himself the sign. Then “they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” What a wonderful moment! The One who was spit upon and crucified will be vindicated as the Lord of life and glory. The meek and lowly Jesus will appear as Jehovah Himself. The sacrificial Lamb will descend as the conquering Lion. The despised Carpenter of Nazareth will come as King of kings and Lord of lords. His chariots will be the clouds of heaven. He will come in regal power and splendor—the moment for which creation has groaned for thousands of years.

When He descends, He will send His angels throughout the earth to gather together His elect people, believing Israel, to the land of Palestine. From all the earth they will gather to greet their Messiah and to enjoy His glorious reign.

After referring to the fig tree, Jesus added, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” “This generation” could not mean the people living when Christ was on earth; they have all passed away, yet the events of chapter 24 have not taken place. What then did our Lord mean by “this generation”?

One thought is: “the very generation that sees the beginning of these things will see the end.”^ The same people who see the rise of Israel as a nation (or who see the beginning of the Tribulation), will see the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven to reign.

Another thought is s that “generation” should be understood as race. This is a legitimate translation of the Greek word; it means men of the same stock, breed, or family. So Jesus was predicting that the Jewish race would survive to see all these things accomplished. Their continued survival, despite atrocious persecution, is a miracle of history. In Jesus’ day, “this generation” was a race that steadfastly refused to acknowledge Him as Messiah. I think He was predicting that national Israel would continue in its Christ-rejecting condition till His Second Coming. Then all rebellion will be crushed, and only those who willingly submit to His rule will be spared to enter the Millennium.

Jesus closed the section with the parable of the wise and wicked servants; Jesus showed us a very important factor as a genuine Christian. In the closing section of this chapter, the Lord Jesus shows that a servant manifests his true character by how he behaves in view of his Master’s return. All servants are supposed to feed the household at the proper time. But not all who profess to be Christ’s servants are genuine.

The wise servant is the one who is found caring for God’s people. Such a one will be honored with vast responsibility in the kingdom. The master will make him ruler over all his goods.

The evil servant represents a nominal believer whose behavior is not affected by the prospect of his Master’s soon return. He begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards. Such behavior demonstrates that he is not ready for the kingdom. When the King comes, He will punish him and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, where people weep and gnash their teeth. Many who profess to be Christians show by their hostility toward God’s people and their fraternization with the ungodly that they are not looking for Christ’s Return. For them it will mean judgment and not blessing.

Reading Assignment

Parable of the ten virgins – 25:1-13; Parable of the talents – 25:14-30; The King judges the nations – 25:31-46.

Application and Discussion

1. The first word of the parables of the ten, Then, referring back to chapter 24, clearly places this parable in the time preceding and during the King’s return to earth. Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven at that time to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and had oil for their lamps; the others had none. While waiting, all fell asleep and shows that outwardly there was not much to differentiate them.
   • What do the five wise and foolish virgins symbolize in the parable when the King’s second coming?
   • What do the lamp and oil symbolize for?
   • What does His delay stand for
   • At midnight the announcement rang out that the bridegroom was coming. In the previous chapter we learned that His arrival will be heralded by awesome signs. The foolish ones, lacking oil, asked the others for some, but were sent to buy some. Do you think the wise ones’ refusal seems selfish? What is the significance of the oil that you cannot share?
   • What does the trimmed lamps with oil signify the Christina life? What do you learn from this parabl
2. The parable of talents also teaches that when the Lord returns, there will be true and false servants. The story revolves around a man who, before going on a long journey, assembled his own servants and gave to each varying amounts of money, according to his own ability. One got five talents; another got two, and the last, one. They were to use this money to bring income to the master. The man with five earned another five talents. The man with two doubled his also. But the man with one went and dug a hole and buried it.
   • The servants are given responsibility according to their individual abilities, what does this mean to you?
   • After the long time the Lord come back and settle the account with servants. The first two received exactly the same commendation, it seems the reward does not depend on how much they earned. What is test of service based on?
   • The Lord rebuked the one talent servant as wicked and lazy, and he should deposit his money with the bankers to earn interest. What does Jesus teach you through this parable? What do you think the bankers could symbolize in our present day?
   • At the end Jesus conclude the parable with a spiritual rule: “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” What can that apply your Christian walk
3. The last section describes the King places the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. He then invites the sheep to enter His glorious kingdom, prepared for them from the foundation of the world. The reason given is that they fed Him when hungry, gave Him drink when thirsty, and welcomed Him when a stranger, clothed Him when naked, visited Him in sickness, and went to Him in prison. The righteous sheep profess ignorance of ever showing such kindnesses to the King; He had not even been on earth in their generation. He explains that in befriending one of the least of His brethren, they befriended Him. Whatever is done for one of His disciples is rewarded as being done to Himself.
   • It seems both classes encounter exactly the same situation and their response will determine their eternal destiny. Do you think we will be tested continually for these situations and our eternal destiny will be based on how we response?
   • Should we read these verses literally: “feeding the hunger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and the prisoners”? Does our Lord expect us to perform such tasks unintentionally?
   • The Bible teaches salvation is by faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8, 9), and the parable of the sheep and goat tell us the opposite. What is your defense?
   • What are the most important truths have you learn from this study?

