Expected End

Bible Text: Matthew 24:4-14

Lesson Setting:

The text is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew, the tax collector, called to be an Apostle by the Lord Jesus. The physical setting for the lesson is the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge east of the city of Jerusalem. At the foot of the Mount, is the Garden of Gethsemane. On this occasion, the Lord gives his disciples a prophecy concerning the the coming destruction of the Temple and the end times. This “Olivet Discourse” as it is known, also contains powerful parabolic teachings such as the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins and the Parable of the Talents,

In verses 24:4-14, Jesus is warning His disciples of the coming tribulations – beginning at Jerusalem with the destruction of the Temple – and spreading world-wide. He ends this phase of the discourse encouraging His disciples to endure to the end.

Exposition:

“Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.” Matthew 24:12,13

Jesus here describes to his disciples the events of the last days. Some of Jesus’ words were fulfilled when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Other parts of His prophecy are yet to be fulfilled. Like the disciples in this passage, we are living in a time when iniquity (lawlessness) abounds and the love of many grows cold.

Warmth and coldness are opposite states. Science and experience tells us that when we place a warm object in close proximity to a cold object, an exchange takes place. The warm object loses its heat to space: the cold object gains warmth by absorbing the radiated heat.

We experience the same thing in the spiritual realm. We enter a service filled with the Spirit and anticipation and almost immediately, we sense the warmth and the joy we feel being slowly drawn from us by a cold, dead spiritual environment. We feel spiritually frigid and spiritually numb, lethargic, and depressed.

Jesus says that because of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. Iniquity is lawlessness or sin. Some disciples, because of trials and sufferings, will stop walking with Jesus. These people are so battered by Satan and the ungodly that they lose the strength and the will to go on with Christ. They gradually cease striving to live holy, godly, and loving lives and turn inward. They withdraw within themselves: to an inner sanctum where they hope for peace and a respite from their trials. Instead, they find themselves in a cold, dark, den devoid of true light, true warmth, and Jesus.

Just as the sun is main source of warmth on earth. Jesus Christ “The Sun of Righteousness” is our source of spiritual light and warmth. As we walk with Christ Jesus, we bask in and absorb His light and warmth.

We will all run into people who, seem to draw warmth and strength – even it seems, the very life out of us. Not talking of the people themselves, but their words, deeds, personality quirks, and temperament. I John 2:1 describes a man not walking in the light as one who hates his brother. I John 1:7 says that this darkness effects this man’s fellowship with other believers. It is not possible while we are living on this planet to avoid difficult people, but through the Spirit and the Word, we can learn how to deal with them and simultaneously, grow in love and grace.

The Scoffer

Consider the Scoffer. Within the Church and outside the Church, scoffers are not hard to spot. We recognize them as the ones who hold prophecy in contempt, who seek to quench the Spirit, and who lay snares of ritual and legalism upon others. The Word of God (Proverbs 24.9) says that the scoffer is an abomination.

We can deal with the scoffer like a true disciple of Jesus. God tells us to hold our peace. If we must speak, we must bless and not curse. We should not render evil for evil. (I Thessalonian 5:15).

“He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.” Proverbs 9:7

The Backbiter

The Backbiter presents a very subtle test of our commitment to discipleship. While their reports are compelling and entertaining, backbiters are a malicious, destructive spirit within the body of Christ. Proverbs 16:28 says, “A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.”

We can deal with backbiters in a godly manner. We should express our love and true concern for the object of the backbiter. Often, the backbiter will be shocked into silence and, hopefully, repentance. Let us express a desire to lift up and help the defamed (James 5:19, 20) and not to honor the backbiter with a passive audience.

“He who covers an offense promotes love; But he who repeats a matter separates best friends.” Proverbs 17:9

“For lack of wood a fire goes out; Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.” Proverbs 26.20

False Teachers

In the Olivet Discourse,  Jesus warned His disciples about False Teachers. These men make bold claims about themselves and their walk with God, but they are full of destructive heresies, hate, and betrayal..

The apostle Peter describes false teachers this way:

“But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.” II Peter 2:1

How do we deal with False Teachers? The Word tells us not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits. I John 4:1. Study and show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth. We should learn God’s ways. We should learn to recognize the spirits we encounter. I john 4:1-6, I Corinthians 12:3.

Armed by the Spirit, we will even benefit from the false teacher. Our faith will be strengthened as we learn how to spot the devil’s schemes. We will take the opportunity to dig deeper into the Word and strengthen our faith. And finally, we will pray for the false teacher and intercede for the brothers and sisters he has or will come into contact with.

WORD STUDY:
“Shall wax cold” (Greek word psychros, adjective, Strong’s #5594) This word, derived from the Greek word “psycho” or cold, originally meant “cooled by blowing.” On a cold, windy, winter day We can literally feel the warmth being drawn from our body. We feel this chill down to our bones. Trials and tribulations likewise can leave us frigid spirit, soul, and body.

Life Application:

Immersing ourselves in the Spirit and the Word strengthens and equips us to face whatever obstacles life presents us with
We can be blessed through our trials and sufferings. We can then bless others with the blessings we gained through our pain
Endurance, persistence, and patience in the face of trials is the only path to true victorious living in this world

Living the Lesson:

God’s Word and the abiding Holy Spirit can help us deal with the people we encounter – people whose love has grown cold and who intentionally or unintentionally, are drawing strength and warmth from us. Instead of withdrawing from and avoiding these encounters with such people, we should engage them armed with the Spirit and the Word. If we endure through this trial, we will emerge as over-comers who perfected in Christ. We will be co-workers with God through the Spirit, turning the erring one from their sins and towards Christ.

God enables us to gather:

• warmth from the coldness of others
• love from the loveless
• strength from the weak
• life from the spiritually dead