MATTHEW
23:1-39 - As you read Jesus’
stinging words, remember this: there is a ‘Pharisee’' in every one of
us! Jesus disturbs the ‘peace’ of ‘those who sit at ease in Zion’ (Amos
6:1). He invites us to see ourselves as God sees us: ‘before Him no
creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him
with whom we have to do’ (Hebrews 4:13). Why does Christ speak such
disturbing words? - He loves us. He longs for us to return to Him and be
forgiven. Many times He comes to us - ‘How often would I have gathered
you’. Many times we refuse His appeal of love: ‘you would not’ (37). You
may have refused Him often, yet still He waits. Still, He perseveres in
love. Still, He seeks to show you the emptiness of your life without
Him - ‘forsaken and desolate’ (38). Still, He waits for you to say,
‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord’ (39).
24:1-31
- After the first two verses, concerned with the destruction of the
temple, Jesus speaks of ‘the sign of His coming and of the end of the
age’ (3). There will be times of testing (9,21). We must take care not
to be drawn away from Him (4,23-24). Beyond the time of testing, there
will be the return of the Lord (29-30). The events of our day are not
without significance. They are signs of His coming. We are to prepare
ourselves for His return. We must live as servants of the Gospel (14).
This will not be easy. There will always be opposition. Current affairs
may be confusing, but we must look beyond all this to ‘the momentous
event’: ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory’ (30). Awaiting the Lord's return, we say, ‘If no-one joins
me, still I will follow’ (Mission Praise, 272).
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