Clarification from last week:

• Hebrew Christians – fled to Pella according to Eusebius and another group fled to Masada
• At Masada 960 killed themselves rather than being taken siege by the Romans in 73 AD.
• 2 women and 5 children survived according to Josephus.
• The disciples asked Jesus 3 questions:

Matthew 24
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples (Mark 13:4 - Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately) approached him privately and said, “1) Tell us, when will these things happen? (66 AD) 2) And what is the sign of your coming (Shekinah Glory) and 3) of the end of the age?” (world wars)

• Jesus answered 3) first and 1) second… (last week)
• 2) “What is the sign of your coming?”

 
Scholars of prophecy do not agree on all the details of future events. But the following summary is a fair representation of what many prophetic scholars believe as to the order of events:
1. The Rapture of the church (1 Cor. 15:51–58; 1 Thes. 4:13–18). This can occur at any time.
2. The leader of the ten European nations makes a seven-year agreement with Israel (Dan. 9:26–27).
3. After three-and-one-half years, he breaks the agreement (Dan. 9:27).
4. He moves to Jerusalem and sets up his image in the temple (2 Thes. 2:3–4; Rev. 13).
5. The Antichrist begins to control the world and forces all people to worship and obey him. At this time God sends great tribulation upon the earth (Matt. 24:21).
6. The nations gather at Armageddon to fight the Antichrist and Israel, but see the sign of Christ’s coming and unite to fight Him (Zech. 12; Rev. 13:13–14; 19:11ff).
7. Jesus returns to the earth, defeats His enemies, is received by the Jews, and establishes His kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11ff; Zech. 12:7–13:1). He will reign on earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1–5).[1]
 
Matthew 24
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place”, (let the reader understand)

• Daniel 12:11 - 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. – 3.5 years[2])
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. [3]

16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house, 18 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.
 
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky (Shekinah Glory), and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Unconditional Covenants (4)

• Abrahamic Covenant – Genesis 12

– Genesis 15 - Land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Descendants (Euphrates River to River of Egypt) – Have yet to possess it.

• Palestinian Covenant - Deuteronomy 30 –
• 1 “When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am commanding you today, 3 then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, he will gather you and bring you back from there. 5 The Lord your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your fathers. 6 The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.[4]
• Davidic Covenant – 2 Samuel 7 – Eternal Kingdom – Messiah will be Son of David
• New Covenant -  Jeremiah 31:31-34 – 31 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin. [5]

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

• The fig tree in the Bible is often a picture of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Luke 13:6–10); and the other trees would picture the nations of the world.
• The budding of the trees indicates that summer is near.
• The beginning of these signs indicates that the Lord’s coming is near.
• The generation alive on earth at that time will see these events take place.
• Our generation sees a foreshadowing of these signs. We do not look for signs as such; we look for the Savior (Phil. 3:20).

Jesus can come for His church at any time.[6]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 89). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Da 12:11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Th 2:3–4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 30:1–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 31:31–34). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 89–90). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

JESUS’S LAMENTING OVER JERUSALEM
Matthew 23
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

• Did they have a choice? YES!

38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”[1]

• “You leaders will never see me again until YOU call me back.”

 
WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES
Mark 12:38-40
38 He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.” [2]
 
WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES
Luke 20:45-47
45 While all the people were listening, he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”[3]

• They robbed widows to appear righteous.

 
THE WIDOW’S GIFT
Mark 12:41-44
41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”[4]

• This is not a tithing message
• This is not about giving everything you have.
• This is about sharing what you have even if it is very little.
• This is about figuring out what contentment means.

 
THE WIDOW’S GIFT
Luke 21:1-4
1 He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” [5]
 
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE PREDICTED
Matthew 24
1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. (Mark 13:1 - What massive stones!)
 - It is still the 12th of Nisan, 30 AD – Tuesday

• How many temples have been built?
• 1) Solomon’s Temple (burned in 586 BC)
• 2) Ezra 6 – 516 BC – Jeshua & Zerubabel rebuilt the temple.
• 20 BC – 64 AD – Herod refurbished the Temple.

2 He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”

SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples (Mark 13:4 - Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately) approached him privately and said, “1) Tell us, when will these things happen? 2) And what is the sign of your coming and 3) of the end of the age?”

