h4HEN SHALL APPEAR THE SIGN OF THE 3ON OF -AN IN HEAVENxv -ATTHEW +*6
4HE 0RESENT 2EIGN OF #HRIST
)N ,IGHT OF THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE
'EORGE % +OURI 0UBLISHED BY
0UBLISHED BY -ONARCH 0UBLISHING #OMMUNICATIONS , , # 5NLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ALL CITED 3CRIPTURES REFERENCES ARE FROM THE .EW !MERICAN 3TANDARD "IBLE #OPYRIGHT › BY 'EORGE % +OURI !LL RIGHTS RESERVED 0UBLICATION DESIGN BY -ARK % +OURI .O PORTION OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANSˆELECTRONIC MECHANICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING OR ANY OTHERˆEXCEPT FOR BRIEF QUOTATIONS IN PRINTED REVIEWS WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER
0RINTED IN THE 5NITED 3TATES OF !MERICA
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# / . 4 % . 4 3 !CKNOWLEDGMENTS VI $EDICATION VII )NTRODUCTION #HAPTER 4HE 3ETTING OF THE 3IGN #HAPTER 4HE 3EARCH FOR THE 3IGN #HAPTER 4HE 3PURIOUS 3IGNS #HAPTER 4HE 3TIPULATION FOR THE 3IGN #HAPTER 4HE 3IGN #HAPTER 4HE 3EASON OF THE 3IGN #HAPTER 4HE 3IGNIFICANCE OF THE 3IGN #HAPTER 4HE 3UCCESS OF THE 3IGN "IBLIOGRAPHY
! # + ./ 7,% $'-%.43 7E WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS PROFOUND APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ENCOURAGEMENT AND INDULGENCE IN THIS PROJECT -Y WIFEˆ3ANDRA +OURIˆTHANKS FOR BEING THERE TO ENCOURAGE ME TO GET THIS BOOK WRITTEN /UR PRODUCTION TEAMˆ+ENNETH *ENNISON EDITOR -ATTHEW 2YAN $UCK FOOTNOTES AND RESEARCH ASSISTANT *ON ! ,USK PUBLISHING CONSULTANT EDITING -ICHAL ,USK PROOFREADING -ARK % +OURI EDITING AND PUBLICATION DESIGN #LEMENT #OHEN PUBLISHING COORDINATORˆTHANKS FOR BEING PERSONALLY INVOLVED FOR COUNTLESS HOURS IN THIS ENDEAVOR
VI
4HIS BOOK IS LOVINGLY AND GRATEFULLY DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
7 * % %RN "AXTER "ROTHER "AXTER WAS A RUGGED AND COURAGEOUS PIONEER AMONG EVANGELICAL PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC LEADERS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY IN THE RECOVERY OF A TRULY "IBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE +INGDOM OF 'OD THE .EW 4ESTAMENT #HURCH AND !POSTOLIC -INISTRY (IS MONUMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE (OLY 3CRIPTURES TOGETHER WITH HIS EXTRAORDINARY DEPTH OF INSIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE MYSTERIES OF THE +INGDOM OF 'OD MADE HIM A GIANT AMONG THE SERVANTS OF 'OD OF THIS CENTURY !LSO HIS PROPHETIC SENSITIVITY TO THE PRESENT MOVE OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT COUPLED WITH HIS UNCOMMON GRASP OF THE IMMENSE ISSUES FACING THE #HURCH AS IT MOVES INTO THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY MADE HIM A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS hPREPARE THE WAY OF THE ,ORD v
VII
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) . 4 2 / $ 5 # 4 ) / . 4HE #HURCH ENTERS THE ST CENTURY WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE FUTURE 4HE 3IGN OF THE +INGDOM WAS WRIT TEN TO HELP THE #HURCH UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE AND DEFINE ITS MISSION AND DESTINY )N ORDER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT LIES AHEAD IT IS NECESSARY TO REACH BACK AND FOCUS ONCE AGAIN ON THE TEACHING *ESUS GAVE THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO DURING (IS /LIVET $ISCOURSE 4HE /LIVET $ISCOURSE IS ABOUT *ESUS AND (IS +INGDOM )T IS (IS WORD (IS TEACHING AND (IS PROPHETIC PROMISE )T IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT AND COMPREHENSIVE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IN THE ENTIRE "IBLE *UST A FEW DAYS BEFORE (IS CRUCI FIXION STANDING ON THE -OUNT OF /LIVES *ESUS CLEARLY PRESENT ED (IS ESCHATOLOGY 4HE ,ORD LAID OUT THE DIVINE CHRONOLOGY FOR THE UNFOLDING OF (IS -ESSIANIC +INGDOM THROUGHOUT THE #HRISTIAN ERA (E DETAILED THE PATTERN OF JUDGMENT THAT WOULD CHARACTERIZE (IS GOVERNMENT OVER THE NATIONS A GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD BEGIN WITH (IS RESURRECTION ASCENSION ENTHRONE MENT AND GLORIOUS OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT ON THE DAY
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OF 0ENTECOST AND CONTINUING UNTIL (IS TRIUMPHANT 3ECOND #OMING AT THE END OF HISTORY 4HE /LIVET $ISCOURSE RECORDS *ESUS PERSONAL COMMENTARY ON AND EXPLANATION OF THE ONLY PROPHECY (E GAVE IN THE ENTIRE .EW 4ESTAMENT )T ALSO RECORDS THE ,ORD S VERY SPECIFIC DECLARATIONS CONCERNING THE NATURE AND TIMING OF THE SINGLE CATACLYSMIC HISTORICAL EVENT WHICH (E SAID WOULD BE THE FUL FILLMENT OF (IS PROPHECY AND THE SIGN TO THE NATIONS OF THE PRESENT REIGN OF THE 3ON OF -AN IN HEAVEN )N THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE THE ,ORD *ESUS GAVE THE ORIGINAL !POSTLES (IS UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETATION OF THE ESCHA TOLOGY OF THE +INGDOM (IS ESCHATOLOGY WOULD BE THE FULFILL MENT OF THE /LD 4ESTAMENT NOT ONLY ITS PROPHECIES BUT ITS TYPES AND SHADOWS !S HAS BEEN SEEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY IF THE #HURCH DOES NOT UNDERSTAND OR ACCEPT *ESUS ESCHATOLOGY IT IS TEMPTED TO INVENT ITS OWN 4RAGICALLY THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE #HURCH CAUSING GREAT MISUNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT REIGN OF #HRIST )N ADDITION IT HAS CAUSED MUCH CONFUSION CONFLICT AND DIVISION AMONG 'OD S PEOPLE CON CERNING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE #HURCH AND ITS PURPOSE AND MISSION IN HISTORY -ANY MISTAKENLY THINK THE STUDY OF ESCHATOLOGY IS IMPRACTICAL AND THEREFORE UNIMPORTANT /THERS BELIEVE IT ONLY LEADS TO ENDLESS CONTROVERSY AND CONFUSION .OTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH 7HILE IT IS TRUE THE CONVOLUTED AND COMPLICATED ESCHATOLOGIES OF MEN AND THEIR THEOLOGICAL SYS TEMS BRING CONFUSION CAUSING STRIFE AND DIVISION THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE IS THE ESCHATOLOGY OF THE ,ORD *ESUS #HRIST (IMSELF )T PROVIDED THE FOUNDATION OF THE PREACHING AND TEACHING OF THE ORIGINAL !POSTLES )T WAS THE BASIS OF THE EARLY #HURCH S FAITH AND CONFIDENCE !ND UNLESS WE PROPERLY UNDERSTAND AND CORRECTLY INTERPRET ITS MESSAGE WE WILL NOT PROPERLY UNDER
) . 4 2 / $ 5 # 4 ) / .
