12 October

Bible In 365 Days

Matthew 24

Passing from the city, the disciples drew their Master's attention to the stones of the Temple, and He told them that this glorious building would be demolished so that no single stone would be left upon another.

He went on to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples came to Him privately for more spec& teaching, on the great subjects suggested by His closing address to the crowds, and His prophecy concerning the Temple. In order to understand the teaching of this chapter we must distinctly bear in mind the questions which our Lord answered. They are three, and occur in verse three:

1. "When shall these things be?"

2. "What shall be the sign of Thy coming?"

3. "What shall be the sign of the end of the age?" The disciples did not so tabulate their questions.

In all probability they presented them as one request, supposing that all these things would happen simultaneously. Jesus' answer was directed mainly to correct this misapprehension.

Answering the first question, the Master carefully distinguished between "these things" and "'the end" The former He declared must come to pass, but the latter is not yet (Matthew 24:6). Moreover, He distinctly told the nearness of them. "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished" (Matthew 24:34). Here again He most carefully distinguished between "these things," and "the coming of the Son of man". The former He practically dated, saying that the then existing generation should not pass until all was fulfilled. "The coming", He says, cannot be dated, for the time is known only to the Father.

The question concerning His coming He answered by declaring that when He does come there will be no doubt or question. He ended with a solemn injunction to "watch" (Matthew 24:42).

With reference to the third question as to the end of the age, He said:

1. "It is not yet" (Matthew 24:6).

2. It shall be "when this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all nations" (Matthew 24:14). What this may really mean is a big question. Some claim that this has already been done, and that therefore the end of the age is necessarily close at hand. This conclusion is open to grave doubt. Everything depends on the meaning of the words "for a testimony."

Matthew 25

"Then". This gives us the time in which the Kingdom of Heaven will be likened unto ten virgins. That Kingdom passes through many phases, but just before the coming of the King this will be its character. Note especially that the ten virgins are required to give a correct idea of the Kingdom.

Again, to interpret the next parable rightly, we must remember it concerns the servants of the King. He has not committed His goods to rebels, but to His own. To apply this parable to all men is to suppose that the absent Lord has committed the stewardship of His goods to rebels as well as to subjects. No greater mistake could be made. When He comes, the slothful and unprofitable will be cast out, not because they did not believe or because they had rebelled, but because they had neglected the opportunities which He had committed to them. How solemn is the teaching of the parable for all His servants. What am I doing with my Lord's talent? Neglect may bring about awful loss. I may be saved only as by fire.

The Lord then referred to His apocalypse, His coming in glory. The judgment is not of the saints, nor is it of the race considered as individuals. It is, as He so very distinctly declared, the judgment of the nations.

There are three classes: those on the right-sheep; those on the left-goats; and "these My brethren." He separates between sheep and goats according as they have treated His brethren.