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return

“He will send His angels and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

Matthew chapter 24


A few days prior to being crucified, Jesus promised His disciples He would return … on clouds … with angels … in glory and power. Interestingly, Jesus said He didn’t know the date of His return. Only the Father knows.

I’ve always been fascinated by Bible prophecy. As a teenager, every summer I’d pray Jesus would return before school began. Today I’m approaching retirement. The apostle Peter wrote the Lord is not slow keeping His promise to return. “Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

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end

The disciples asked Jesus privately, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew chapter 24


A few days prior to being crucified, Jesus told His disciple the Jerusalem temple would be destroyed. This prophesy shocked His disciples. The temple was the house of Yahweh. How could it be destroyed? The destruction of the temple seemed like the end of the world.

So later, privately, they asked Jesus, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

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hypocrisy

“Do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. Everything they do is done for people to see.”

Matthew chapter 23


In the expansive courtyard of the Jerusalem temple, Jesus condemned the temple rulers and religious leaders. He called them hypocrites, blind guides,
children of hell, fools, and snakes.

Bible scholars suggest at least three goals propelled Jesus’ provocative teaching and insulting sarcasm.

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journey

“We are going to Jerusalem … the Son of Man will mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!”

Matthew chapter 20


Peter Schmiechen writes in
Saving Power that “Jesus gathered disciples, taught, did miracles, created a new covenant, was crucified and raised from the dead. Salvation results from these historic events.

“The crucifixion and resurrection are displays of power which, in and of themselves, are unintelligible. The meaning of neither event is self-evident—demonstrated by the apostles fear and confusion. Both the cross and the resurrection are terrifying and attractive. Both assume God was involved. Atonement theories attempt to make intelligible what was accomplished via the cross and resurrection.”

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rich

Jesus said to His disciples, “It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew chapter 19


By most every measure Christianity is in decline in America and Europe. Church attendance is down. Cathedrals are being re-purposed into architectural shrines—people come to gawk at what men created instead of worship the Creator.

Sociologists report the decline of Christianity in Europe accelerated after WW1. Comprehending that some 8,500,000 Christians had just been slaughtered by “Christian nations,” Europeans began to question the veracity of Christianity.

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greatest

“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew chapter 18


Jesus repeatedly told His apostles that He was going to Jerusalem to die, then rise from the dead. This plan seemed beyond the apostles’ comprehension. They followed Jesus believing He was Messiah. Peter identified Jesus as Messiah. Jesus confirmed Peter’s claim.

A suffering Messiah was incomprehensible for 1st century Jews. They expected Messiah would be a warrior and their champion, a priest and their king. Messiah was supposed to be a “winner” who would expel the Roman occupation and purge the political priesthood.

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signs

“A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”

Matthew chapter 16


1st century religious leaders asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven demonstrating He had God’s approval and acted with divine authority. Those who seek a sign raise three problems.

First, they test God. Matthew recounts the religious leaders “tested” Jesus by asking for a sign. Shockingly, Matthew identified the religious leaders with the devil who “tested” Jesus in the wilderness. Question is: why did these religious leaders not join the crowds following Jesus? If they had they would have witnessed miracles. Other religious leaders in the crowds following Jesus saw miracles.

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parables

His disciples asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

Matthew chapter 13


Parable: literally, comparison. To compare things side-by-side; an instructive example, to convey a truth by use of comparison or analogy.

1st century Jews shared a common understanding of how their God would restore the kingdom of Israel. It was widely presumed Messiah would be a champion-warrior-king-priest similar to the ancient King David. Popular belief insisted Messiah would somehow drive out political priests from control of the temple, drive away the Roman occupation, and
re-inaugurate the ancient empire of David and Solomon. Many believed that renewed empire would become the dominant religious and economic force in the world.

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faith

Jesus was amazed and said, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

Matthew chapter 8


Being a person of faith is culturally acceptable. As is being a spiritual person. Having faith or identifying as a spiritual person better aligns with Christianity than does materialism.

Gospel faith, however, is very specific. New Testament faith is faith in Jesus. The eighth chapter of Matthew provides readers seven encounters of what faith in Jesus looks like.

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teaching

When Jesus saw the crowds He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them.

Matthew chapter 5


Jesus’
sermon on the mount scorns human wisdom. One example: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Jesus taught an upside-down reality.

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message

Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew chapter 4


Jesus communicated that the kingdom of heaven was near by words, community, and deeds.

The New Testament records that Jesus began His earthly ministry wandering around the Jewish region of Galilee, announcing at religious gathering places: the kingdom of heaven has come near. 19th century preachers like D.L. Moody and Billy Sunday challenged people to get their lives in order because God’s kingdom is coming. They echoed Jesus’ message to prepare for the arrival of God’s kingdom.

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temptation

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew chapter 4


This Bible verse raises so many questions.

Why did the Spirit lead Jesus into a place of temptation? Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Yet, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into lonely places “to be tempted by the devil.”

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