STAND THE REALITY AND DIVINE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT REIGN OF 'OD S ANOINTED +ING 7E WILL NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ,ORD IS DOING TODAY OR HOW (IS +INGDOM WORKS .OR WILL WE UNDERSTAND THE #HURCH S TRUE IDENTITY MISSION OR DESTINY AS THE COMMUNITY AND INSTRUMENT OF THE +INGDOM !S WE STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW MILLENNIUM LOOK ING AT A WORLD DESPERATELY IN NEED OF THE GOVERNMENT OF 'OD THIS IS NO TIME FOR CONFUSION OR DIVISION 4HIS BOOK IS NOT INTENDED TO BE CONTROVERSIAL OR DIVISIVE 2ATHER IT SEEKS TO RESOLVE CONTROVERSY REMOVE CONFUSION AND RESTORE UNITY TO #HRIST S +INGDOM COMMUNITY BY ALLOWING THE ESCHATOLOGY OF THE ,ORD *ESUS TO COME INTO CLEAR FOCUS )T IS THE AUTHORS DEEPEST DESIRE AND FERVENT PRAYER THAT 4HE 3IGN OF THE +INGDOM WILL HELP THE ,ORD S #HURCH UNDERSTAND THE PRES ENT REIGN OF 'OD S ANOINTED +ING SO THAT AS MEMBERS OF (IS BODY WE MIGHT BETTER UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE IN (IM AND RISE UP TOGETHER AND FULFILL OUR PURPOSE AND DESTINY AS THE PEOPLE OF 'OD
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4 ( % 3 % 4 4 ) . ' / & 4 ( % 3 ) ' . 4HE STREETS OF *ERUSALEM WERE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING !LL *EWISH MEN LIVING WITHIN TWENTY MILES OF THE CITY WERE REQUIRED TO BE PRESENT $URING THE FOLLOWING DAYS MORE THAN LAMBS WOULD BE SACRIFICED BY THE *EWISH FAITHFUL WHO HAD GATHERED FROM ACROSS THE POPULATED EARTH TO CELEBRATE 0ASSOVER WEEK $ESPITE THE CROWDS THAT 3UNDAY MORNING WAS ROUTINE 0EOPLE WERE MAKING THEIR REGULAR ROUNDS WHEN THE DISTANT SOUND OF SINGING SLOWLY ROLLED OVER *ERUSALEM #OMMOTION BEGAN TO FILL THE CITY 3OON HUNDREDS WERE STREAMING OUT OF THE CITY TO JOIN A GROWING MULTITUDE OF 'ALILEANS COMING TOWARD *ERUSALEM FROM THE -OUNT OF /LIVES 4HE CENTRAL FIGURE IN THIS STRANGE PROCESSION WAS A SOLITARY MAN RIDING A SMALL DONKEY 4HE TWO CROWDS MERGED AT THE SUMMIT OF THE MOUNT 7ITH BOISTEROUS FERVOR THE MULTITUDE ESCORTED THE COLT AND ITS RIDER TOWARD *ERUSALEM !S THE EXUBERANT PRAISES GREW CONTINUALLY LOUDER THE ATTENTION OF THE ENTIRE CITY WAS DRAWN TO THIS CELEBRATION WHICH WAS ENTERING THE EASTERN
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GATE OF *ERUSALEM 3INGING SHOUTING DANCING THE MULTITUDE RIPPED BRANCHES OFF TREES REMOVED THEIR GARMENTS AND THREW THEM ACROSS THE PATH OF A DONKEY ON WHICH RODE ONE THEY BELIEVED TO BE THE -ESSIAHˆTHE 3ON OF $AVID 3HOUTING AT THE TOP OF THEIR COLLECTIVE VOICES THIS PROFUSION OF WORSHIPPERS SCREAMED OUT TO THE HEAVENS h(OSANNA TO THE 3ON OF $AVID "LESSED IS (E WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE ,ORD (OSANNA IN THE HIGHEST v 4HEIR PRAISES WERE EASILY RECOGNIZED BY EVERY *EW IN *ERUSALEM 4HEY WERE -ESSIANIC SONGS 4HE ENTIRE CITY ERUPT ED WITH EXCITEMENT %XPECTANT ENERGY PASSED FROM PERSON TO PERSON #OULD THIS BE THE GREAT -ESSIANIC MOMENT FOR WHICH THE NATION HAD PRAYED AND BELIEVED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS 7ERE THE PROMISES OF THE 0ROPHETS FINALLY COMING TRUE BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES %VERYONE IN THE CITY WAS SCURRYING PUSHING FIGHTING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CROWD TO FIND A WAY TO VIEW THIS POSSIBLE -ESSIAH *ERUSALEM HAD SEEN VERY LITTLE OF *ESUS (E HAD PURPOSELY AVOIDED THE CITY !S THE THRONG PUSHED ITS WAY THROUGH THE NARROW CONFINES OF THE %ASTERN 'ATE QUESTIONS WERE HURLED AT THE CELEBRANTS h7HO IS THIS v -ATTHEW THE CITY ASKED 4HE MULTITUDE OF ADMIRERS SHOUTED BACK h4HIS IS THE PROPHET *ESUS v -ATTHEW 4HERE WAS NOTHING ACCIDENTAL CONCERNING THIS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO *ERUSALEM *ESUS ACTED WITH EVIDENT INTENTION AND UNQUESTIONED AUTHORITY (E METICULOUSLY ARRANGED THE ENTIRE EVENT (E SENT (IS DISCIPLES TO FIND THE COLT KNOWING BOTH ITS LOCATION AND THE MIND SET OF THE OWNERS OF THE BEAST #AREFULLY DELIBERATELY AND WITH GREAT PURPOSE (E ORCHES TRATED EACH ASPECT OF THE DAY TO PRECISELY FULFILL THE PROPHETIC DEMANDS UPON THE ENTRANCE OF -ESSIAH h3AY TO THE DAUGHTERS OF :ION
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"EHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU
'ENTLE AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY
%VEN ON A COLT THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN v -ATTHEW -ATTHEW SAW THE DETAILED ACTIONS OF *ESUS FULFILLING THE VISION OF :ECHARIAH 4HE 0ROPHET HAD SEEN THE DONKEY THE ENTRY THE EXCITED MULTITUDE AND ULTIMATELY THE REJECTION AND DEATH OF THE ANOINTED +ING 7HEN *ESUS RODE INTO *ERUSALEM THE EXPECTANT NATION WAS (IS FOR THE TAKING 4HE -ESSIANIC HOPE OF )SRAEL WAS HIGH 4HEY WERE INTENSELY LOOKING FOR THE 3ON OF $AVID TO DESTROY THE 2OMAN OCCUPATION AND RESTORE THE GLORY OF )SRAEL 7ILLISTON 7ALKER FORMER PROFESSOR OF #HURCH HISTORY AT 9ALE 5NIVERSITY DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE *EWISH HOPE AND EXPECTATION h"Y THE TIME OF #HRIST ;THE *EWISH HOPE= INVOLVED THE DESTRUCTION OF 2OMAN AUTHORITY BY SUPERNATU RAL DIVINE INTERVENTION THROUGH A -ESSIAH AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KINGDOM OF 'OD IN WHICH A FREED AND ALL POWERFUL *UDAISM SHOULD FLOURISH UNDER A RIGHTEOUS -ESSIANIC +ING OF $AVIDIC DESCENT INTO WHICH THE *EWS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE 2OMAN %MPIRE SHOULD BE GATHERED AND BY WHICH A GOLDEN AGE WOULD BE BEGUN v 2ENOWNED DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGIAN * $WIGHT 0ENTECOST AGREES h4HE ;*EWISH= HOPE WAS FOR AN EARTHLY KINGDOM v *ESUS HAD INDEED COME TO ESTABLISH A +INGDOM BUT NOT THE EARTHLY +INGDOM THE CROWDS WERE EXPECTING (E HAD NOT 7ILLISTON 7ALKER ! (ISTORY OF THE #HRISTIAN #HURCH .EW 9ORK #HARLES 3CRIBNER S 3ONS P * $WIGHT 0ENTECOST 4HINGS TO #OME ! 3TUDY IN "IBLICAL %SCHATOLOGY 'RAND 2APIDS :ONDERVAN P