In the opening verses of this chapter, the Savior warns the crowds and His disciples against the scribes and the Pharisees.  Jesus characterizes the Pharisees:  

  i.      whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

 ii.      They made heavy demands (probably extreme interpretations of the letter of the law) on the people, but would not assist anyone in lifting these intolerable loads.

  iii.      They went through religious observances to be seen by men, not from inward sincerity.

  iv.      Scripture in leather capsules, they bound them to their foreheads or arms. They weren’t concerned about obeying the law as long as, by wearing ridiculously large phylacteries, they appeared super-spiritual.

 v.      They showed their self-importance by scrambling for the places of honor at feasts and in the synagogues. They nourished their ego on greetings in the marketplaces and especially enjoyed being called rabbi

The Lord warned His disciples against using distinctive titles which should be reserved for the Godhead. We are not to be called rabbi as a distinctive title because there is one Teacher—the Christ. We should call no man father; God is our Father. The obvious meaning of the Savior’s words is that in the kingdom of heaven all believers form an equal brotherhood with no place for distinctive titles setting one above another. Once again the revolutionary character of the kingdom of heaven is seen in the fact that true greatness is exactly opposite to what people suppose. Jesus said, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” True greatness stoops to serve. Pharisees who exalt themselves will be brought low. True disciples who humble themselves will be exalted in due time.

The Lord Jesus pronounces eight woes on the proud religious hypocrites of His day. The eight woes:

1. The first woe is directed against their obduracy and obstructionism. They refused to enter the kingdom themselves, and aggressively hindered others from entering.
2. The second woe^  lambastes their appropriating of widow’s houses and covering it up by making long prayers
3. The third charge against them is misdirected zeal. They went to unimaginable lengths to make one convert, but after he was won they made him twice as wicked as themselves
4. Fourthly, the Lord denounced them for their casuistry, or deliberate dishonest reasoning. They had built up a false system of reasoning to evade the payment of vows. They said that swearing by the gift on the altar was binding, whereas swearing by the empty altar was not. Thus they valued gold above God (the temple was the house of God), and the gift on the altar (wealth of some form) above the altar itself. They were more interested in the material than the spiritual. They were more interested in getting (the gift) than in giving (the altar was the place of giving).
5. The fifth woe is against ritualism without reality. The scribes and Pharisees were meticulous in giving the Lord a tenth of the most insignificant herbs they raised. Jesus did not condemn them for this care about small details of obedience, but He excoriated them for being utterly unscrupulous when it came to showing justice, mercy, and faithfulness to others.
6. The sixth woe concerns externalism. The Pharisees, careful to maintain an outward show of religiousness and morality, had hearts filled with extortion and self–indulgence
7. The seventh woe also strikes out against externalism. The difference is that the sixth woe castigates the concealment of avarice, whereas the seventh condemns the concealment of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
8. The final woe was against what we might label outward homage, inward homicide. The scribes and Pharisees pretended to honor the OT prophets by building and/or repairing their tombs and putting wreaths on their monuments. In memorial speeches, they said they would not have joined their ancestors in killing the prophets.

In order to avoid such practices in our present day, we should cleanse first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Reading Assignment

The temple to be destroyed – 24:1-2; The disciples’ three questions – 24:3; Tribulation – 24:4-26; The second coming – 24:27-31; The parable of the fig tree – 24:32-35; Illustration of the days of Noah – 24:36-44; Illustration of the two servants – 24:45-51.

Application and Discussion

After Jesus had crossed over to the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and asked Him three questions: (The first half of the tribulation – 24:3-14; The great tribulation – 24:15-28; The second advent: 14:29-31)

1. When would these things happen; that is, when would the temple be destroyed?
2. What would be the sign of His coming; that is, what supernatural event would precede His return to the earth to set up His kingdom?
3. What would be the sign of the end of the age; that is, what would announce the end of the age immediately prior to His glorious reign? (The second and third questions are essentially the same.)

Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a certain king who arranged a marriage feast for his son. The invitation was in two stages. First, an advance invitation, personally conveyed by servants, which met a flat refusal. The second invitation announced that the feast was spread. As to the meaning of the parable, please fill in the blank.

1. The king is God.
2. The son is Christ.
3. The servants are prophets.
4. The wedding feast is an appropriate description of the festive joy which characterizes the kingdom of heaven.
5. The first stage of the invitation symbolize for John the Baptist and the twelve disciples graciously inviting Israel to the wedding feast. But the nation refused to accept. The words, “they were not willing to come” (v. 3), were climactically dramatized in the crucifixion.
6. The king angry with the Israel and sent out “his armies”, that is Roman legions, destroyed Jerusalem and most of its people in a.d. 70.
7. The second stage of the invitation symbolize for the proclamation of the gospel to the Jews in the book of Acts. Some treated the message with contempt. Some treated the messengers with violence; most of the apostles were martyred.
8. It was the custom in those days to provide the guests with a garment if they had none. The man obviously did not take advantage of the offered provision. Without Christ, he is speechless when challenged as to his right to enter the kingdom (Rom. 3:19). His doom is outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The weeping suggests the suffering of hell. (Read 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 13:19-32). (Please notice that the man is already in the feast, the kind calls him “friend” and is ordered to cast into the outer darkness.)
9. Jesus concluded the parable with verse 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  What does that mean?

Verse 14 refers to the whole parable and not just to the incident of the man without the wedding garment. Many are called, that is, the gospel invitation goes out to many. But few are chosen. Some refuse the invitation, and even of those who respond favorably, some are exposed as false professors. All who respond to the good news are chosen. The only way a person can tell whether he is chosen is by what he does with the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jennings put it, “All are called to enjoy the feast, but not all are willing to trust the Giver to provide the robe that fits for the feast.”

 Here we have the Pharisees and Herodians were temporarily brought together by a common hatred of the Savior. Their goal was to lure Christ into making a political statement with dangerous implications on taxation.  Jesus answered “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” If we want to apply this present Christian life, we have no reason not to pay tax.

 The Sadducees were the liberal theologians of that day, denying the resurrection of the body, the existence of angels. They came to Jesus with a story designed to make the idea of resurrection look ridiculous.  Jesus answered their questions with two important things in Christian’s life: the Scriptures and the power of God. The marriage on earth is to get the closet analogy with the intimacy with God through marriage relationship.

 A lawyer asked Jesus to single out the great commandment in the law, the Lord Jesus summarized man’s obligation to God as the first and great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Mark’s account adds the phrase, “and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).  This means that man’s first obligation is to love God with the totality of his being. As has been pointed out: the heart speaks of the emotional nature, the soul of the volitional nature, the mind of the intellectual nature, and strength of the physical nature. Jesus added that man’s second responsibility is to love his neighbor as yourself. We should think of how very much we do love ourselves, of how much of our activity centers around the care and comfort of self. Then we should try to imagine what it would be like if we showered that love on our neighbors. Then we should do it. Such behavior is not natural; it is supernatural. Only those who have been born again can do it, and then only by allowing Christ to do it through them.

 Most Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Christ; they were still waiting for the Messiah. So Jesus was not asking them, “What do you think of Me?” He was asking in a general way whose Son the Messiah would be when He appeared. Then the Lord Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 where David said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’  The first use of the word “Lord” refers to God the Father. The second to the Messiah. So David spoke of the Messiah as his Lord.

Reading Assignment

Jesus characterizes the Pharisees – 23:1-12; Jesus condemns the Pharisees – 23:13-36; Jesus laments over Jerusalem – 23:37-39.

Application and Discussion

1. In the opening verses of this chapter, the Savior warns the crowds and His disciples against the scribes and the Pharisees
   • How did Jesus characterize the Pharisees?
2.  The Lord warned His disciples against using distinctive titles which should be reserved for the Godhead. What are they?The Lord Jesus pronounces eight woes on the proud religious hypocrites of His day.
3. What are the eight woes?
4.  How can we avoid such practices in our present day?

Jesus sent two disciples to Bethany with the foreknowledge that they would find a tethered donkey, and a colt with her. They were to untie the animals and bring them to Jesus. If challenged, they were to explain that the Lord needed the beasts. This incident may demonstrate the omniscience and supreme authority of the Lord. Everything happened just as Jesus had predicted. The requisitioning of the animals fulfilled predictions by Isaiah and Zechariah.

