God’s Strengthening Word: Singing for JoyNäide

Introduction

Matthew 24:1–28: Today’s reading begins Jesus’s fifth and final major teaching section in Matthew’s Gospel. It comprises an eschatological discourse about signs of Jesus’s return that concludes with 25:46. In today’s passage, Jesus describes the destruction of the Temple and says that day will be one of trouble and persecution for the disciples.

Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 24:27 GNT

For the Son of Man will come like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west.

Reflect

What warnings did Jesus give his disciples? Some biblical interpreters have understood the “Awful Horror” Jesus mentioned (verse 15) as a reference to Daniel’s prophecy (see Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) that was fulfilled when the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes set up an altar to the Greek god Zeus in the Jewish Temple in 167 B.C.. Why did Jesus speak about this? Are there instances of sacrilege taking place today?

Pray

Lord Jesus, draw me close to you and strengthen my faith day by day. Help me not to be led astray by false teachings and teach me to be obedient to your will. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Matthew 24:29–51: Jesus describes the coming of the Son of Man.