Dr Paul Allen

Matthew 10:16–25 “A disciple is not above his teacher… If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul , how much more will they malign those of his household” ( vv. 24–25 ). Having surveyed the wider biblical teaching on missions and evangelism, we return to the gospel according to Matthew and resume our study at 10:16 , right in the middle of Christ ’s missionary discourse. Now that He is about to send His disciples into a world hostile to God’s kingdom, our Savior takes time in today’s passage to warn His followers that they will often bring His words to sinners who are all too eager to “shoot the messengers.” Knowing what is ahead, Jesus describes how we are to conduct our outreach. Verse 16 e xhorts us to act with a wise innocence — “innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us” (Augustine, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the Twenty-first Century, vol. 3, 3:189). We are not to be na

English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 26:1 –5 “The chief priests and the elders…plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar” (vv. 3–4). Matthew 26 opens with Jesus’ fourth prediction of His passion and resurrection. After ending His Olivet Discourse , Matthew tells us that our Lord has finished “all these sayings” (v. 1), which likely refers to all the instruction He has thus far given in this gospel. In other words, Christ ’s teaching ministry is done and it is time for Him to atone for sin and seal His victory. The Savior has already told His disciples three times that He will die and be raised (16:21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19), but in today’s passage He explains for the first time that this will take place during Passover . This provides a theological framework for understanding the significance of the Messiah ’s death. Just as the angel of death passed over all of those w

English: By Rembrandt. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) What is the “redemptive-historical importance” of AD 70? We note that some commentators believe Jerusalem’s destruction signifies more than the end of the old covenant rites as the means of access to God. Jesus ’ promise to come on the clouds in Matthew 24:30 alludes to Daniel 7:13–14, wherein the Ancient of Days gives the Son of Man His kingdom. If the coming on the clouds refers to the divine judgment on Jerusalem, then the city’s ruin is associated with the Son of Man’s reception of the kingdom that also occurs when He comes on the clouds. Thus, Jerusalem’s destruction shows that Jesus has received the kingdom’s authority (Matt. 28:18–20; Phil. 2:9–11). The second half of the Olivet Discourse , contrary to Matthew 24:1 –35, likely deals with Christ’s final return to judge the living and the dead (Rev. 20–21). We hold this view tentatively; the passage is complex and some commentators believe Matthew 24:36–25:46 deals also wi

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus' description of himself "I am the Good Shepherd" (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: "To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs." (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 24:32–35 “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (vv. 34–35). Our study of the first part of the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:1–35), has endeavored to keep in mind Jesus ’ warning to the leaders of Jerusalem that judgment would fall upon them for rejecting the Son of God ( 23:29 –39). This prediction sets the stage for Christ ’s words about the overthrow of the temple and the destruc

English: By Rembrandt. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” ( v. 36 ). The “redemptive-historical importance” of AD 70 is important yet, we note that some commentators believe Jerusalem’s destruction signifies more than the end of the old covenant rites as the means of access to God. Jesus’ promise to come on the clouds in Matthew 24:30 alludes to Daniel 7:13–14 , wherein the Ancient of Days gives the Son of Man His kingdom. If the coming on the clouds refers to the divine judgment on Jerusalem, then the city’s ruin is associated with the Son of Man’s reception of the kingdom that also occurs when He comes on the clouds. Thus, Jerusalem’s destruction shows that Jesus has received the kingdom’s authority ( Matt. 28:18–20 ; Phil. 2:9–11 ). The second half of the Olivet Discourse , contrary to Matthew 24:1–35 , likely deals with Christ’s final return to judge the

The Acts of Jesus. HarperSanFrancisco: 1998. p. xxiv. Michael Grant. Jesus: An Historian's Review of the Gospels. Charles Scribner's Sons: 1977. p. 65-67. John P. Meier. A Marginal Jew. Doubleday: 1991. p. 1:434. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 24:32–35 “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” ( vv. 34–35 ). Our study of the first part of the Olivet Discourse ( Matt. 24:1–35 ), has endeavored to keep in mind Jesus ’ warning to the leaders of Jerusalem that judgment would fall upon them for rejecting the Son of God ( 23:29–39 ). This prediction sets the stage for Christ ’s words about the overthrow of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem, indicating that God’s wrath caused the ruin of the Holy City in AD 70 ( 24:1–31 ). Jesus Himself is the Almighty’s instrument of judgment, according to verse 30 . God’s coming on the clouds is a metaphor for Go

Jesus Olivet, 1778 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 24:3–8 “The disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?’” ( v. 3 ). The evangelist structures his gospel around five major teaching discourses of Jesus . There is widespread agreement as to the location of the first four discourses: chapters 5–7 (the first); 10 (the second); 13 (the third); and 18 (the fourth). Scholars debate the contours of the fifth and final discourse; some want to include the woes of Matthew 23 while others believe that the fifth discourse is found only in chapters 24–25 . Either way, this fifth collection of teaching is commonly known as the Olivet Discourse because, even if Matthew 23 is included, the bulk of the discourse is delivered on the Mount of Olives . No teaching of Christ has generated as much controversy as the portion of the Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew 24:1–35 . Many people b

Christ Coming Up Out of the Jordan (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." ( Matthew 24:6 ) Christians are often chided because they are looking for the return of Christ rather than improving this present world. The fact is, however, that Bible-believing Christians have been largely responsible for such improvements in this world as have actually been achieved (elimination of slavery, establishment of hospitals and educational institutions, founding and development of modern science, advances in political freedoms, etc.). On the other hand, Christ predicted that wars would continue despite His own death and resurrection. In fact, the prophet Daniel had prophesied over five centuries earlier that "unto the end of the war desolations are determined" ( Daniel 9:26 ). For 2,500 years the prophecies have been fulfilled and will co

Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 10:16-25 "A disciple is not above his teacher... If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul , how much more will they malign those of his household" ( vv. 24-25 ). Having surveyed the wider biblical teaching on missions and evangelism, we return to the gospel according to Matthew and resume our study at 10:16 , right in the middle of Christ 's missionary discourse. Now that He is about to send His disciples into a world hostile to God's kingdom , our Savior takes time in today's passage to warn His followers that they will often bring His words to sinners who are all too eager to "shoot the messengers." Knowing what is ahead, Jesus describes how we are to conduct our outreach. Verse 16 e xhorts us to act with a wise innocence - "innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us" (Augustine, Th