Sunday: The Fig Tree — Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33
In Scripture, the fig tree is used as an example of Biblical truths. Here Jesus used the fig tree to once again touch on the theme of His Second Coming, comparing the time to a fig tree in the spring. The branches of the tree are “tender;” (Matthew 24:32 & Mark 13:28) that is, “full of life.” The leaves are budding and growing. This parabolic analogy describes the time of Jesus’ return as being a time when the Church is full of life and growing. Jesus is pointing out

Primary Text: Matthew 24:32-51

Memory Verse: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:31-33

Introduction:

The subject of the destruction of Jerusalem gradually drops out of sight in the second main division of the Olivet Discourse. After revealing to His disciples the horrible ordeals through which His people must pass before the final, full establishing

Sunday: Enduring to the End — Matthew 24:13-14; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:19
Two elements of truth in these verses indicate the presence of a strong church on the earth at the very time of Christ’s return: (1) a reward to those who remain strong until the end; (2) the fact that the truth of God’s Kingdom will be preached to the entire world, which will trigger the end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ. There are those who teach that the church will be raptured and held in stasis for as much as three and a half

Primary Text: Matthew 24:13-31

Memory Verse: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

Introduction:

The rejection and death of the Messiah, and the pursuant destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., could be considered the “beginning of the end” in the Olivet Discourse (Jesus’ final apocalyptic teaching). The direct references to the “Abomination of Desolation” (Matthew 24:15) and the warning to those living in the region of Judea indicates the world’s initiation into the “dark ages,” a time when spiritual truth was obscured, and even general knowledge would suffer severe limitations. Finally, the darkened age would

Sunday: The Widow’s Mites — Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4
It is not the amount of the gift, but the attitude of the heart that is most important. Pride of living and pride of giving must be avoided, but the true and cheerful giver will always receive God’s favor. See 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

Monday: Jesus Laments over Jerusalem — Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 19:41-44
This is only the second time that Jesus weeps openly, (the first was at the tomb of Lazarus). Like Jeremiah weeping bitterly over Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah 9:lff), Jesus mourns the future destruction of Israel. Jesus looked back to

Primary Text: Matthew 24:1-12; Mark 12:41-44

Memory Verse: And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4-5

Introduction:

Included conspicuously with the major events leading up to trial and death of Christ, the Son of God stopped to watch those who were giving offerings in the temple. It seems there was only one with whom He was impressed that day, and it was the widow who put in a scant amount. Before proceeding to speak prophetically about

Sunday: False Concepts of the Pharisees — Matthew 23:1-12
The Pharisees had assumed an authority not granted by God. Jesus pointed to three major flaws: (1) a false concept of righteousness (vv. 2-3), which to them meant outward conformity to God’s Law, while ignoring the inward condition of the heart (see Psalm 51:6); (2) a false concept of ministry (v. 4), handing down laws to the people to add to their burdens (see Matthew 11:28-30), but not applying those laws to themselves; (3) a false concept of greatness (vv. 5-12), showing off their dress, titles, and position to be praised

Primary Text: Matthew 23:1-36

Memory Verse: “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12

Introduction:

The Messiah’s denouncement and condemnation of the Pharisees is organized in the form of seven woes (remember that “seven” is God’s spiritual number of “completion”). It is most interesting to compare these negative qualities with the positive teaching that Jesus gave in the Beatitudes about the spiritual character of the citizens of God’s kingdom. Although far from a joking matter, the woes pronounced upon the

Sunday: Pharisees & Herodians — Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26
Because Rome empowered King Herod, the Herodians supported paying taxes to Caesar. Because the Romans were a paganistic Gentile nation, the Pharisees abhorred the taxation. But to trap Jesus, these two enemies join together. If Jesus had answered their question on taxes either way, He would have been ensnared. By Jesus’ astonishing answer, He avoided the trap and taught important truths: (1) rulers must be honored and obeyed (Romans 13; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4); (2) God must be honored and obeyed (Acts 5:27-32); (3) man bears God’s

Primary Text: Matthew 22:15-46; Mark 12:38-40

Memory Verse: Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Introduction:

Can a man win an argument with God? Turning to Job in the Old Testament, we remember his assumed knowledge, but when God finally began to speak to Job, this sincere man of God