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ENTERED *ERUSALEM HOPING TO FIND ACCEPTANCE FOR A RESTORED PHYSICAL $AVIDIC +INGDOM $ESPITE THE ACCOLADES OF THE PEO PLE (IS PURPOSE WAS SET 4HE OUTCOME HAD BEEN DETERMINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD .OTED THEOLOGIAN ' #AMPBELL -ORGAN CONCURS h(E DID NOT YIELD (IMSELF TO THE POPULAR CLAMOUR BUT (E EVOKED THE POPULAR CLAMOUR AND THAT OF SET AND DELIBERATE PURPOSE v *ESUS PURPOSE WAS ESTABLISHED (E (IMSELF PROVOKED THE DEMONSTRATION AND DELIBERATELY PLANNED EVERY DETAIL OF THE ENTRANCE TO ATTRACT *ERUSALEM TO THE FACT OF (IS COMING (E HAD OFTEN PASSED INTO *ERUSALEM QUIETLY (OWEVER ONCE AND ONCE ONLY (E ENTERED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MANIFEST THE FACT OF (IS +INGSHIP AND (IS MEEKNESS TO THE CROWDS OF *ERUSALEM (E DEMANDED THAT *ERUSALEM RECOGNIZE (IM AT LEAST FOR AN HOUR AT LEAST UNTIL THE NATION HAD HEARD (IS VOICE AGAIN AND AT LEAST UNTIL THEY HAD SEEN (IS AUTHORITY ONCE MORE )T WORKED h!LL THE CITY WAS STIRRED v -ATTHEW 4HROUGHOUT THIS FINAL WEEK AND CLIMAXING WITH THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE *ESUS MESSAGE TO THE NATION WAS NOT ONE OF HOPE BUT ONE OF JUDGMENT *ERUSALEM WAS NOT ABOUT TO BE DELIV ERED BUT DESTROYED -ESSIAH S +INGDOM WOULD NOT BRING NEW GLORY TO THE NATION BUT REMOVE HER FORMER GLORY AND LEAVE HER DESOLATE *ESUS HAD COME TO REJECT THE NATION -ORGAN OBSERVES h4HE +ING IS SEEN DELIBERATELY PASSING BACK TO *ERUSALEM FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF DEFINITELY AND OFFICIALLY REJECTING THE (EBREW NATION )T IS THE STORY OF THE REJECTION OF THE (EBREW NATION BY THE +ING NOT THAT OF THE REJECTION OF THE +ING BY THE NATION v ' #AMPBELL -ORGAN 3TUDIES IN THE &OUR 'OSPELS /LD 4APPAN .* &LEMMING ( 2EVELL P -ORGAN P
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(OWEVER MANY TEACHERS INSIST THAT *ESUS CAME TO EARTH TO ESTABLISH AN EARTHLY POLITICAL *EWISH +INGDOM )F THAT WERE SO THEN (IS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO *ERUSALEM WAS (IS GRAND OPPORTUNITY 9ET (E DID NOT DO SO )RONICALLY AS WE ENTER THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY THE #HURCH IS BEING TOLD TO EXPECT *ESUS TO DO THE VERY THING (E REFUSED TO DO THAT DAY 4ODAY MUCH OF THE #HURCH IS TRANSFIXED UPON A THEOLOGY WHICH INSISTS UPON AN EARTHLY POLITICAL *EWISH +INGDOM AS THE ULTIMATE WILL OF 'OD AND THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE ,ORD *ESUS 5NAWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES MILLIONS OF #HRISTIANS BELIEVE THIS DISTORTED TEACHING "Y DOING SO THEY NOT ONLY ROB THE #HURCH OF ITS PURPOSE AND VICTORY BUT THEY MISCONSTRUE THE GENUINE PERSON AND WORK OF THE ,ORD *ESUS )T WOULD LOGI CALLY FOLLOW THAT A FAILURE TO PROPERLY UNDERSTAND WHO *ESUS WAS AND NOW IS WOULD OF NECESSITY PRODUCE A DISTORTED UNDER STANDING OF WHY (E CAME TO EARTH 9ET WHAT DID *ESUS DO (E DID NOT RIDE INTO THE CITY ASTRIDE A MAGNIFICENT WHITE STALLION AS A CONQUERING POLITICAL KING WOULD HAVE DEMANDED )NSTEAD (E MOUNTED UPON THE COLT OF A COMMON DONKEY &URTHERMORE (E DID NOT RIDE (IS HUMBLE MOUNT TO THE PALACE OF (EROD TO OVERTHROW )SRAEL S CIVIL LEADERSHIP )NSTEAD (E RODE (IS LOWLY BEAST TO (IS OWN PALACEˆTHE PLACE WHERE (IS HONOR WAS TO DWELL (E RODE TO THE 4EMPLE THE NATION S MONUMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 'OD * 7 (ODGES THE GREAT 0RINCETON SCHOLAR CORRECTLY DECLARES hx4O CLAIM THAT -ESSIAH S MISSION TO EARTH EVEN IN PART WAS TO BOLSTER THE SAGGING POLITICAL FORTUNES OF NATIONAL )SRAEL IS THE HEIGHT OF FOLLY AND DOCTRINAL ERROR v
*ESSE 7ILSON (ODGES #HRIST S +INGDOM AND )TS #OMING 'RAND 2APIDS 7M " %ERDMANS P
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7HEN *ESUS ARRIVED AT THE 4EMPLE (E DID NOT ENTER TO RECEIVE THEIR ACCOLADES AS A POLITICAL KING OR FOMENT REBEL LION AGAINST THE 2OMAN OCCUPATION (E HAD NOT COME TO BE THEIR EARTHLY NATIONAL KING BUT RATHER (E ENTERED TO DEM ONSTRATE WITH OVERWHELMING SYMBOLISM THAT (IS UNEQUIVOCAL -ESSIANIC MISSION WAS TO BRING JUDGMENT UPON THE ENTIRE SOCIETY OF )SRAEL 4HAT JUDGMENT WOULD BEGIN IN THE (OUSE OF 'OD 3OON IT WOULD ENGULF THE NATION AND FROM *ERUSALEM COVER THE EARTH WITH THE SAVING RULE OF (IS +INGDOM 4HE HOUSE OF 'OD NEEDED CLEANSING 4HE 4EMPLE WAS DESPICABLE ,ITERALLY IT WAS A hDEN OF THIEVES v 4HE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM OF THE 4EMPLE HAD BECOME COM PLETELY CORRUPT 7HAT WAS INTENDED TO BE THE WORSHIP OF *EHOVAH HAD BEEN REDUCED TO A PROFIT DRIVEN BUSINESS WHICH STOLE FROM THE PEOPLE AND ENRICHED THE (IGH 0RIEST AND HIS FAMILY 4HE FINANCIAL BUSINESS OF THE SACRIFICES HAD TAKEN OVER THE 4EMPLE 4HE 4EMPLE OFFICIALS REQUIRED OFFERINGS TO BE MADE WITH LOCAL COINS WHICH NECESSITATED THE EXCHANGE OF THE MONEY OF FOREIGN *EWS AND PROSELYTES )N ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR LOCAL COINS MONEY CHANGERS TABLES LINED THE ENTRANCE OF THE EASTERN GATE AND FILLED 3OLOMON S 0ORCH 4HESE MONEY CHANGERS WERE AGENTS OF THE (IGH 0RIEST AND THEY TOOK GREAT ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WITH ILLEGAL EXCHANGE RATES 4HROUGH THE HANDS OF THESE MONEY CHANGERS PASSED THE EQUIVALENT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR 4HE BUSINESS OF THE 4EMPLE SACRIFICES HAD BECOME VERY PROFITABLEˆA PROFIT ENJOYED BY THE (IGH 0RIEST AND HIS FAMILY *OSEPHUS THE RENOWNED *EWISH HISTORIAN AND EYEWITNESS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF *ERUSALEM IN ! $ DESCRIBES !NNAS THE SON OF THE (IGH 0RIEST OF THE .EW 4ESTAMENT AS hx@A GREAT HOARDER UP OF MONEY VERY RICH AND AS DESPOILING BY OPEN VIOLENCE THE COMMON PRIESTS OF THEIR OFFICIAL REVENUES !NTIQ v !LFRED %DERSHEIM 4HE ,IFE AND 4IMES OF *ESUS THE -ESSIAH VOLS IN ONE ND REPRINT ED 0EABODY -! (ENDRICKSON PART ONE P