• Go to Luke 21

4 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 is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
 
PERSECUTIONS PREDICTED
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, 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 saved. 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.[6]
 
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE PREDICTED
Mark 13
1 As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”
 
SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5 Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
 
PERSECUTIONS PREDICTED
9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 10 And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.[7]
 
Luke 21:5-38
5 As some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “These things that you see—the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”
 
SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE
7 “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

• Jesus answers the 3rd question in Matthew.

8 Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”
10 Then he told them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

• Arnold Fruchtenbaum in “Footsteps of the Messiah” – “In Christ’s day, the expression, ‘Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom’ was a Jewish idiom of world war that was to take place before the coming of the Messiah. The Bereshit Raggah states: ‘If you shall see kingdoms rise up against one another in turn, then give heed and note the footsteps of the coming Messiah.’ The Zohar Zadash states: ‘At that time, wars shall be stirred up in the world. Nation shall be against nation and city against city; much distress shall be renewed against the enemies of Israel.’”
• Matthew 24:7-8 - 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
• World War started in 1914
• World War II – 1941-1945
• Israel became a state in 1948 as a result

11 There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.

• Are there more earthquakes since 1914… or do we just have better technology to measure them?

12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness. 14 Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, 15 for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost.

• Your salvation is secure.

19 By your endurance, gain your lives.
 - Others will receive salvation because of your endurance.

• 64 AD – King Herod completed the expansion of the Temple
• 64-66 AD – Jewish uprising/revolt began to occur against the Romans
• 66 AD – Cestius Gallas, Roman Governor of Syria brought Roman troops to Jerusalem to squash the revolt.
• Gallas came close to ending the revolt when he surrounded Jerusalem but abruptly left.
• The believers who understood Luke 21 took the opportunity to leave at this point.
• Note that not one of these believers perished because the listened to Jesus’ prophecy. (according to Hebrews and Josephus).
• Vespasian and the Romans came in 68 AD
• Titus, Vespasian’s son, eventually took over and 1.1 million people were killed (mostly Jews) and another 97,000 were taken as prisoners.

 
THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written.

• 66 AD – Revolt – Departure - Hebrews

23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[8]
 
Josephus – Book VI
4. Now it is true that on this day the Jews were so weary, and under such consternation, that they refrained from any attacks. But on the next day they gathered their whole force together, and ran upon those that guarded the outward court of the temple very boldly, through the east gate, and this about the second hour of the day. These guards received that their attack with great bravery, and by covering themselves with their shields before, as if it were with a wall, they drew their squadron close together; yet was it evident that they could not abide there very long, but would be overborne by the multitude of those that sallied out upon them, and by the heat of their passion. However, Caesar seeing, from the tower of Antonia, that this squadron was likely to give way, he sent some chosen horsemen to support them. Hereupon the Jews found themselves not able to sustain their onset, and upon the slaughter of those in the forefront, many of the rest were put to flight. But as the Romans were going off, the Jews turned upon them, and fought them; and as those Romans came back upon them, they retreated again, until about the fifth hour of the day they were overborne, and shut themselves up in the inner [court of the] temple.
 
5. So Titus retired into the tower of Antonia, and resolved to storm the temple the next day, early in the morning, with his whole army, and to encamp round about the holy house. But as for that house, God had, for certain, long ago doomed it to the fire; and now that fatal day was come, according to the revolution of ages; it was the tenth day of the month Lous, upon which it was formerly burnt by the king of Babylon; although these flames took their rise from the Jews themselves, and were occasioned by them; for upon Titus's retiring, the seditious lay still for a little while, and then attacked the Romans again, when those that guarded the holy house fought with those that quenched the fire that was burning the inner [court of the] temple; but these Romans put the Jews to flight, and proceeded as far as the holy house itself. At which time one of the soldiers, without staying for any orders, and without any concern or dread upon him at so great an undertaking, and being hurried on by a certain divine fury, snatched somewhat out of the materials that were on fire, and being lifted up by another soldier, he set fire to a golden window, through which there was a passage to the rooms that were round about the holy house, on the north side of it. As the flames went upward, the Jews made a great clamor, such as so mighty an affliction required, and ran together to prevent it; and now they spared not their lives any longer, nor suffered any thing to restrain their force, since that holy house was perishing, for whose sake it was that they kept such a guard about it.
 
