The disciples have asked Jesus some very important questions about the destruction of the temple. Many argue that the temple mentioned in this text is in fact a new temple that will be built in Jerusalem at some point in the future. However, the evidence from the text suggests that the temple that is destroyed is in fact the same temple the disciples have seen (Matt. 24:1). Jesus answers His disciples questions with detail and compassion. He is not trying to confuse them or inundate them with esoteric information. Instead, Jesus speaks to promote obedience and faith that His disciples will need in a very disturbing time they will experience. A time when Jesus won’t be there with them in physical form. You will see and recognize the compassion of Jesus for His disciples throughout this text.

Since chapter 21, we have seen Jesus performing His ministry within the temple in Jerusalem. The temple that Jesus ministered in is known as Herod’s temple and is actually considered the 3rd temple to have existed. The first temple was built by Solomon and was glorious and adorned with gold and precious jewels. However, this temple was destroyed by Babylon in 587 BC. The second temple, known as Zerubbabel’s temple, was completed around 516 BC. This temple fell greatly beneath the glory of Solomon’s temple. Through a political act to achieve favor with the Jews, Herod the Great began to remodel the second temple around 19 BC. This renovated third temple was the temple in which Jesus ministered.

After successfully defending His ministry three times, Jesus now turns to the crowds and His disciples to teach them.  It must be understood that the religious leaders have not suddenly disappeared.  They are there to hear these scathing judgments from Jesus.  However, Jesus doesn’t refer to them personally.  He is shepherding His people.  The scribes and pharisees do not belong among that number as Jesus points out in seven distinct woes, or judgments, against them.  The main theme in the first 13 verses is what Jesus identifies as the disease and its cure.  The disease is pride.  The cure is humility.

Psalm 48 is a hymn and ritual worship song that was sung by Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem.  It is a song that praises the eternal attributes of God by looking at the physical architecture of Jerusalem.  The psalm directs the pilgrims’ attention to the elevated mount as they approach the city, the walls and citadels as they enter the city, the temple mount and dwelling of God for worship, and the towers/ramparts as they leave.  This is a psalm sung to remember the majesty, glory, and eternal protection/deliverance of God.

We all have a natural propensity to forget information. Whether it’s forgetting an item on a grocery list or forgetting a birthday of a loved one, we can all recall a situation in which we had a difficult time remembering something. This becomes a serious problem when we connect this to our relationship with Jesus. Even in the midst of our forgetfulness, God remembers us and is compassionate because of His redemptive love He has shown us in Jesus.

Last week, we looked at Creation in Psalm 8, how God made everything good, to reflect His character. Man was given a special position, to rule over creation, and the privilege of bearing His image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27). This week we look at the Fall through Psalm 51, David’s prayer for cleansing and restoration following his sin with Bathsheba, his friend Uriah’s wife (2 Sam 11-12).

David here is coming off the last few psalms of being rescued from his enemies – to the brightness of a new day, much like a child coming out of a tunnel to see that light approach at the end of the tunnel and then the glory of creation around him. David is celebrating the majesty of God in Creation.

In our previous text we saw the Pharisees and Herodians silenced by Jesus. In this text another group known as the Sadducees attempt to discredit Jesus before the crowds. Unlike the Pharisees who sought favor with God through their traditions and works, the Sadducees were strictly Bible people.

This is the third parable that Jesus speaks after His authority was questioned by the Jewish leaders (21:23). Like the first two, this parable is a direct rebuke to the stubborn refusal of faith that is evident in the hearts of these leaders. The parable tells of a king who is throwing a wedding feast for his son. He sends out his servants to invite the kingdom. The response however is irregular. Some of his invited guests simply pay no attention to the invitation. Others respond more violently and beat and kill the kings servants who brought them their invitation.

The Jewish leaders come to Jesus and basically ask Him, “Who do you think you are and what gives you the right to come in here and try to change everything?”  The response of Jesus does more than just silence His opponents.  Jesus had already revealed to His disciples who John the Baptist was (Matthew 17:11-13).  John was the one who fulfilled the prophecies of Malachi.  He was the forerunner of the Messiah.  Anyone who knew who John was would recognize who Jesus was.  This is why the Jewish leaders were unable to correctly answer the question that Jesus asked.  They were proving their own unwillingness to believe Jesus was in fact the Christ.  Jesus will hammer down on this stubbornness in the following three parables.