Endless Grace: Daily Devotions for Growing Closer to God

SATURDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2024

TEXT: Matthew 24:1-14

1. AS Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings.

2. Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”

3. While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

4. Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

5. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah’, and they will deceive many.

6. You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end if not yet.

7. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earths in various places.

8. All these events are the beginning of birth pains.

9. “Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10. Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.

11. Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

12. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

13. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

14. This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

(Holmans CS Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: CHRIST’S PREDICTION ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE

In today’s text, Jesus went out and departed. That shows that He was not contented with the religious leaders and would never come to the temple again in His earthly ministry.

So, His disciples invited Him to look back at the structure of the sacred building. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Now, Jesus’ ask him two question. “Tell, us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Don’t forget that the religious leaders rejected Jesus and would soon deliver Him to the Romans for crucifixion.

So, to the first question, Jesus said the temple would be completely destroyed. It was logical that the disciples wanted to know when it would happen.

The second question is the answered in the remainder of the chapter. So, Jesus answered this second question by presenting to them specific comments and predictions about the end times.

But Jesus also promised that before the end, the gospel would go out to the whole world but the persecution, false prophets and general downgrading of society would not prevent the spread of the gospel.

Believers in the Church should take this assignment seriously.

QUESTION: Are we prepared to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ knowing fully that the downgrading of society would not prevent the spread of the gospel.

PRAYER: Help us to be conscious of Your second coming and to know the signs. Help me, O Lord, to adequately prepare for Your second coming, in Jesus name. Amen.