Destruction And The End

Destruction And The End

Whose Son Is the Christ?
35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,
 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
 “Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’
37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.
Beware of the Scribes
38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

How?

Jesus poses a question. How could the Christ (Messiah) be a son of David, as Psalm 110 declares Him to be Lord as well? Messiah was to be descended from King David and responsible for restoring Israel's kingdom. Nevertheless, Jesus offers something far greater than what was anticipated—although his reign is not dependent on race or political power. Jesus' thought-provoking teachings captivated everyone, as He outwitted the conceited teachers easily.

Beware

Drawing attention to the hypocrisy of teachers of the law, Jesus warns against their showy behavior and utilization of connections for personal advantage. He laments that these charlatans exploit widows in need by treating them egregiously yet offering nothing in return. These people pray only outwardly instead of with genuine devotion, kneeling merely to draw notice.

Out Of Her Poverty

Inside the temple, thirteen chests in the shape of trumpets provided a place for people to contribute their offerings. While some gave large amounts, Jesus noticed one small widow who only put in two coins—everything. Even though these were minuscule compared with other gifts that day, Jesus viewed them as an expression of utmost dedication and devotion.

When?

As the disciples gazed wonderfully at Jerusalem's stunning temple, they were astonished by its enormous stones, lustrous marble, and gold - a symbol of God among His people. However, Jesus suddenly proclaimed that it wouldn't be long before this structure was demolished. When Jesus informed his disciples of the temple's impending destruction, they naturally inquired when it would happen. This inquiry provoked a discourse from Jesus about events between his first and second coming (13:5–37). He encourages them not to misjudge their times and become deceived into believing that "the end" is closer than it is (13:3). Jesus admonishes the disciples to stand firm in their faith amidst tribulations during this interim period. He explains that they should be watchful, maintaining confidence as they experience what he calls "birth pangs" (13:8). Christ is guiding them on how best to remain loyal and follow him even when the going gets tough.

When the abomination of desolation appears, Jesus instructs His disciples to flee Judea. To emphasize its importance, a series of commands are listed with reasons afterward for followers to understand why such actions must occur. This period will be among their most challenging yet, but if you follow Jesus' advice and heed these commands, you can make it through safely. He provided instructions and reasons why each one should be taken seriously. 

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