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)T WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE SERVANTS OF THE (IGH 0RIESTS TO BEAT WITH STICKS THOSE WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEIR ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 4HE NOTED #HURCH HISTORIAN !LFRED %DERSHEIM WRITES DETAILED VOLUMES OF THE DESECRATION WHICH WAS TAKING PLACE IN THE 3ANCTUARY DURING THE LIFE OF *ESUS h7E CAN PICTURE TO OURSELVES THE SCENE AROUND THE TABLE OF AN %ASTERN MONEY CHANGERˆTHE WEIGHING OF THE COINS DEDUCTIONS FOR LOSS OF WEIGHT ARGUING DISPUTING BARGAININGˆAND WE CAN REALIZE THE TERRIBLE TRUTHFULNESS OF OUR ,ORD S CHARGE THAT THEY HAD MADE THE &ATHER S (OUSE A MART AND PLACE OF TRAFFICx 4HE WHOLE OF THIS TRAFFICˆMONEY CHANGING SELLING OF DOVES AND MARKET FOR SHEEP AND OXENˆWAS IN ITSELF AND FROM ITS ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES A TERRIBLE DES ECRATION IT WAS ALSO LIABLE TO GROSS ABUSES v %ARLIER IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF (IS MINISTRY *ESUS HAD SEEN THE ABUSE OF THE 4EMPLE SYSTEM (IS RESPONSE HAD BEEN IMMEDIATE -AKING A SCOURGE OF CORDS (E DROVE THE MONEY CHANGERS OUT OF THE 4EMPLE DECLARING h4AKE THESE THINGS AWAY STOP MAKING -Y &ATHER S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE v *OHN !S (E RETURNED TO THE 4EMPLE DURING THE LAST WEEK OF (IS EARTHLY LIFE *ESUS ONCE AGAIN ENCOUNTERED THE DESECRATION AND WAS FILLED WITH RIGHTEOUS RAGE (E SEIZED THE MONEY CHANGERS TABLES AND TOSSED THEM ACROSS THE FLOOR OF THE COURT %VOKING THE WORDS OF )SAIAH AND *EREMIAH (E DESTROYED THE SEATS OF THOSE SELLING DOVES DECLARING h-Y HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER BUT YOU HAVE MADE IT A ROBBERS DEN v -ATTHEW
%DERSHEIM PP
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4RIUMPHANTLY THE ,ORD ENTERED (IS OWN CITY WENT TO (IS &ATHER S HOUSE AND DEMONSTRATED (IS AUTHORITY .O ONE DARED CHALLENGE (IM 4HE CROWDS KNEW (E WAS CORRECT IN WHAT (E WAS DOING -ANY OF THEM HAD BEEN THE VICTIMS OF THE 4EMPLE ABUSE "Y (IS AUTHORITY THE 4EMPLE WAS CLEANSED OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS MERCHANDISING OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT IT WAS RESTORED TO THE SERVICE OF (IS &ATHER !S THE ROBBERS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE *ESUS BEGAN TO SPEAK 0EOPLE GATHERED FROM THROUGHOUT THE 4EMPLE -OUNTˆTHE POOR THE SUFFERING THOSE WHO DESPERATELY NEEDED A TOUCH FROM THIS -IRACLE -ESSIAH )N THE MIDST OF THE FURY OF THAT MOMENT (E PAUSED TO HEAL THE BLIND AND THE LAME !T EACH STEP (E WAS DEMANDING THAT THE NATION RECOGNIZE (IM (E OPER ATED WITH SHEER -ESSIANIC POWER $EMONSTRATION AFTER DEM ONSTRATION THERE COULD NO LONGER BE ANY QUESTION (E WAS THE TRIUMPHANT 3ON OF $AVID THE PROMISED -ESSIAH !S (E MOVED FROM THE MONEY CHANGERS TO THE MIRACLES THE CROWD FILLED THE 4EMPLE WITH CONTINUAL DECLARATIONS OF h(/3!..! 4/ 4(% 3/. /& $!6)$ v 4HE #HIEF 0RIEST AND SCRIBES WERE LIVID 4HEY THOUGHT (E HADˆWITH (IS HERESYˆINTRUDED UPON THEIR SOURCE OF POWER AND FORTUNE "ESIDES THEY HAD LONG SINCE REJECTED THE IDEA OF A SUFFERING -ESSIAH WHO WOULD BRING REPENTANCE AND SALVA TION TO )SRAEL 4HEIR HOPE WAS FOR A KING WITH POLITICAL AND MILITARY POWER .OTHING LESS WOULD SUFFICE 4HE #HIEF 0RIEST AND SCRIBES EXPECTED (IM TO BE BEATING UP 2OMANS NOT CLEANING OUT THE 4EMPLE )NDIGNANTLY THEY TURNED ON (IM AND DEMANDED h$O YOU HEAR WHAT THESE ARE SAYING v -ATTHEW (IS IMMEDIATE REPLY WAS BOTH DRAMATIC AND PROPHETIC AS *ESUS DREW UPON THE 0SALM OF $AVID
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h9ES HAVE YOU NOT READ @/UT OF THE MOUTH OF NURS ING BABES 4HOU HAST PREPARED PRAISE FOR 4HYSELF v -ATTHEW 7HAT AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY TO BEGIN THE FINAL WEEK OF (IS PHYSICAL LIFE $URING THESE SEVEN LAST DAYS -ESSIANIC PROPHE CIES WERE FULFILLED ALL AROUND (IM /N (IS WAY TO THE CROSS (E REPEATEDLY CONFRONTED *ERUSALEM AND ITS APOSTATE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP &OR (E HAD NOT COME TO THE CITY THAT WEEK TO ENJOY THEIR HOSPITALITY NOR TO SEEK THEIR APPROVAL BUT TO DECLARE AND COMPLETE THEIR JUDGMENT (E HAD COME TO LEAVE THEIR CITY DESOLATE (E HAD COME TO THE CITY TO DECLARE UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT *ERUSALEM AND ITS 4EMPLE WERE DOOMED "EFORE THE LIVES OF THAT PARTICULAR GENERATION WOULD BE COMPLETED THE NATION WOULD BE DESTROYED (IS COMING TO *ERUSALEM WAS AN INESCAP ABLE PROMISE OF A DAY OF JUDGMENT 4HIS WAS THE SETTING FOR (IS /LIVET $ISCOURSE *ESUS EVERY MOVE DURING (IS FINAL WEEK WAS DIRECTED BY THE 0ROPHETS .EARLY YEARS EARLIER -ALACHI PREDICTED THE DAY OF (IS COMING 4HE $AY OF THE ,ORD WOULD BE A DAY IN WHICH THE JUDGMENT OF HEAVEN WOULD FALL UPON ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS #ONTRARY TO WHAT MANY MISTAKENLY BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE NO PROPHETIC WORD OF DELAY OR POSTPONEMENT ONCE THE WAY WAS PREPARED -ALACHI BOLDLY DECLARED h!ND THE ,ORD WHOM YOU SEEK WILL SUDDENLY COME TO (IS 4EMPLE AND THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT IN WHOM YOU DELIGHT BEHOLD (E IS COMING SAYS THE ,ORD OF HOSTS v -ALACHI 4HE hDAY OF (IS COMINGv WHICH -ALACHI SAW WAS IN NO WAY A DAY OF POLITICAL INTRIGUE OR NATION BUILDING )T WAS A DAY OF JUDGMENT