The Lord rode to the city on a carpet of clothes and palm branches, with the acclamation of the people ringing in His ears. For a moment, at least, He was acknowledged as King. The multitudes shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna originally meant “save now”; perhaps the people meant, “Save us from our Roman oppressors.” Mark’s account records as part of the crowd’s shouts the phrase, “Blessed is the kingdom of our Father David that comes in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:10). This indicates that the people thought the kingdom was about to be set up with Christ sitting on the throne of David. In shouting, “Hosanna in the highest,” the crowd was calling on the heavens to join the earth in praising the Messiah, and perhaps calling on Him to save from the highest heavens.

At the outset of His public ministry, Jesus had driven commercialism out of the temple environs (John 2:13–16). But profiteering for an excessive fee had again sprung up in the outer court of the temple. Sacrificial animals and birds were being bought and sold at exorbitant rates. Moneychangers converted other currencies into the half-shekel which Jewish men had to pay as temple tribute (tax)—for an excessive fee. Now, as His ministry drew to a close, Jesus again drove out those who were profiteering from sacred activities. In our church life, we need His cleansing power to drive out bazaars, and a host of other money-making gimmicks. In our personal lives, there is constant need for the purging the flesh and allowing the ministry of the Lord in our bodies, the temples of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 21:18-22 is the only miracle in which Christ cursed rather than blessed—destroyed rather than restored life.  Fig trees in Bible lands produced an early, edible fruit before the leaves appeared. If no early figs appeared, as in the case of this fig tree, it indicated that there would be no regular figs later on. This is the only miracle in which Christ cursed rather than blessed—destroyed rather than restored life. This has been raised as a difficulty. Such criticism betrays an ignorance of the Person of Christ. He is God, the Sovereign of the universe. Some of His dealings are mysterious to us, but we must begin with the premise that they are always right. In this case, the Lord knew that the fig tree would never bear figs and He acted as a farmer would in removing a barren tree from his orchard. the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. When Jesus came to the nation there were leaves, which speak of profession, but no fruit for God. Jesus was hungry for fruit from the nation.

Because there was no early fruit, He knew there would be no later fruit from that unbelieving people, and so He cursed the fig tree. This prepictured the judgment which would fall on the nation in a.d. 70.

We must remember that while unbelieving Israel will be fruitless forever, a remnant of the nation will return to the Messiah after the Rapture. They will bring forth fruit for Him during the Tribulation and during His Millennial Reign. When the disciples expressed amazement at the sudden withering of the tree, the Lord told them that they could do greater miracles than this if they had faith. For instance, they could say to a mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and it would happen. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 

The parable of landowner is not difficult to interpret. God is the landowner, Israel the vineyard (Ps. 80:8; Isa. 5:1–7; Jer. 2:21). The hedge is the Law of Moses which separated Israel from the Gentiles and preserved them as a distinct people for the Lord. The wine-press, by metonymy, signifies the fruit which Israel should have produced for God. The tower suggests Jehovah’s watchful care for His people. The vinedressers are the chief priests and scribes. Repeatedly God sent His servants, the prophets, to the people of Israel seeking from the vineyard the fruits of fellowship, holiness, and love.

Reading Assignment

Parable of the Marriage Feast – 22:1-14; Conflict with Pharisees and Herodians – 22:15-22; Conflict with Sadducees – 22:23-33; The Greatest Commandment – 22:34-40; The Son of David – 22:41-46.

