Question 1:
When have you been surprised by how difficult something turned out to be?
THE POINT
Expect difficulty when you choose to follow Christ.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Many of us looked forward to leaving high school behind with all its challenges, only to experience a whole new set of challenges.
When I was a college student, I lived next door to someone who began attending my church. When he became a Christian, I tried to encourage him in his new faith, but after a couple of months I noticed he became distant from everyone at church. When we talked, he admitted he had become disillusioned because he still struggled with temptation.
He assumed Christ would shield him from the struggles of life. When I reminded him that trials are part of being a Christian, he seemed intent on staying discouraged. Unfortunately, difficulties don’t leave us when we choose to follow Christ.
Jesus never glossed over the challenges we face as His children. When He spoke of His return, Jesus also spoke of difficulties that would even increase! Thankfully, however, we don’t face them alone.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Matthew 24:1-3
1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. 2 He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” 3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
The temple in Jerusalem was considered an architectural marvel in the Middle East. Even though the disciples had just been in the temple, they were wowed by the structure and called it to Jesus’ attention.
Jesus responded with words surely no one was expecting: “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” Because the temple was the center of political and religious life for Israel, the disciples couldn’t imagine such a devastating catastrophe.
In the disciples’ minds, they were essentially asking one question, assuming the temple’s destruction and the coming of Christ would trigger a single event: the end of the age. To their way of thinking, if the temple were ever destroyed, it surely must signal that the world was ending abruptly.
This created a great teaching moment for Jesus. By that time, they had arrived at “the Mount of Olives,” a ridge east of Jerusalem, roughly a mile long. The mount rises about 200 feet above the city. As they looked down on Jerusalem and the temple, it provided the perfect setting for such a fascinating topic.
Was Christ describing a fulfilled event in history or a future event to come? Most interpreters contend that Jesus was partially describing the historical account of the Roman destruction of the temple. His words came to pass with precision about forty years later.
While Christ offered comfort for the difficult time ahead, He also looked far beyond the temple to the end of the age. One challenging feature to Jesus’ teaching in these verses is that He doesn’t sharply distinguish between when He was talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and when He was referring to the end times. Notice that Jesus didn’t answer the “when” part of their question. If we were to know the exact timing, it would cut off any sense of urgency and need to depend on Christ in our lives. He wants our focus to be on Him.
Question 2:
What have you learned or been taught about Jesus’ return?
The end won’t be a series of haphazard collisions and accidents. We can live at peace because our loving Father has a perfect knowledge of “the end of the age,” and Jesus has promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Matthew 24:4-8
4 Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that the destruction of Jerusalem didn’t necessarily mean that the end of the world had arrived. The signs mentioned in these verses are general in tone, marking a gradual progression toward the end.
Deceivers. Jesus warned of false messiahs. This conveys the idea of having certainty in detecting the counterfeit messiahs. Those who have fallen prey to the arguments of false teachers will tell you it’s easier to be deceived than one might imagine. The way to stay alert in the face of spiritual deception is to become so familiar with God’s Word that we will quickly recognize false teaching when we hear it. We should determine in advance to avoid the prevalent spiritual charlatans by regular reading and studying of Scripture.
An increase of international conflict and war. “Wars and rumors of wars” will continue as long as sin rules this world. The times facing believers will be unsettling, challenging days. How should we respond? “See that you are not alarmed.” Jesus told us to prepare in advance to say “no” to our tendency to fear. We are to trust God for our future instead of caving into frightful circumstances.
An increase in natural disasters. Natural disasters like “famines and earthquakes in various places” and a variety of other destructive signs will become even more pervasive than they previously were. Although people in the Old Testament viewed famine as a sign of God’s judgment (see Deuteronomy 28:23-24), these events are proof that God’s plan is unfolding according to His will.
Wars, famines, and earthquakes are small ripples in the pool of history. They don’t signal the end of the age, but they are “the beginning of labor pains.” The analogy to labor pains helps us understand that part of Christ’s teaching is related to the end times instead of exclusively referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. Since the temple was destroyed near the beginning of the early church, birth pangs wouldn’t have been a helpful analogy of things to come. Just like labor pains in the process of birth, these events will increase in frequency and intensity until Jesus returns.
Question 3:
What comforts does Jesus offer in these verses?
Engage
IN THE END
We aren’t provided all the particulars about the end times, but God has revealed some details. In your notes, list some questions you have about the end times.
Matthew 24:9-14
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus painted a bleak picture of what believers would experience as the last days approach. For one thing, hatred will only grow toward those who follow Christ. Jesus warned His disciples: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). The world may hate us, but when our affections are set on Christ, we aren’t as concerned with the world’s opinion.
Question 4:
How can we prepare ourselves to face and endure persecution?