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h"UT WHO CAN ENDURE THE DAY OF (IS COMING !ND WHO CAN STAND WHEN (E APPEARS &OR (E IS LIKE A REFINER S FIRE AND LIKE FULLERS SOAP !ND (E WILL SIT AS A SMELTER AND PURIFIER OF SILVERxv -ALACHI h@) WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU FOR JUDGMENT AND ) WILL BE A SWIFT WITNESS AGAINST THE SORCERERS AND AGAINST THE ADULTERERS AND AGAINST THOSE WHO SWEAR FALSELY AND AGAINST THOSE WHO OPPRESS THE WAGE EARNER IN HIS WAGES THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN AND THOSE WHO TURN ASIDE THE ALIEN AND DO NOT FEAR -E SAYS THE ,ORD OF (OSTS v -ALACHI h&OR BEHOLD THE DAY IS COMING BURNING LIKE A FUR NACE AND ALL THE ARROGANT AND EVERY EVILDOER WILL BE CHAFF AND THE DAY THAT IS COMING WILL SET THEM ABLAZE SAYS THE ,ORD OF HOSTS SO THAT IT WILL LEAVE THEM NEITHER ROOT NOR BRANCH v -ALACHI !S *ESUS CLEANSED THE 4EMPLE (E WAS SYMBOLICALLY WARN ING )SRAEL OF THEIR COMING JUDGMENT AT (IS HANDS ,EAVING THE CITY LATE 3UNDAY AFTERNOON *ESUS WALKED THE TWO MILES TO "ETHANY PROBABLY SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY OF ,AZARUS !S (E RETURNED TO THE CITY VERY EARLY -ONDAY MORNING (IS MESSAGE HAD NOT CHANGED )N FACT IT HAD INTENSIFIED 4HE JUDGMENT OF THE NATION WOULD BE SWIFT SEVERE AND FOREVER !LONG THE ROAD TO *ERUSALEM (E ENCOUN TERED A FRUITLESS FIG TREE h@.O LONGER SHALL THERE EVER BE ANY FRUIT FROM YOU !ND AT ONCE THE FIG TREE WITHERED v -ATTHEW #ONDEMNING THE FRUITLESS TREE *ESUS WAS PROPHETICALLY CONDEMNING THE FRUITLESS NATION %DERSHEIM EXPLAINS THE SYMBOLISM
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h)SRAEL WAS THAT BARREN FIG TREE AND THE LEAVES ONLY COVERED THEIR NAKEDNESSxTHE JUDGMENT SYMBOLICALLY SPOKEN IN THE 0ARABLE MUST BE SYMBOLICALLY EXECUTED IN THIS LEAFY FIG TREE BARREN WHEN SEARCHED FOR FRUIT BY THE -ASTER v 4HE SEVERITY OF *ESUS JUDGMENT WAS OBVIOUS h.O LONGER SHALL THERE EVER BE ANY FRUIT ON YOUxv -ATTHEW 4HE JUDGMENT WAS FOREVER .ATURAL )SRAEL WOULD NEVER AGAIN BE THE COVENANTAL PEOPLE OF 'OD 4HE DISCIPLES MARVELED HOW COULD THE FIG TREE WITHER IMMEDIATELY 4HE ,ORD S ANSWER TO (IS DISCIPLES WOULD PROVE TO BE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THEIR LIVES h)F YOU HAVE FAITH AND DO NOT DOUBT YOU SHALL NOT ONLY DO WHAT WAS DONE TO THE FIG TREE BUT EVEN IF YOU SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN @"E TAKEN UP AND BE CAST INTO THE SEA IT SHALL HAPPEN v -ATTHEW *ESUS WAS PREPARING (IS DISCIPLES 4HE MOUNTAIN WHICH THEY WOULD CAST INTO THE SEA WOULD BE THE MOUNTAIN OF *ERUSALEM 5LTIMATELY THE -ESSIANIC JUDGMENT WHICH +ING *ESUS HAD PROPHESIED WOULD FALL UPON THE NATION WOULD BE THE RESULT OF THE FAITH AND PROPHETIC PRAYERS OF THE DISCIPLES 4HROUGHOUT THIS FINAL WEEK CULMINATING IN THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE (IS PROPHETIC MESSAGE REMAINED UNCHANGED !POSTATE )SRAEL WAS ABOUT TO BE DESTROYED AND SHE WOULD NEVER AGAIN BE FRUITFUL 5PON ARRIVING AT THE 4EMPLE -ONDAY MORNING THE #HIEF 0RIEST AND ELDERS DIRECTLY CONFRONTED (IM DEMANDING TO KNOW THE AUTHORITY BY WHICH (E WAS HEALING THE SICK AND SPEAKING WITH SUCH POWER *ESUS ANSWERED THEM WITH A SERIES %DERSHEIM P
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OF THREE PARABLES 7OVEN THROUGHOUT THE PARABLES WERE THE STRONGEST DENUNCIATIONS *ESUS EVER MADE (E WAS PROPHESYING PURE -ESSIANIC +INGDOM JUDGMENT UPON THE NATION (E FIRST SPOKE OF TWO SONS 4HE RIGHTEOUS SON WAS DETER MINED BY HIS OBEDIENCE NOT OUTWARD PIETY AND VERBIAGE 4HE MESSAGE WAS STRIDENT 4HE SONS OF THE +INGDOM WOULD BE KNOWN BY THEIR OBEDIENCE TO THE +ING *ESUS TURNED UPON THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP OF THE NATION AND DECLARED h4RULY ) SAY TO YOU THAT THE TAX GATHERERS AND HAR LOTS WILL GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF 'OD BEFORE YOU v -ATTHEW 4HE THEME OF JUDGMENT AGAINST THE NATION AND ITS LEADER SHIP CONTINUES IN THE PARABLE OF THE LANDOWNER WHO PLANTED A VINEYARD AND RENTED IT OUT TO WRETCHES WHO WOULD NOT PAY HIM HIS RENT !FTER THE UNFAITHFUL RENTERS KILL THE LANDOWNER S SON THE LANDOWNER RETURNS DESTROYS THE WRETCHES AND FINDS NEW RENTERS FOR HIS VINEYARD 4HE ,ORD S MESSAGE WAS DIRECT )SRAEL AND ITS LEADERS WOULD KILL THE 3ON OF 'OD AND 'OD WOULD COME IN JUDG MENT REMOVE THEM FROM (IS VINEYARD AND FIND FAITHFUL RENT ERS WHO WOULD PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE +INGDOM %VEN THE APOSTATE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP OF )SRAEL UNDERSTOOD THE ,ORD S PARABLE 7HEN *ESUS ASKED WHAT THE LANDOWNER SHOULD DO TO THE WICKED RENTERS THEY REPLIED PRONOUNCING JUDGMENT UPON THEMSELVES h(E WILL BRING THOSE WRETCHES TO A WRETCHED END AND WILL RENT OUT THE VINEYARD TO OTHER VINEGROWERS WHO WILL PAY HIM THE PROCEEDS AT THE PROPER SEASONS v -ATTHEW 4HEY WERE RIGHT