Application and Discussion

1. Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a certain king who arranged a marriage feast for his son. The invitation was in two stages. First, an advance invitation, personally conveyed by servants, which met a flat refusal. The second invitation announced that the feast was spread. As to the meaning of the parable, please fill in the blank.
   1. The king is _______.
   2. The son is _______.
   3. The servants are _______.
   4. The wedding feast is an appropriate description of _______.
   5. The first stage of the invitation symbolize for _____The king angry with _______ and sent out “his armies”, that is _______, destroyed ________.
   6. The second stage of the invitation symbolize for ________
   7. The man without a wedding garment symbolize for  ___________ (Read 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 13:19-32). (Please notice that the man is already in the feast, the kind calls him “friend” and is ordered to cast into the outer darkness.)
   8. Jesus concluded the parable with verse 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  What does that mean?
2.  Here we have the Pharisees and Herodians were temporarily brought together by a common hatred of the Savior. Their goal was to lure Christ into making a political statement with dangerous implications on taxation.  Jesus answered “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” How can this statement apply to the present day Christian?
3.  The Sadducees were the liberal theologians of that day, denying the resurrection of the body, the existence of angels. They came to Jesus with a story designed to make the idea of resurrection look ridiculous.
   • Jesus answered their questions with two important things in Christian’s life, what are they?
   • There will be no marriage in Heaven, why we have marriage on earth?
4. A lawyer asked Jesus to single out the great commandment in the law, the Lord Jesus summarized man’s obligation to God as the first and great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Mark’s account adds the phrase, “and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
   • What is the relationship of heart, soul, mind and strength with loving God?
   • Jesus added that man’s second responsibility is to love his neighbor as yourself, why is so important to have this responsibility?
5. Most Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Christ; they were still waiting for the Messiah. So Jesus was not asking them, “What do you think of Me?” He was asking in a general way whose Son the Messiah would be when He appeared. Then the Lord Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 where David said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” 
   1. What is the first “Lord” referred to?
   2. What is the second “Lord” referred to?
   3. What is the final answer to the Pharisees?

The parable of laborer is a continuation of the discourse on rewards at the end of chapter 19, illustrates the truth that while all true disciples will be rewarded, the order of rewards will be determined by the spirit in which the disciple served. The parable describes a landowner who went out early in the morning and different time of the day to hire laborers to work in his vineyard. At the end of the day, the farmer instructed his paymaster to pay the men, beginning with the last hired and working back to the first. At the end of the day, the farmer instructed his paymaster to pay the men, beginning with the last hired and working back to the first.  It was the same pay for all—one denarius. The 6:00 a.m. men thought they would receive more, but no—they too got one denarius. They were bitterly resentful; after all, they had worked longer and through the heat of the day. Jesus closed the parable with the words, “So the last will be first, and the first last” (see 19:30). There will be surprises in the matter of rewards. Some who thought they would be first will be last because their service was inspired by pride and selfish ambition. Others who served out of love and gratitude will be highly honored. 

Once again Jesus took the twelve disciples aside to explain what would happen after they reached the Holy City. He would be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes. He would be condemned to death by Jewish leaders. Lacking authority to inflict capital punishment, they would turn Him over to the Gentiles (the Romans). He would be mocked, scourged, and crucified. But death would not keep its prey—He would rise again on the third day.  It is helpful to lay the three out side-by-side to note similarities and differences. When this is done, it is clear that the third prediction is the most detailed of the three. It stresses the imminence of Jesus’ sufferings in Jerusalem, as well as the dual agency of his death by a Jewish sentence carried out by Roman authorities. There is also a detailed description of his horrible sufferings. Only the third prediction mentions that Jesus’ death will be by crucifixion.

The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to the Lord asking that her boys might sit on either side of Him in His kingdom. They are James and John. Jesus answered frankly that they did not understand what they were asking. They wanted a crown without a cross, a throne without the altar of sacrifice, the glory without the suffering that leads to it. So He asked them pointedly, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” We are not left to wonder what He meant by the cup; He had just described it in verses 18 and 19. He must suffer and die.

James and John expressed ability to share in His sufferings, though perhaps their confidence was based more on zeal than knowledge. Verses 20:23 Jesus assured them that they would indeed drink of His cup. James would be martyred and John persecuted and exiled to the Isle of Patmos. James died a martyr’s death; John lived a martyr’s life. Then Jesus explained that He could not arbitrarily grant places of honor in the kingdom; the Father had determined a special basis on which these positions would be assigned. They thought it was a matter of political patronage, that because they were so close to Christ, they had a special claim to places of preferment. But it was not a question of personal favoritism. In the counsels of God, the places on His right hand and left hand would be given on the basis of suffering for Him. This means that the chief honors in the kingdom are not limited to first century Christians; some living today might win them—by suffering.

Reading Assignment

The Triumphal Entry – Matthew 21:1-11; The Cleansing of the Temple – Matthew 21:12-17; Cursing of the Fig Tree – Matthew 21:18-22; Question of Jesus’ Authority – Matthew 21:23-27; Parable of the Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32; Parable of the Landowner – Matthew 21:33-46.