6. And now a certain person came running to Titus, and told him of this fire, as he was resting himself in his tent after the last battle; whereupon he rose up in great haste, and, as he was, ran to the holy house, in order to have a stop put to the fire; after him followed all his commanders, and after them followed the several legions, in great astonishment; so there was a great clamor and tumult raised, as was natural upon the disorderly motion of so great an army. Then did Caesar, both by calling to the soldiers that were fighting, with a loud voice, and by giving a signal to them with his right hand, order them to quench the fire. But they did not hear what he said, though he spake so loud, having their ears already dimmed by a greater noise another way; nor did they attend to the signal he made with his hand neither, as still some of them were distracted with fighting, and others with passion. But as for the legions that came running thither, neither any persuasions nor any threatenings could restrain their violence, but each one's own passion was his commander at this time; and as they were crowding into the temple together, many of them were trampled on by one another, while a great number fell among the ruins of the cloisters, which were still hot and smoking, and were destroyed in the same miserable way with those whom they had conquered; and when they were come near the holy house, they made as if they did not so much as hear Caesar's orders to the contrary; but they encouraged those that were before them to set it on fire. As for the seditious, they were in too great distress already to afford their assistance [towards quenching the fire]; they were every where slain, and every where beaten; and as for a great part of the people, they were weak and without arms, and had their throats cut wherever they were caught. Now round about the altar lay dead bodies heaped one upon another, as at the steps (16) going up to it ran a great quantity of their blood, whither also the dead bodies that were slain above [on the altar] fell down.
 
7. And now, since Caesar was no way able to restrain the enthusiastic fury of the soldiers, and the fire proceeded on more and more, he went into the holy place of the temple, with his commanders, and saw it, with what was in it, which he found to be far superior to what the relations of foreigners contained, and not inferior to what we ourselves boasted of and believed about it. But as the flame had not as yet reached to its inward parts, but was still consuming the rooms that were about the holy house, and Titus supposing what the fact was, that the house itself might yet he saved, he came in haste and endeavored to persuade the soldiers to quench the fire, and gave order to Liberalius the centurion, and one of those spearmen that were about him, to beat the soldiers that were refractory with their staves, and to restrain them; yet were their passions too hard for the regards they had for Caesar, and the dread they had of him who forbade them, as was their hatred of the Jews, and a certain vehement inclination to fight them, too hard for them also. Moreover, the hope of plunder induced many to go on, as having this opinion, that all the places within were full of money, and as seeing that all round about it was made of gold. And besides, one of those that went into the place prevented Caesar, when he ran so hastily out to restrain the soldiers, and threw the fire upon the hinges of the gate, in the dark; whereby the flame burst out from within the holy house itself immediately, when the commanders retired, and Caesar with them, and when nobody any longer forbade those that were without to set fire to it. And thus was the holy house burnt down, without Caesar's approbation.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 23:1–39). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 12:38–40). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 20:45–47). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 12:41–44). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 21:1–4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 24:1–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 13:1–13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 21:5–24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

THE PRIMARY COMMANDS
Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”

• There was always a debate among the Jewish law experts to prioritize the commandments.
• They gave weight to each one.
• They had documented 613 commandments in the Law, 248 positive and 365 negative.
• No person could ever hope to know and fully obey all of these commandments.
• So, to make it easier, the experts divided the commandments into “heavy” (important) and “light” (unimportant).
• A person could major on the “heavy commandments” and not worry about the trivial ones.
• The fallacy behind this approach is obvious: You need only break one law, heavy or light, to be guilty before God.
• James 2:10 - “For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all”.[1]

37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Deuteronomy 6:5) 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18) 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”[2]

• If we have a right relationship with God, we will have no problems with His commandments.
• Love is the basis for obedience.
• In fact, all of the Law is summed up in love (Rom. 13:8–10).
• If we love God, we will love our neighbor; and if we love our neighbor, we will not want to do anything to harm him.[3]

 
THE PRIMARY COMMANDS
Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”
29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer. [4]

• He is the flawless lamb of God.