Those who truly know Christ will persevere to the end, but “many will fall away.” Many even today may claim to be Christians, but their hearts have never been transformed by the salvation, forgiveness, and grace of Christ.
These pseudo-Christians will turn on one another as they “betray one another, and hate one another.” The spiritual vitality of so many will be drained away, and “the love of many will grow cold.” Unfortunately, the chilling winds of persecution and the increase in lawlessness will cause many who claim Christ to cool down.
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” We endure because we know the One who strengthens us. Endurance simply gives evidence that our salvation is authentic.
While Matthew 28:18-20 is Jesus’ commandment to go, evangelize, and disciple, Matthew 24:14 is Jesus’ promise that one generation will succeed in finishing the great task that others have begun. That task is proclaiming the “good news of the kingdom … in all the world.” The aim is to proclaim the gospel so that all the nations might know King Jesus, find salvation in Him, and worship Him.
The gospel message will be “a testimony to all nations,” or more specifically, to all ethnic groupings with cultural and language distinctions. We must be intentional in taking God’s good news to the ends of the earth. No person, group, or force can stop God’s stated purpose to be known and praised among the nations. We must not let persecution keep us from sharing the gospel with the whole world.
Question 5:
What are some ways this passage encourages you to share the gospel?
LIVE IT OUT
Life can be difficult, but not every difficulty or catastrophe signals the imminent return of Christ. We can expect hardships simply because of our relationship with Him. How can you make sure you’re prepared when difficulty comes?
Know the truth. We read in Psalm 139:16 that God knows all our days before even one of them comes to pass. This truth and others found in Scripture can help us get through the tough times. If Scripture reading isn’t a part of your daily routine, start following a daily Bible reading plan today.
Persevere through prayer. Paul tells us to devote ourselves to prayer (see Colossians 4:2). Sometimes we live a fear-focused life. Prayer is a marvelous focus-shifter. Continue to call out to God, especially when the pressures of life begin to mount.
Step out in confidence. Matthew 24:14 tells us the gospel will be shared with the world. Whether you serve as one who sends, prays, or goes, God has a role for you in reaching the nations. Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t allow fear to hold you back from being part of this glorious work.
Jesus never glossed over the challenges we face as His children. When He spoke of His return, Jesus also spoke of difficulties that would even increase! Thankfully, however, we don’t face them alone. [Lifeway Adults (2021). (p. 79). Bible Studies for Life: Young Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
When have you been surprised by how difficult something turned out to be?
THE POINT
Expect difficulty when you choose to follow Christ.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Many of us looked forward to leaving high school behind with all its challenges, only to experience a whole new set of challenges.
When I was a college student, I lived next door to someone who began attending my church. When he became a Christian, I tried to encourage him in his new faith, but after a couple of months I noticed he became distant from everyone at church. When we talked, he admitted he had become disillusioned because he still struggled with temptation.
He assumed Christ would shield him from the struggles of life. When I reminded him that trials are part of being a Christian, he seemed intent on staying discouraged. Unfortunately, difficulties don’t leave us when we choose to follow Christ.
Jesus never glossed over the challenges we face as His children. When He spoke of His return, Jesus also spoke of difficulties that would even increase! Thankfully, however, we don’t face them alone.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Matthew 24:1-3
1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. 2 He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” 3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
The temple in Jerusalem was considered an architectural marvel in the Middle East. Even though the disciples had just been in the temple, they were wowed by the structure and called it to Jesus’ attention.
Jesus responded with words surely no one was expecting: “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” Because the temple was the center of political and religious life for Israel, the disciples couldn’t imagine such a devastating catastrophe.
In the disciples’ minds, they were essentially asking one question, assuming the temple’s destruction and the coming of Christ would trigger a single event: the end of the age. To their way of thinking, if the temple were ever destroyed, it surely must signal that the world was ending abruptly.
This created a great teaching moment for Jesus. By that time, they had arrived at “the Mount of Olives,” a ridge east of Jerusalem, roughly a mile long. The mount rises about 200 feet above the city. As they looked down on Jerusalem and the temple, it provided the perfect setting for such a fascinating topic.
Was Christ describing a fulfilled event in history or a future event to come? Most interpreters contend that Jesus was partially describing the historical account of the Roman destruction of the temple. His words came to pass with precision about forty years later.
While Christ offered comfort for the difficult time ahead, He also looked far beyond the temple to the end of the age. One challenging feature to Jesus’ teaching in these verses is that He doesn’t sharply distinguish between when He was talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and when He was referring to the end times. Notice that Jesus didn’t answer the “when” part of their question. If we were to know the exact timing, it would cut off any sense of urgency and need to depend on Christ in our lives. He wants our focus to be on Him.
Question 2:
What have you learned or been taught about Jesus’ return?