Application and Discussion

1. Jesus sent two disciples to Bethany with the foreknowledge that they would find a tethered donkey, and a colt with her. They were to untie the animals and bring them to Jesus. If challenged, they were to explain that the Lord needed the beasts.
   • What did this incident demonstrate Jesus’ identity?
   • What prophecy did Jesus fulfill?
2. The Lord rode to the city on a carpet of clothes and palm branches, with the acclamation of the people ringing in His ears. For a moment, at least, He was acknowledged as King. The multitudes shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
   • What is the meaning of the word: “Hosanna”?
   • Are there any difference between the kingdom people thought was to be set up with Christ sitting on the throne of David, and the kingdom Jesus preached? (Mark11:10)
3. Jesus had driven commercialism out of the temple environment, what kind of principles can we derive from this incident in our church and personal lives.
4. Matthew 21:18-22 is the only miracle in which Christ cursed rather than blessed—destroyed rather than restored life. Is this incident a symbolic action or there is another truth behind it?
   • Based on this incident, do you think Our Lord has expectations from us?
   • What did Jesus teach His disciples using the cursing of fig tree?

The Pharisees asked Jesus if divorce was legal on any and every ground because Moses made provision for divorce. In OT a man could simply give his wife a written statement, and then put her out of the house (Deut. 24:1–4). Our Lord explained that God’s original intention was that a man has only one living wife. The God who created male and female decreed that the marriage relationship should supersede the parental relationship. He also said that marriage is a union of persons. God’s ideal is that this divinely ordained union should not be broken by human act or decree. Jesus agreed that Moses had permitted divorce, not as God’s best for mankind, but because of Israel’s backslidden condition: “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” Based on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 5:31, 32, and Matthew 19:3-9, God’s ideal was that there be no divorce. But God often tolerates conditions that are not His directive will. Divorce was never God’s intention for man. His ideal is that one man and one woman remain married until their union is broken by death (Rom. 7:2, 3). 

Under OT law,  divorce was permitted according to Deuteronomy 24:1–4. This passage was not concerned with the case of an adulterous wife (the penalty for adultery was death, see Deut. 22:22). Rather, it deals with divorce because of dislike or “incompatibility.” Matthew 5:32 However, in the kingdom of Christ, whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery. If a person was divorced for any other reason and remarried, he was guilty of adultery. Whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.  Although not directly stated, it would seem from the words of our Lord that where a divorce has been obtained on the grounds of adultery, the innocent party is free to remarry. Otherwise divorce would serve no purpose not equally achieved by separation. 

Our Savior reminded His disciples that the ability to remain single was not the general rule; only those to whom special grace was given could forego marriage. Jesus said “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given,” The Lord Jesus explained that there are three types of eunuchs. Some men are eunuchs because they were born without the power of reproduction. Others are so because they were castrated by men; oriental rulers often subjected the harem attendants to surgery to make them eunuchs. But Jesus especially had in mind those who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. These men could be married, and they have no physical impairment. Yet in dedication to the King and His kingdom, they willingly forego marriage in order to give themselves to the cause of Christ without distraction. As Paul wrote later, “He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:32). Their celibacy is not physical but a matter of voluntary abstinence.

Not all men can live such a life; only those divinely empowered: “But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that” (1 Cor. 7:7).

Parents brought their little children to Jesus to be blessed by the Lord. The disciples saw this as an intrusion and annoyance, and rebuked the parents. But Jesus intervened with those words that have since endeared Him to children of every age, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Several important lessons emerge from those words. First, they should impress the servant of the Lord with the importance of reaching children, whose minds are most receptive, with the Word of God. Second, children who wish to confess their faith in the Lord Jesus should be encouraged, not held back. No one knows the age of the youngest person in hell. If a child truly wishes to be saved, he should not be told that he is too young. Thirdly, these words of our Lord answer the question, “What happens to children who die before they reach the age of accountability?” Jesus said, “ … of such is the kingdom of heaven.” That should be adequate assurance to parents who have suffered the loss of little ones.

A rich man intercepted the Lord with an apparently sincere inquiry.  He asked what he had to do to have eternal life. To test him on the way of salvation Jesus said, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The Savior was not implying that man can be saved by keeping the commandments. Rather, He was using the law to produce conviction of sin in the man’s heart. The man was still under the delusion that he could inherit the kingdom on the principle of doing.  Our Lord then exposed the man’s failure to love his neighbor as himself by telling him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. Then he should come to Jesus and follow Him. The rich man’s unwillingness to share his possessions showed that he did not love his neighbor as himself. Riches tend to become an idol. It is hard to have them without trusting in them. Matthew 13:22 teach us the thorn-infested ground represents another class who hear the word in a superficial way. They appear outwardly to be genuine subjects of the kingdom but in time their interest is choked out by the cares of this world and by their delight in riches.