• Jesus had now answered three difficult questions.

• He had dealt with the relationship between religion and government, (Give to Caesar…)
• between this life and the next life, (Marriage in the resurrection)
• and between God and our neighbors.
• These are fundamental relationships, and we cannot ignore our Lord’s teachings.
• But there is a question more fundamental than these, and Jesus asked it of His enemies.[5]

 
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CHRIST
1 Chronicles 17:3-15 - 3 But that night the word of God came to Nathan: 4 “Go to David my servant and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have moved from one tent site to another, and from one tabernacle location to another. 6 In all my journeys throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
7 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest on the earth. 9 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done 10 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.
“ ‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the Lord himself will build a house for you. 11 When your time comes to be with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not remove my faithful love from him as I removed it from the one who was before you. 14 I will appoint him over my house and my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’”
15 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.[6]
 
Matthew 22:41-46
41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
They replied, “David’s.” (1 Chronicles 17)
43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’:
44 The Lord (Hebrew-Jehovah) declared to my Lord (Hebrew-Adonai),
‘Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet’? (Psalm 110:1)

• This verse was always interpreted to be referring to the Messiah.
• Only the Messiah could sit at Jehovah’s right hand.

45 “If David calls him ‘Lord,’ how then can he be his son?”

• “If Messiah is David’s Son,” Jesus asked, “then how could Messiah also be David’s Lord?”
• There is only one answer to this question.
• As God, Messiah is David’s Lord; as man, He is David’s Son.
• He is both “the root and the offspring of David” (Rev. 22:16).
• Psalm 110:1 teaches the deity and the humanity of Messiah.
• He is David’s Lord and He is David’s Son.
• The rulers had heard the multitudes proclaim Him as “Son of David” when He rode into Jerusalem.
• The fact that He accepted this title is evidence that Jesus knew Himself to be the Messiah, the Son of God.
• As God, He was David’s Lord; but as man, He was David’s Son, for He was born into the family of David (Matt. 1:1, 20).[7]

• There were two views of the Messiah:

1. Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53)
2. Conquering and reigning monarch.

• 1) Jesus suffered on the cross
• 2) Jesus raised from the dead in triumph

46 No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore.[8]

• Until His arrest.

 
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CHRIST
Mark 12:35-37
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself says by the Holy Spirit:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet.’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord’; how then can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight. [9]
 
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CHRIST
Luke 20:41-44
41 Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the son of David? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies your footstool.’
44 David calls him ‘Lord’ how then can the Christ be his son?”[10]
 
RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES DENOUNCED

• This was our Lord’s last public message.
• It is a scathing denunciation of false religion that paraded under the guise of truth.
• Some of the common people no doubt were shocked at His words, for they considered the Pharisees to be righteous.[11]

Matthew 23:1-39
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.

• The Pharisees placed themselves in authoritative position over the people to fulfill their own political agendas.
• Were these men real leaders?
• Self-imposed authority
• God-imposed authority
• The Shepherd is not about the position of authority but the love for the flock.
• Pastor, family

3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries (boxes tied around their foreheads and arms) and lengthen their tassels.

• Deuteronomy 6:5-9 - 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates. [12]

6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
 
13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.

1. The rejection of Jesus as Messiah is transferred to the Jewish Nation.

[14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.]
     2. Taking advantage of widows is forbidden in the Old Testament.15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!
      3. Pharisees evangelized Gentiles to become like them.

• Saved by grace… finished by works.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’ 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’ 19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.
       4. The sanctified is greater than the one who sanctifies.23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel.
        5.  The inability to choose important over unimportant.

• How do you teach living your life by the Spirit?
• We’ve been taught to live our life by obeying in our own strength.

