Verdict of Hypocrisy

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus offers eight blessings to the humble. Now we see Jesus pronouncing the eight woes upon the Scribes and Pharisees for their crimes of hypocrisy.

We begin chapter 24 with Jesus pronouncing the fall of the temple and the disciples asking 3 important questions about the future and Christ’s coming. Jesus begins to answer and warns them of a moral departure from and defection from the faith.

Birth Pains

This week we learn of a coming deception with eternal consequences. Wars, famines, pestilence and earthquakes are preludes to the birth of Christ’s kingdom.

The Reality of Persecution

False teachers equal deception and deception equals departure from the faith, but those who endure through persecution will be saved. We will know the end is come when the Gospel is declared to the whole world.

The Abomination of Desolation

In today’s text, Jesus reveals the source of the coming deception . He refers to the book of Daniel chapter 12 where we are also told that God’s holy people are to expect 3 1/2 years of tribulation.

The Laborers

In this parable we are reminded that the Lord is good and we can trust Him to reward all of His laborers to a much greater degree than their skills are worth. He also communicates the urgency of bringing in the harvest.

With the weight of the coming crucifixion and death upon Him, Jesus must deal with the selfish ambition of the disciples and then with great compassion He heals the blind.

The Triumphal Entry

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt fulfilling prophesy and with hardness of heart and spiritual blindness the Jews miss their day of visitation.

Jesus wreaks havoc upon the profiteers of the temple and because of their hypocrisy. The chief priests are unable to tolerate Jesus’s praises that are sung by the children. He then curses the fig tree, a picture of Israel, but promises that the prayer of the disciples will be answered.