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)MMEDIATELY *ESUS MADE (IS MOST EMPHATIC STATEMENT CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF NATIONAL )SRAEL AND THE +INGDOM OF 'OD h4HEREFORE ) SAY TO YOU THE KINGDOM OF 'OD SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU AND GIVEN TO A NATION PRODUC ING THE FRUIT OF IT v -ATTHEW $R (ERSCHEL (OBBS THE RENOWNED 3OUTHERN "APTIST SCHOLAR EXPLAINS h4HE WORD hYOUv HUMON IS PLURAL 3O *ESUS WORDS INCLUDED NOT SIMPLY THE RULERS BUT THE NATION WHICH THEY REPRESENTED v *ESUS COULD NOT HAVE MADE A STRONGER DECLARATION 4HE LEADERS OF THE NATION UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY 4HE +INGDOM FOR WHICH THEY HAD LONGED AND EXPECTED FOR MILLENNIA WOULD NEVER BE THEIRS 4HEY WERE SO INCENSED BY (IS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO KILL (IM BUT THEY FEARED THE CROWD 4HE CROWD KNEW *ESUS WAS A PROPHET 4HEY KNEW (E WAS SPEAKING THE TRUTH OF 'OD 4AKING *ESUS AT FACE VALUE THE +INGDOM OF 'OD WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM PHYSICAL )SRAEL AND GIVEN TO A NEW PEOPLEˆ THE #HURCH OF *ESUS #HRIST )N ALL OF THIS THE ,ORD WAS SETTING THE STAGE FOR (IS /LIVET $ISCOURSE *ESUS CONTINUED (IS PARABLES SPEAKING NEXT OF A KING WHO HAD GIVEN A WEDDING FEAST FOR HIS SON 4HE KING SENT HIS SERVANTS TO INFORM THE INVITED GUESTS THAT EVERYTHING WAS READYnhCOME TO THE FEAST v 9ET NO ONE WOULD COME h4HEY PAID NO ATTENTION AND WENT THEIR OWN WAY ONE TO HIS OWN FARM ANOTHER TO HIS BUSINESS AND THE REST SEIZED HIS SLAVES AND MISTREATED THEM AND KILLED THEM v -ATTHEW (ERSCHEL ( (OBBS !N %XPOSITION OF THE &OUR 'OSPELS 6OLUME 4HE 'OSPEL OF -ATTHEW FOUR VOLUMES .ASHVILLE "ROADMAN P
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*ESUS THEN MADE A REMARKABLE PROPHETIC STATEMENT IN THE MIDST OF THE PARABLE h4HE KING WAS ENRAGED AND SENT HIS ARMIES AND DESTROYED THOSE MURDERERS AND SET THEIR CITY ON FIRE v -ATTHEW 4HROUGH THIS PARABLE *ESUS DECLARED TO THESE LEADERS THE CERTAIN DESTRUCTION OF THEIR CITY AND THE END OF THEIR NATION S COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 'OD 4HEY WERE BEING REPLACED WITH A hNATIONv PRODUCING THE FRUIT OF THE +INGDOM 4HEIR CITY WOULD BURN !S A RESULT OF THIS REPLACEMENT THE FEAST WOULD GO ON BUT THE GUEST LIST WOULD CHANGE *ESUS CONTINUED THE PARABLE h4HE KING SAID TO HIS SLAVES @4HE WEDDING IS READY BUT THOSE WHO WERE INVITED WERE NOT WORTHY 'O THEREFORE TO THE MAIN HIGHWAYS AND AS MANY AS YOU FIND THERE INVITE TO THE WEDDING FEAST v -ATTHEW 4HE INVITED GUESTS THE PEOPLE OF )SRAEL TO WHOM BELONGED THE PROMISES MADE TO THE 0ATRIARCHS AND THE 0ROPHETS WOULD MISS THE WEDDING )NSTEAD A PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT A PEOPLE ANOTHER NATION MADE UP OF THE BELIEVING REMNANT OF )SRAEL AND THE BELIEVING 'ENTILES WOULD FILL THE BANQUET !S THAT CRITICAL DAY OF CONFRONTATION AND DEBATE CONTINUED *ESUS TURNED (IS ATTENTION MORE FULLY TOWARD THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATION 7ITH EACH PROGRESSIVE ARGUMENT THE SCRIBES AND 0HARISEES HEARD THE ,ORD S UNRELENTING STATEMENTS OF THE CERTAIN DESTRUCTION OF THEIR NATION (IS PRONOUNCEMENTS OF JUDGMENT REACHED A DRAMATIC CRESCENDO AS *ESUS DELINEATED (IS LITANY OF WOES AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP OF )SRAEL 7ITH EACH ADDITIONAL WOE THE ,ORD BUILT THE CASE FOR THEIR DEMISE 4HE LEADERS WHO WERE TO BRING THE NATION INTO THE +INGDOM OF 'OD WERE THEMSELVES THE GREATEST BARRICADE 4HEY WERE LEADING )SRAEL TO HELL
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h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES BECAUSE YOU SHUT OFF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN FROM MEN FOR YOU DO NOT ENTER IN YOURSELVES NOR DO YOU ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE ENTERING TO GO IN v -ATTHEW 4HEY HAD REFUSED TO RECEIVE THE MINISTRY OF *OHN THE "APTIST *OHN HAD COME IN FULFILLMENT OF THE 0ROPHETS TO GATHER THE BELIEVING REMNANT AND PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF THE -ESSIAH 4HEY HAD ALSO REFUSED TO RECEIVE THE MINISTRY OF THE ,ORD (IMSELFˆTHE DOOR INTO THE +INGDOMˆIN SPITE OF THE MIRACULOUS EVIDENCE AND WITNESS OF 'OD THE &ATHER THAT *ESUS OF .AZARETH WAS THE #HRIST 4HEY WERE HYPOCRITES 5NDER A DISGUISE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THEY HID POLLUTED HEARTS 4HEY HAD PERSUADED THE NATION THAT RELIGIOUS EXTERNALISM WAS REAL PIETY AND DEVOTION TO 'OD 4HEY PREVENTED )SRAEL FROM ENTERING THE +INGDOM OF 'OD BY THEIR DISTORTED INTERPRETATION OF THE 0ROPHETS REFUSING TO ALLOW THE HUNGRY PEOPLE TO SEE *ESUS IN THE 3CRIPTURE h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES BECAUSE YOU DEVOUR WIDOW S HOUSES EVEN WHILE FOR A PRETENSE YOU MAKE LONG PRAYERS THEREFORE YOU SHALL RECEIVE GREATER CONDEMNATION v -ATTHEW !LL OF THEIR RELIGIOUS POSTURING COULD NOT HIDE THE GUILT OF THEIR ACTIONS 4HEIR LONG PRAYERS COULD NOT ERASE THEIR GREED 7OMEN WHO HAD LOST THEIR HUSBANDS BECAME THEIR PREY 4HEY PUT ON THE APPEARANCE OF EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT AND RELA TIONSHIP TO 'OD THAT THEY MIGHT MORE EASILY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WIDOWS 9ET 'OD HAD ALWAYS DEFENDED THE WIDOWS AND INSTRUCTED (IS PEOPLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR WELFARE h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES BECAUSE YOU TRAVEL ABOUT ON SEA AND LAND TO MAKE ONE CON VERT AND WHEN HE BECOMES ONE YOU MAKE HIM TWICE THE SON OF HELL AS YOURSELF v -ATTHEW