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
       6. External righteousness vs the heart27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
       7. Numbers 19:16 - 16 Anyone in the open field who touches a person who has been killed by the sword or has died, or who even touches a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.[13]

• Every Spring they whitewashed the tombs so no one could touch them and become spiritually unclean.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!
33 “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah (2 Chronicles), son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
         8. They will be held accountable for the bloodshed and denial of the prophets lives and words.36 Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.
70 AD – Destruction of Jerusalem

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 81). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 22:34–40). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 81). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 12:28–34). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 82). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Ch 17:3–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 82). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 22:41–46). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 12:35–37). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 20:41–44). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 83). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 6:5–9). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Nu 19:16). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Exodus 12:3-6 - 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ families, one animal per family. 4 If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each will eat. 5 You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.[1]

(Tuesday - 12th Day of Nisan)

• Jewish leaders place the lambs for sacrifice in a pen and examine them for 5 days to make sure they are without any flaw/blemish (perfect).
• Jewish leaders begin questioning Jesus unbeknownst to them they are examining the lamb of God.

Luke 20:1
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED
1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came 2 and said to him:
(confronted Jesus)
 
Matthew 21:23-22:14
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED
23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?”

• They are examining the sacrifice

24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet.”

• All of John’s followers believed that John was “from heaven”.
• The crowd would have been mad at them for discrediting John the Baptist.

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

• The Jewish leaders had an agenda… political… keep their status… keep their jobs.

And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
 
THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’
29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They said, “The first.”

• They answered the question to prove their knowledge.
• But based upon Jesus’ response… they condemned themselves.
• It was more important for them to be “smart” than to be “wise”.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.”
 
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD OWNER
Isaiah 5:1-2 - 5 I will sing about the one I love,
a song about my loved one’s vineyard:
The one I love had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
2 He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones,
and planted it with the finest vines.
He built a tower in the middle of it
and even dug out a winepress there.
He expected it to yield good grapes,
but it yielded worthless grapes.[2]
 
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away. 34 When the time came to harvest fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his fruit. 35 The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”
41 “He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his fruit at the harvest.”

• Speaking knowledge without wisdom.
• Condemning themselves again.

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is what the Lord has done
and it is wonderful in our eyes? (Psalm 118)
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit.

• Reference to end times when Jews will proclaim Jesus as Messiah.

44 Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew he was speaking about them. 46 Although they were looking for a way to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people regarded him as a prophet.

• Actions determined based upon how the crowd will respond to them.

 
THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET
22 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

• God invited the Jewish nation to His wedding banquet.
• But the Jews rejected his offering.

5 “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.

• 70 AD – Romans killed 1.1 million Jews

8 “Then he told his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. 11 When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding.

• The King always presented the guests with wedding clothes as a free gift.

12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”[3]
 
 
Mark 11:27-12:12
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED
27 They came again to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came 28 and asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”
29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was John’s baptism from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”
31 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
 
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD OWNER
12 He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from them. 3 But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent another servant to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6 He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this Scripture:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
11 This came about from the Lord
and is wonderful in our eyes?”
12 They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away. [4]
 
Luke 20:1-19
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED
1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came 2 and said to him: “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?”
3 He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?”
5 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know its origin.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
 
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD OWNER
9 Now he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
But when they heard this they said, “That must never happen!”
17 But he looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”
19 Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.[5]
 
Matthew 22:15-22
GOD AND CAESAR
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.
21 “Caesar’s,” they said to him.
Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.[6]
 
Mark 12:13-17
GOD AND CAESAR

• They just need one good question to corner Jesus and get Him to answer so they can arrest him.

13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians (Romans) to Jesus to trap him in his words. 14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality (show no favor to any man) but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
15 But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius
 to look at.”

• Pharisees were not able to use any coin that had a picture of anyone on it because it would be considered worship.

16 They brought a coin.

• They had to go find one.

“Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him. [7]
 
Matthew 22:22
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
 
Luke 20:20-25
GOD AND CAESAR
20 They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so that they could catch him in what he said, to hand him over to the governor’s rule and authority. 21 They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But detecting their craftiness, he said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
“Caesar’s,” they said.
25 “Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.[8]
 
Matthew 22:23-33

• Now the Sadducees are going to come and test Jesus
• Priestly group who led and don’t believe in resurrection.

THE SADDUCEES AND THE RESURRECTION
23 That same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and questioned him: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. (Deuteronomy 25:5 – Mosaic Law) 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second also, and the third, and so on to all seven. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.”

• This was a question the Sadducees loved to ask because the Pharisees could never answer it.
• It was a “power up” question.

29 Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.

• “in heaven” – not like the fallen angels who marry and have offspring.