Our Lord declared that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” He was using a figure of speech. It is clearly impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle! The “needle’s eye” has often been explained as the small door in a city gate. A camel could get through it by kneeling down, but only with great difficulty. However, the word used for “needle” in the parallel passage in Luke is the same word used to describe the needle used by surgeons. It seems clear from the context that the Lord was not speaking of difficulty, but of impossibility. Humanly speaking, a rich man simply cannot be saved. 

It is strange that we use a passage in which the Lord denounces wealth as a hindrance to man’s eternal welfare, to justify the accumulation of earthly treasures! And it is difficult to see how a Christian can cling to riches in view of the appalling need everywhere, the imminence of Christ’s Return, and the Lord’s clear prohibition against laying up treasures on earth. Hoarded wealth condemns us as not loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Realizing that Jesus was saying, “Forsake all and follow Me,” Peter said that he and the other disciples had done exactly that; then he added, “What shall we have?” It sounds like Peter had the bargaining spirit. As to believers in general, Jesus added that all who have left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for His sake shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. They are awarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but manifested when the Lord returns to earth to reign.

The Lord closed His remarks with a warning against a bargaining spirit. He said to Peter, in effect, “Anything you do for My sake will be rewarded, but be careful that you are not guided by selfish considerations; because in that case, many who are first will be last, and the last first. This is illustrated by a parable in the next chapter. This statement may also have been a warning that it isn’t enough to start out well on the path of discipleship. It’s how we finish that counts.

Reading Assignment

Parable of the Laborers – Matthew 20:1-16; Instruction about Jesus’ Death – Matthew 20:17-19; Instruction about ambition – Matthew 20:20-28; Blind men recognize the King – Matthew 20:28-34.

Application and Discussion

1. The parable of laborer is a continuation of the discourse on rewards at the end of chapter 19, illustrates the truth that while all true disciples will be rewarded, the order of rewards will be determined by the spirit in which the disciple served. The parable describes a landowner who went out early in the morning and different time of the day to hire laborers to work in his vineyard. At the end of the day, the farmer instructed his paymaster to pay the men, beginning with the last hired and working back to the first.
   • What kind of argument did those workers hired early in the morning with the landowner? What is the cause of such argument?
   • What words did Jesus close the parable with? What is the key element Jesus wants us to learn from this parable?
2. Once again Jesus took the twelve disciples aside to explain what would happen after they reached the Holy City. He would be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes. He would be condemned to death by Jewish leaders. Lacking authority to inflict capital punishment, they would turn Him over to the Gentiles (the Romans). He would be mocked, scourged, and crucified. But death would not keep its prey—He would rise again on the third day. Why Jesus had to tell the twelve about His death again? What is the significance of His death and resurrection?
3. The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to the Lord asking that her boys might sit on either side of Him in His kingdom.
   • Who are the Zebedee’s sons?
   • Why Jesus cannot grant her wish?

Jesus answered with a living object lesson. Placing a little child in their midst, He said that men must be converted and become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. He was speaking of the kingdom in its inward reality; in order to be a genuine believer a man must abandon thoughts of personal greatness and take the lowly position of a little child. This begins when he acknowledges his sinfulness and unworthiness and receives Jesus Christ as his only hope. This attitude should continue throughout his Christian life. Jesus was not implying that His disciples were not saved. All except Judas had true faith in Him, and were therefore justified. But they had not yet received the Holy Spirit as an indwelling Person, and therefore lacked the power for true humility that we have today. Also they needed to be converted in the sense of having all their false thinking changed to conform to the kingdom. Matthew 5:19 also identify the importance of being righteousness.

After teaching on humility, Jesus went on to explain that it is inevitable that offenses should arise. The world, the flesh, and the devil are leagued to seduce and pervert. But if a person becomes an agent for the forces of evil, his guilt will be great. So the Savior warned men to take drastic action in disciplining themselves rather than to tempt a child of God.

Our Lord does not imply that some bodies will lack limbs in heaven, but merely describes the physical condition at the time a believer leaves this life for the next. There can be no question that the resurrection body will be complete and perfect. Better to enter into life without limbs or sight than to be consigned to hell with every member intact. Discipleship is a deliberate action; we should be taking that seriously.

Jesus warned against despising one of His little ones, whether children or any who belong to the kingdom. To emphasize their importance, He added that their angels are constantly in the presence of God, beholding His face. It seems like every little ones has guardian angels watching over them, it implies that Jesus not only love children, He protect them as well. (Hebrews 1:14) These little ones are also the object of the tender Shepherd’s saving ministry. Even if one out of a hundred sheep goes astray, He leaves the ninety-nine and searches for the lost one till He finds it. The Shepherd’s joy over finding a straying sheep should teach us to value and respect His little ones. They are important not only to the angels and to the Shepherd, but also to God the Father. It is not His will that one of them should perish. If they are important enough to engage angels, the Lord Jesus, and God the Father, then clearly we should never despise them, no matter how unlovely or lowly they might appear.