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4HERE WAS NO OVERWHELMING LOVE OF SOULS NO BURNING ZEAL FOR THE HONOR OF 'OD IN THEIR MAKING OF CONVERTS 4HEY WERE PROMOTED ONLY BY CARNAL MOTIVES TO MAKE CONVERTS TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS !ND SINCE THEY WERE ON THE WAY TO HELL HOW COULD THEIR CONVERTS BE OTHERWISE h7OE TO YOU BLIND GUIDES WHO SAY @7HOEVER SWEARS BY THE 4EMPLE THAT IS NOTHING BUT WHOEVER SWEARS BY THE GOLD OF THE 4EMPLE HE IS OBLIGATED v -ATTHEW 4HEY WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THEIR DAY YET THEY CONSTANTLY USED LOOP HOLES TO EXTRICATE THEM SELVES FROM VOWS AND COMMITMENTS THEY HAD MADE 4HEIR UNRIGHTEOUS USE OF TECHNICALITIES WAS AN ABOMINATION TO *ESUS h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES &OR YOU TITHE THE MINT AND DILL AND CUMIN AND HAVE NEGLECT ED THE WEIGHTIER PROVISIONS OF THE LAW JUSTICE AND MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE OTHERS v -ATTHEW 4HESE HYPOCRITES WERE METICULOUS TO EXTRACT EVERY TINY TITHE FROM THE PEOPLE 9ET THEY MINISTERED WITHOUT JUSTICE MERCY OR FAITHFULNESS 4HE ,ORD WAS NOT CENSURING THEIR ATTEN TION TO DETAILS BUT WAS CONDEMNING THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO ATTEND TO THE GREATER ISSUES h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES &OR YOU CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND OF THE DISH BUT INSIDE THEY ARE FULL OF ROBBERY AND SELF INDULGENCE v -ATTHEW 4HEY WERE LEGALLY PUREˆOUTWARDLY PERFECT )NWARDLY THEY WERE SICK )N THEIR GREED THEY HAD ROBBED THE PEOPLE TO FULFILL THEIR OWN APPETITES
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h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES &OR YOU ARE LIKE WHITEWASHED TOMBS WHICH ON THE OUTSIDE APPEAR BEAUTIFUL BUT INSIDE THEY ARE FULL OF DEAD MEN S BONES AND ALL UNCLEANNESS v -ATTHEW 4HEIR RELIGIOUS SHIELDS WHICH THEY HAD USED TO INSURE THEIR POSITIONS OF POWER WERE NOW USELESS AGAINST THE -ESSIAH WHO COULD SEE THEIR HEARTS 4HEIR HEARTS WERE AT WAR WITH THE 'OD THEY SUPPOSEDLY SERVED 4HEY WERE FULL OF DEATH )N (IS FINAL WOE THE ,ORD EXPOSES THEIR HYPOCRISY IN PRE TENDING TO HONOR THE 0ROPHETS WHILE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A WAY IN WHICH TO KILL (IM h7OE TO YOU 3CRIBES AND 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES &OR YOU BUILD THE TOMBS OF THE PROPHETS AND ADORN THE MONUMENTS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND SAY @)F WE HAD BEEN LIVING IN THE DAYS OF OUR FATHERS WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PARTNERS WITH THEM IN SHEDDING THE BLOOD OF THE PROPHETS v -ATTHEW )N 4HE 0ULPIT #OMMENTARY 6OL EDITED BY ( $ - 3PENCE AND *OSEPH & %XCELL ONE SCHOLAR OBSERVES h)N THE LAST ;PREVIOUS= WOE #HRIST HAD SPOKEN OF SEPULCHERS HE SPEAKS OF THEM HERE AGAIN GIVING AN UNEXPECTED VIEW OF THE SEEMING HONOURS PAID TO DEPARTED SAINTS 4HE SUMPTUOUS MAUSOLEUMS AND TOMBS FOUND E G ROUND *ERUSALEM AND BEARING THE NAMES OF CELEBRATED MEN SUCH AS :ECHARIAH !BSALOM *EHOSHAPHAT SUFFICIENTLY ATTEST THE PRACTICE OF THE *EWS IN THIS MATTER "UT THE 0HARISEES MOTIVES IN ACTING THUS WERE NOT PURE THEY WERE NOT INFLU ENCED BY RESPECT FOR THE PROPHETS OR REPENTANCE FOR NATIONAL SINS BUT BY PRIDE HYPOCRISY AND SELF SUFFICIENCY v ( $ - 3PENCE AND *OSEPH & %XCELL EDS h-ATTHEW v IN 4HE 0ULPIT #OMMENTARY 6OL 'RAND 2APIDS 7M " %ERDMANS N D P
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.OW *ESUS LOOKING INTO THEIR HEARTS AND ANTICIPATING (IS OWN MURDER AT THEIR HANDS CONTINUED h7OE TO YOU SCRIBES 0HARISEES HYPOCRITES xYOU BEAR WITNESS AGAINST YOURSELVES THAT YOU ARE SONS OF THOSE WHO MURDERED THE PROPHETS &ILL UP THE MEA SURE OF THE GUILT OF YOUR FATHERS 9OU SERPENTS YOU BROOD OF VIPERS HOW SHALL YOU ESCAPE THE SENTENCE OF HELL v -ATTHEW !S THE SONS OF THOSE WHO HAD MURDERED THE 0ROPHETS THEY WOULD FILL UP THE GUILT OF THEIR FATHERS BY CRUCIFYING THE ,ORD OF 'LORY AND BY PERSECUTING THE SPECIAL MESSENGERS APOSTLES PROPHETS EVANGELISTS PASTORS AND TEACHERS THAT (E WOULD SEND TO THEIR PARTICULAR GENERATION FOLLOWING (IS RES URRECTION ASCENSION AND THE OUTPOURING OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT 4HEIR GENERATION OF )SRAELITES WOULD hKILL AND CRUCIFYv SOME OF THOSE WHO WOULD BE SENT TO THEM IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY AHEAD MESSENGERS OF THE 'OSPEL OF THE +INGDOM /THERS THEY WOULD hSCOURGEv IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES AND hPERSECUTE FROM CITY TO CITY v !LL OF THESE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT FILL UP hTHE MEASURE OF GUILTv OF THEIR FATHERS AND THE JUDGMENT OF 'OD MIGHT COME UPON THEIR NATION AND THE CITY OF *ERUSALEM FOR ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD OF 'OD S SERVANTS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THEIR NATION 4HEN *ESUS ADDED THOSE AWESOME AND TERRIBLE WORDS WHICH WOULD PROVIDE THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE TEACHING (E WOULD GIVE TO (IS DISCIPLES ON THE -OUNT OF /LIVES LATER THAT SAME DAY h4RULY ) SAY TO YOU ALL THESE THINGS SHALL COME UPON THIS GENERATION v -ATTHEW *ESUS WAS NOT SPEAKING TO SOME FUTURE GENERATIONˆAS SOME HAVE INSISTEDˆBUT TO THE GENERATION WHICH WAS LIVING AT THAT TIME