The end won’t be a series of haphazard collisions and accidents. We can live at peace because our loving Father has a perfect knowledge of “the end of the age,” and Jesus has promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Matthew 24:4-8
4 Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that the destruction of Jerusalem didn’t necessarily mean that the end of the world had arrived. The signs mentioned in these verses are general in tone, marking a gradual progression toward the end.
Deceivers. Jesus warned of false messiahs. This conveys the idea of having certainty in detecting the counterfeit messiahs. Those who have fallen prey to the arguments of false teachers will tell you it’s easier to be deceived than one might imagine. The way to stay alert in the face of spiritual deception is to become so familiar with God’s Word that we will quickly recognize false teaching when we hear it. We should determine in advance to avoid the prevalent spiritual charlatans by regular reading and studying of Scripture.
An increase of international conflict and war. “Wars and rumors of wars” will continue as long as sin rules this world. The times facing believers will be unsettling, challenging days. How should we respond? “See that you are not alarmed.” Jesus told us to prepare in advance to say “no” to our tendency to fear. We are to trust God for our future instead of caving into frightful circumstances.
An increase in natural disasters. Natural disasters like “famines and earthquakes in various places” and a variety of other destructive signs will become even more pervasive than they previously were. Although people in the Old Testament viewed famine as a sign of God’s judgment (see Deuteronomy 28:23-24), these events are proof that God’s plan is unfolding according to His will.
Wars, famines, and earthquakes are small ripples in the pool of history. They don’t signal the end of the age, but they are “the beginning of labor pains.” The analogy to labor pains helps us understand that part of Christ’s teaching is related to the end times instead of exclusively referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. Since the temple was destroyed near the beginning of the early church, birth pangs wouldn’t have been a helpful analogy of things to come. Just like labor pains in the process of birth, these events will increase in frequency and intensity until Jesus returns.
Question 3:
What comforts does Jesus offer in these verses?
Engage
IN THE END
We aren’t provided all the particulars about the end times, but God has revealed some details. In your notes, list some questions you have about the end times.
Matthew 24:9-14
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus painted a bleak picture of what believers would experience as the last days approach. For one thing, hatred will only grow toward those who follow Christ. Jesus warned His disciples: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). The world may hate us, but when our affections are set on Christ, we aren’t as concerned with the world’s opinion.
Question 4:
How can we prepare ourselves to face and endure persecution?
Those who truly know Christ will persevere to the end, but “many will fall away.” Many even today may claim to be Christians, but their hearts have never been transformed by the salvation, forgiveness, and grace of Christ.
These pseudo-Christians will turn on one another as they “betray one another, and hate one another.” The spiritual vitality of so many will be drained away, and “the love of many will grow cold.” Unfortunately, the chilling winds of persecution and the increase in lawlessness will cause many who claim Christ to cool down.
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” We endure because we know the One who strengthens us. Endurance simply gives evidence that our salvation is authentic.
While Matthew 28:18-20 is Jesus’ commandment to go, evangelize, and disciple, Matthew 24:14 is Jesus’ promise that one generation will succeed in finishing the great task that others have begun. That task is proclaiming the “good news of the kingdom … in all the world.” The aim is to proclaim the gospel so that all the nations might know King Jesus, find salvation in Him, and worship Him.
The gospel message will be “a testimony to all nations,” or more specifically, to all ethnic groupings with cultural and language distinctions. We must be intentional in taking God’s good news to the ends of the earth. No person, group, or force can stop God’s stated purpose to be known and praised among the nations. We must not let persecution keep us from sharing the gospel with the whole world.
Question 5:
What are some ways this passage encourages you to share the gospel?
LIVE IT OUT
Life can be difficult, but not every difficulty or catastrophe signals the imminent return of Christ. We can expect hardships simply because of our relationship with Him. How can you make sure you’re prepared when difficulty comes?
Know the truth. We read in Psalm 139:16 that God knows all our days before even one of them comes to pass. This truth and others found in Scripture can help us get through the tough times. If Scripture reading isn’t a part of your daily routine, start following a daily Bible reading plan today.
Persevere through prayer. Paul tells us to devote ourselves to prayer (see Colossians 4:2). Sometimes we live a fear-focused life. Prayer is a marvelous focus-shifter. Continue to call out to God, especially when the pressures of life begin to mount.
Step out in confidence. Matthew 24:14 tells us the gospel will be shared with the world. Whether you serve as one who sends, prays, or goes, God has a role for you in reaching the nations. Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t allow fear to hold you back from being part of this glorious work.
Jesus never glossed over the challenges we face as His children. When He spoke of His return, Jesus also spoke of difficulties that would even increase! Thankfully, however, we don’t face them alone. [Lifeway Adults (2021). (p. 79). Bible Studies for Life: Young Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]