Matthew 23 and Luke 20-21

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Matthew:

When Jesus started His ministry He pronounced seven blessings on the righteous in Matthew 5:3-10:

• 1. Theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (vv. 3 & 10).
• 2. They shall be comforted (v. 4).
• 3. They shall inherit the land (v. 5).
• 4. They shall be filled (v. 6).
• 5. They shall obtain mercy (v. 7).
• 6. They shall see God (v. 8). And…
• 7. They shall be called sons of God (v. 9).

Then… At the close of His ministry, He pronounced seven woes to the self-righteous (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes)

• 1. They kept people out of God’s kingdom (v. 13).
• 2. They took advantage of widows (v. 14)
• 3. They misled men to eternal destruction (v. 15).
• 4. They were covetous of worldly things (vv. 16-22).
• 5. They refused to show compassion (vv. 23-24).
• 6. They were inwardly corrupt (vv. 25-28).
• 7. They afflicted the righteous (vv. 29-31).

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Luke: (✅ if we discussed already)

• ✅Authority questioned
• ✅ The parable of the tenants
• ✅Paying Caesar taxes
• ✅ Resurrection/Marriage
• ✅ Warnings against the law
• ✅ The widow’s offering (not discussed, personal read)

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Destruction of the Temple and End Times

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

We have a NEAR and FAR prophecy being stated.

 

• The Temple construction began in 20 BC and ended in 64 AD. (took over 80 years to build it)
• Took 80,000 laborers
• Totaled 36 Acres
• Can be seen from 30 miles away!
• Some of the stones weighed 400 tons
• the Temple was 2600 above sea level

Click here.  It is a very short video of what the temple looked like. 

As they are looking at this magnificent building Jesus says:

 ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

This will happen in their time.  In 70 AD the temple will be completely destroyed.  Unimaginable!! No way! Yup, it happens.

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

But this passage has the prophecy of the Temple destruction and the End times.  See, the Jewish people assumed that when the Messiah came, it would usher in the end times immediately.   So read this passage closely because I think too often we watch the news and say “That’s a sign…end times are coming”.  We will always have wars.  We will always have natural disasters. But the signs of these will be so extreme after the rapture they recognizable!  The signs will be when Jesus opens the first seals on the scroll.    Tomorrow’s reading will be JUST on this.