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4HE ,ORD HAD COME DESIRING TO FIND THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUS NESS AND JUSTICE YET INSTEAD (E DISCOVERED SINFUL OPPRESSION THROUGHOUT )SRAEL 'OD HAD PURPOSED )SRAEL TO BE THE LIGHT TO THE NATIONS AND THE INSTRUMENT OF (IS +INGDOM TO TEACH THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE ,ORD WHICH WOULD RESULT IN FILLING THE EARTH WITH JUSTICE 9ET )SRAEL HAD REBELLED AGAINST 'OD S WILL AND REFUSED TO BE THE INSTRUMENT OF (IS PURPOSE 5LTIMATELY THE REBELLION OF THE NATION WOULD BE COM PLETE 4HE 0ROPHETS HAD PROMISED THE -ESSIAH WOULD COME TO A PERVERSE GENERATION OF *EWS AND )SRAELITES !T THAT TIME (IS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT WOULD BE POURED OUT ON THE APOSTATE NATION 4HAT DAY IN THE 4EMPLE COURT AS *ESUS STOOD FACE TO FACE WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP OF THE NATION OF )SRAEL (E WAS FACING THE COVENANT BREAKING GENERATION OF WHOM THE 0ROPHETS HAD WARNED OF COMING JUDGMENT 4HIS WAS THE GEN ERATION TO WHICH THE ,ORD WOULD DIRECT THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE 4HESE WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT LEADERS IN ALL OF *UDAISM *ESUS DENOUNCED THEM AS HYPOCRITES BLIND GUIDES FOOLS WHIT ED SEPULCHERS SERPENTS AND A GENERATION OF VIPERS 'UILTY (E ACCUSED THEM OF SHUTTING UP THE +INGDOM OF (EAVEN TO THE NATION *ESUS ACCUSED THEM OF EXTORTION OF FALSE TEACHING AND OF LACK OF JUSTICE AND FAITH 4HEIR FATE WAS SEALED 4HEY WERE THE LEADERS OF THE GENERATION THE 0ROPHETS HAD PREDICTED THE GENERATION WHICH WOULD EXPERIENCE THE JUDGMENT OF 'OD POURED OUT UPON THE NATION *ESUS SPOKE WITH A BOLDNESS BELONGING EXCLUSIVELY TO THE 3ON OF 'OD h&ILL UP THEN THE MEASURE OF THE GUILT OF YOUR FATHERS 9OU SERPENTS YOU BROOD OF VIPERS HOW SHALL YOU ESCAPE THE SENTENCE OF HELL v -ATTHEW -ARCELLUS +IK THE GREAT REFORMED THEOLOGIAN AND SCHOLAR WRITES
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h4HE PICTURE IS THAT OF A CUP NEARLY FILLED AND NOW BEING FILLED TO OVERFLOWING BY THE PRESENT ;THOSE LIV ING IN THE TIME OF #HRIST AND (IS DISCIPLES= GENERA TION OF *EWS .ATIONAL SIN ACCUMULATED OVER MANY CENTURIES HAD BEEN TRYING THE PATIENCE OF 'OD !GAIN AND AGAIN THE *EWS HAD SINNED AGAINST THEIR 'OD AND FORSAKEN HIM FOR IDOLS 'OD HAD MANIFESTED TO THEM HIS FORBEARANCE AND LONGSUFFERING AND HAD PLEADED WITH THE *EWS TO REPENT AND RETURN UNTO HIM .OW WITH THE REJECTION OF HIS 3ON AND THE CRUCIFIX ION APPROACHING THE PATIENCE OF 'OD HAD COME TO AN END 4HE CUP OF SIN THROUGH THIS GREATEST OF ALL CRIMES WOULD OVERFLOW AND BRING UPON THE NATION THE TERRIBLE STROKE OF DIVINE JUDGMENT v *ESUS WAS DECLARING IT WAS hTHIS GENERATIONv WHICH WOULD FILL THE CUP TO OVERFLOWING AND EXPERIENCE THE TERRIBLE WRATH OF 'OD h4HEREFORE BEHOLD ) AM SENDING YOU PROPHETS AND WISE MEN AND SCRIBES SOME OF THEM YOU WILL KILL AND CRUCIFY AND SOME OF THEM YOU WILL SCOURGE IN YOUR SYNAGOGUES AND PERSECUTE FROM CITY TO CITY THAT UPON YOU MAY FALL THE GUILT OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED UPON THE EARTHxv -ATTHEW 4HE ,ORD S WORDS WERE DIRECT hTHAT UPON YOU v THAT PAR TICULAR SPECIFIC GENERATION WOULD FALL THE JUDGMENT FOR ALL hTHE GUILT OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD EVER SHEDv BY THE NATION h&ILL UP THEN THE MEASURE OF THE GUILT OF YOUR FATHERS v 4HE JUDGMENT WOULD BE A NATIONAL JUDGMENT WHICH WOULD OCCUR DURING THE GENERATION TO WHOM *ESUS WAS SPEAKING
-ARCELLUS +IK !N %SCHATOLOGY OF 6ICTORY PP
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h4RULY ) SAY UNTO YOU ALL THESE THINGS SHALL COME UPON THIS GENERATION v -ATTHEW 4HE REBELLIOUS NATION WOULD BE JUDGED *ERUSALEM WOULD SOON BE THE TARGET OF THE WRATH OF 'OD +IK NOTES hx@4HIS GENERATION xWOULD FILL THE CUP TO OVERFLOW ING AND EXPERIENCE THE TERRIBLE WRATH OF 'OD v 4HE CITY WOULD BE DESTROYED AND 'OD S COVENANT WITH THE *EWISH NATION WOULD CEASE 7ITH A BROKEN HEART *ESUS CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE SO ALL MIGHT HEAR h/ *ERUSALEM *ERUSALEM WHO KILLS THE PROPHETS AND STONES THOSE WHO ARE SENT TO HER (OW OFTEN ) WANTED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER THE WAY A HEN GATH ERS HER CHICKS UNDER HER WINGS AND YOU WERE UNWILL ING v -ATTHEW 7ITH TEARS FILLING (IS -ESSIANIC EYES *ESUS WARNED THE CITY WITH THE MOST OMINOUS PROPHECY OF (IS MINISTRY h"EHOLD YOUR HOUSE IS BEING LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE v -ATTHEW +IK ADDS h4HIS WAS TRULY THE SENTENCE OF DEATH 'OD AS IT WERE FORSOOK THE 4EMPLE WHICH HAD ONCE BEEN (IS DWELLING PLACE AND BY (IS DEPARTURE THE 4EMPLE WAS LEFT A SEPULCHER )T WOULD HENCEFORTH BE A BLOT UPON THE EARTH AND FIT ONLY TO BE DESTROYED #HRIST NO LON GER CALLED IT @MY HOUSE AS (E DID IN -ATTHEW BUT @YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE 4HE 4EMPLE THUS WAS FORSAKEN BY THE LIVING 'OD +IK P
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.O LONGER WOULD HE DWELL IN THE (OLY OF (OLIES OF THE EARTHLY 4EMPLE 4HE (OUSE OF 'OD WAS NOW THE (OUSE OF $ESOLATION !ND BEING THE (OUSE OF $ESOLATION ITS DESTRUCTION WAS INEVITABLE v *ESUS SAID IT CLEARLY 3PEAKING EACH WORD WITH PRECISION (E PROPHESIED *ERUSALEM AND ITS 4EMPLE WERE ABOUT TO BE DESTROYED AT THE DIRECTION OF HEAVEN 4HUS THE SETTING FOR THE /LIVET $ISCOURSE
+IK P