31 Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: 32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
33 And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. [9]
 
Mark 12:18-27
THE SADDUCEES AND THE RESURRECTION
18 Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child, that man should take the wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. 21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 None of the seven left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”
24 Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken: you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”[10]
 
Luke 20:27-40
THE SADDUCEES AND THE RESURRECTION
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned him: 28 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. 30 Also the second 31 and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”
34 Jesus told them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to him.”
39 Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 And they no longer dared to ask him anything. [11]
The Sadducees can no longer intimidate the Pharisees.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ex 12:3–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Is 5:1–2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 21:23–22:14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 11:27–12:12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 20:1–19). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 22:15–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 12:13–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 20:20–26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 22:23–33). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 12:18–27). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 20:27–40). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

John 12
ISAIAH’S PROPHECIES FULFILLED
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.

• All 3 Messianic miracles had been performed and He even raised Lazarus from the dead.

38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:
Lord, who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord
been revealed? (Isaiah 53:1)
39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:
40 He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they would not see with their eyes
or understand with their hearts,
and turn,
and I would heal them.

• Hardened – God gave man free will.
• Once man has made a decision, God will give them strength to follow that decision.
• God knows in advance who will repent and who will not.
• Luke 7:30 - 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.[1]

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke about him.
42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than praise from God.

• There were those who would not believe, and there were those who would not openly confess Christ even though they had believed.
• Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea belonged to this group initially, but eventually came out openly in their confession of Christ (John 19:38ff).
• In the early church, there were numbers of Pharisees (Acts 15:5) and even priests (Acts 6:7).
• It was the old struggle between the glory of God and the praise of men (John 12:25–26).
• It was a costly thing to be excommunicated (John 9:22), and these “secret believers” wanted the best of both worlds.[2]

 
A SUMMARY OF JESUS’S MISSION
44 Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 And the one who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

• Jesus’ purpose was to save… not judge… but judgment does come.

48 The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

• By rejecting Jesus (and the Word), the “sinner” is actually passing judgment on himself.
• Great White Throne Judgment

49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. 50 I know that his command is eternal life.

• Contradiction with John 5:39 - 39 You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.[3]
• Difference between Logos and Rhema (words and revelation)
• Romans 10:17 - 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.[4]

So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”[5]

• Jesus spoke Rhema.

 
Matthew 21:19b-22
19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” At once the fig tree withered.
20 When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” [6]
 
Mark 11:19-26
19 Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.

• Pictures of Fig Tree

THE BARREN FIG TREE IS WITHERED
20 Early in the morning (Tuesday – 11th of Nisan), as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.

• Faith doesn’t come from what you “know”
• Faith comes from what God “reveals” to you.

23 Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

• What is a mountain?

25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”[7]
[26 But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.]”

• It could have been accidentally omitted as a result of a copyist skipping from the words “your sins” at the end of v. 25 to the same words at the end of v. 26, but more likely it was added under the influence of Matt 6:15[8]
• Our forgiving spirit is one evidence that our hearts are right with God and that we want to obey His will, and this makes it possible for the Father to hear us and to answer prayer (Ps. 66:18).
• Faith works by love (Gal. 5:6 - 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.[9])
• If I have faith in God, I will also have love for my brother[10]
• Bob Warren Basketball Card
• Romans 10:17 - 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.[11]​
• Friday Night we were talking about taking the Lord’s Supper and asking for forgiveness before we partook.
• Forgiveness of others is something we do ongoing as believers.
• God doesn’t continually forgive us each time we ask for forgiveness.
• Hebrews 9:22 - 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.[12]
• We do not earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving one another.
• Hebrews 10:3-18 - 3 But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
• Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:

You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.

• You did not delight

in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.

• Then I said, “See--

it is written about me
in the scroll--
I have come to do your will, O God.”

• After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), 9 he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
• Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:
• This is the covenant I will make with them

after those days,
the Lord says,
I will put my laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,

• and I will never again remember

their sins and their lawless acts.
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.[13]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 7:30). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 343). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 5:39). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 10:17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 12:20–50). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 21:19–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 11:19–25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark (Vol. 23, p. 183). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 5:5–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 150). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 10:17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Heb 9:21–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Heb 10:3–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.