Matthew 18:15-20 teach us that the local assembly is the body responsible to hear the case, not a civil court. Though he may be a true believer, he is not living as one, and should therefore be treated accordingly. Though still in the universal church, he should be barred from the privileges of the local church. Such discipline is a serious action; it temporarily delivers a believer to the power of Satan “for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor. 5:5). The purpose of this is to bring him to his senses and cause him to confess his sin. Until that point is reached, believers should treat him courteously but should also show by their attitude that they do not condone his sin and cannot have fellowship with him as a fellow believer. The assembly should be prompt to receive him back as soon as there is evidence of godly repentance.

Peter raised the question of how often he should forgive a brother who sinned against him. He probably thought he was showing unusual grace by suggesting seven as an outside limit. Jesus answered “not … seven times but up to seventy times seven. He did not intend us to understand a literal 490 times; this was a figurative way of saying “Indefinitely.”

Jesus gives a parable of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:21-35) to warn against the consequences of an unforgiving spirit by subjects who have been freely forgiven.  The application is clear. God is the King. All His servants had contracted a great debt of sin which they were unable to pay. In wonderful grace and compassion, the Lord paid the debt and granted full and free forgiveness. Now suppose some Christian wrongs another. When rebuked, he apologizes and asks forgiveness. But the offended believer refuses. He himself has been forgiven millions of dollars, but won’t forgive a few hundred. Will the King allow such behavior to go unpunished? Certainly not! The culprit will be chastened in this life and will suffer loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Reading Assignment

Instruction about marriage, divorce and singleness– Matthew 19:1-12; Concerning of children – Matthew 19:13-15; Rich young ruler – Matthew 19:16-26; Apostles’ reward – Matthew 19:27-30.

Application and Discussion

1. The Pharisees asked Jesus if divorce was legal on any and every ground because Moses made provision for divorce. In OT a man could simply give his wife a written statement, and then put her out of the house (Deut. 24:1–4)
   • How did Jesus explain God’s original intention of marriage?
   • Did Jesus’ teaching contradict the OT?
2. Based on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 5:31, 32, and Matthew 19:3-9, do you believe that God’s ideal was that there is no divorce?
   • Are there any bases to get divorce because of dislike and incompatibility?
   • Although not directly stated, it would seem from the words of our Lord that where a divorce has been obtained on the grounds of adultery (adulterer was stoned to death), the innocent party free to remarry. What is your thought on that? Any other passages in the Bible support that
3. Our Savior reminded His disciples that the ability to remain single was not the general rule; only those to whom special grace was given could forego marriage. Jesus said “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given,”
   • The Lord Jesus explained that there are three types of eunuchs; do you think singleness is physically driven or divinely empowered
   • Read I Corinthians 7:7, is singleness is a gift from God?
4. Parents brought their little children to Jesus to be blessed by the Lord. The disciples saw this as an intrusion and annoyance, and rebuked the parents. But Jesus intervened with those words that have since endeared Him to children of every age, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
   • What lesson(s) we can learn from this passage?
   • What happens to children who die before they reach the age of accountability?
   • A rich man intercepted the Lord with an apparently sincere inquiry.  He asked what he had to do to have eternal life.
   • To test him on the way of salvation Jesus said, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments,” we cannot be saved by keeping the Laws, but why Jesus this question?
   • Jesus told the rich ruler to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, he went way sad. Which commandment he fails to obey?
   • The rich man’s response prompted Jesus to observe that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Based on the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 13:22, what cause the riches to stumble?
   • It is clearly impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle! Did Jesus tell us a rich man simply cannot be saved?
   • The Lord denounces wealth as a hindrance to man’s eternal welfare, is it perfectly all right for Christian to be rich? What is the fine line to lay up treasure on earth
5. Realizing that Jesus was saying, “Forsake all and follow Me,” Peter said that he and the other disciples had done exactly that; then he added, “What shall we have?”
   • Do you think Peter was bargaining with the Lord?
   • As to believers in general, Jesus added that all who have left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for His sake, what shall they receive?
   • The Lord closed His remarks with a warning, what did Jesus want us to guard against in Matthew 19:30?