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Yesterday’s action took place in the Temple, before the crowds.  It concluded with Jesus declaring judgment on the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, and grieving over Jerusalem’s past and future.  As Jesus leaves the Temple today, He prophesies judgment against it as well.  Then, climbing the Mount of Olives, and overlooking the City of David, He launches His second extended sermon in this Gospel. 

Both of these sermons that Matthew records take place on a mountain.  The first Sermon on the Mount, in chapters 5 through 7, focuses on the Kingdom’s influence on daily life: pushing beyond nominal obedience of the law, and depositing one’s worries, judgments, and treasures in heaven.  This second sermon is private, toward Jesus’ disciples.  It’s about the Kingdom as well, but focuses on the judgment that will come through, and because of, the Son of Man. 

One of the values of reading Bible books in their entirety is that you get to pick up on big trends and themes.  If you had just picked up the Bible and read Matthew 24 and 25 on their own, you might be startled by the darkness and judgment in Jesus’ teaching.  But Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus has been building toward this crescendo, anchored in the appeal that launched Jesus’ ministry: Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.  And it’s preached with the same sense of authority that had caused the crowds to marvel. 

Save for the first verse, there is no dialogue, no action… just a sermon.  I invite you to listen carefully to the words of the Son of Man himself, as Matthew recorded them. 

Our verse for this week is Micah 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 24 and 25.  Now let’s read it!

Today’s reading launches with Jesus’ arrival at Jerusalem, where the crowds celebrate “The prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Jesus is not celebratory at the Temple, though, and launches a multi-day assault on the religious leaders’ practices, teaching, and management.

Question and response drives the plot in the first two chapters: the Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests and scribes, attempting to entangle Him in His words. By the end of chapter 22, “No one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” Jesus then turns on His harassers: warning the crowd of the hypocrisy, blindness, and arrogance of their religious leaders. Woe to them! For “whoever exalts himself will be humbled…”

As elsewhere in narratives, repetition can be a way for an author or speaker to convey meaning, and there are at least three repetitions to note today. I’ve already mentioned the “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites!” which constantly recurs in chapter 23. Earlier, in chapter 21, Jesus concludes a series of responses to the chief priests and elders by twice asking, “Have you never read…,” then quoting Scripture. Later, Jesus reiterates His point from chapter 17 that with enough faith, mountains can be moved.

Finally, the crowds are prominently featured today. They surrounded Jesus on his arrival in Jerusalem, cried out “Hosanna to the Son of David!” in the temple and struck fear in the hearts of the Pharisees. The crowd was astonished by Jesus’ rejoinder toward the Sadducees and was Jesus’ audience for His stringing “Woe to the scribes and Pharisees” sermon. Pay attention to how these crowds figure into the events to come.

Our verse for this week is Micah 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 21 through 23. Now let’s read it!