Jesus Predicts the Temple's Destruction

July 27, 2025 Background Scripture: Matthew 23:37; 24:35 (Mark 13:1 – 23; Luke 21:5 - 24) Lesson Passage: Matthew 24:1 - 14 I tend to cringe when I see the word "predict" used to describe prophecy, but that's the word used in our lesson's topic. Prophecy is a foretold Prophecy is an accurate account of a situation that will occur in the future. I think of the word "predict" as referring to future possibilities that are based on probabilities. Predictions may or may not happen. Prophecies will absolutely happen. In our lesson, Jesus speaks words of prophecy not prediction. What Jesus said is absolute and it will come to pass. Prophecy has a peculiar characteristic: prophetic events are often sequential in time without a timeline given. Because of this characteristic, certain events will happen prior to others. However, the occurrence of those events doesn't necessarily trigger the onset of the others; they just occur first based on the prophecy. Subsequent events might occur thousands of years later in the sequence. When the temple in Jerusalem was described by early Jewish writers such as Josephus, it is easy to understand how awe-inspiring of a structure it was. The entire complex covered about twenty acres. The major stones used for its construction were marble weighing tons each. They were adorned with gold ornamentation. At its peak height, the structure stood about one hundred feet high, That temple was constructed during the rule of the Herod's over a period that spanned more than forty years. No doubt, it was one of the unique wonders of the world in the first century. It was a monument to human creativity and construction. As Jesus and His disciples left the temple complex during the final week of His ministry in Jerusalem, some of them pointed out to Jesus how impressive the temple was. Perhaps they saw it as a structure that would last for as long as the world exists. However, Jesus responded by telling of the coming destruction of the temple that would not leave one stone atop another. How could they imagine those huge marble stones being toppled? Who, or what, would have the power to do such a thing? Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and sat facing the temple. Some of His disciples came to Him and asked when will the temple be destroyed, and how would they know the time of His return. Jesus told them about end of time events that would precede the destruction of the temple. They were warned to be alert because many deceivers were coming prior to His return. They would claim to be the Messiah. There will be worldwide conflict between nations also. Many natural disasters will unfold such as famines, pestilences, and widespread earthquakes. Before Jesus returns, some Christians will be persecuted, and people will lose compassion for each other. In short, the world will become a much worse place before Jesus returns. Some people will attempt to flee for their lives with no place to go. But people from every nation will have the opportunity to be saved from eternal destruction. That opportunity will happen because the gospel will be preached to every nation prior to Jesus' return. The times of tribulation will cause widespread calamities, both suffering and deaths. Anyone living at the time of tribulations will not be able to avoid it. But the good news. is everyone will have the opportunity to escape eternal damnation. The preaching of the gospel is essential for everyone. God loves people because we were created in His image and according to His likeness. Sin marred the image of God in us, but it didn't change God's love for us. God offers us salvation through Jesus. The world as we know it will end because destruction is coming. The tribulation in this world will usher in the kingdom of God. Jesus' prophetic statement was a warning, but it included good news for all who will accept Him before He returns. Robert C. Hudson July 16, 2025

Cleansing the Temple

July 20, 2025 Background Scripture: John 2:13 -25; Matthew 21:12 - 17; Mark 11:15 - 19; Luke 19:45 - 48 Lesson Passage: John 2:13 - 25 It is rare that the scriptures present Jesus as becoming indignant because of the actions of those who are considered the people of God. There are many situations recorded in the gospel accounts that we would understand had He become so—especially when it came to the leadership of the Jews. At first glance, the scenario that unfolds in today's lesson seems an unlikely situation for indignation to occur. That makes this incident a learning opportunity for us. Based on the Background Scripture, it appears that this incident occurred twice. John records it as occurring at the onset of Jesus' ministry. The synoptic writers of the gospel record it as occurring towards the conclusion of His ministry. It is likely that the merchants continued to do what they were doing throughout Jesus' ministry. They would not have been easily swayed to abandon their practices since they questioned whether Jesus had the authority to stop them. The Lesson Passage taken from the Gospel of John is Jesus' first public offer of Himself to Israel as their Messiah. This occurred during Passover. As the Passover celebration approached, Jews would travel from miles around to the temple in Jerusalem. The men were required by the Law to present themselves at the temple with a sacrificial offering and a financial tax for the upkeep and service of the temple. It was more convenient for the ones who traveled a great distance to purchase an animal for sacrifice after arriving in Jerusalem. This practice created an economic opportunity for those who sold animals and provided the currency needed for the temple tax (the priests did not accept foreign currency for the tax). Sadly, when there is an opportunity for economic gain, there is also the opportunity to take advantage of the consumer. There appears to have been two trespasses involved that caused Jesus to react as He did. First, the merchants set up their shops on the temple grounds. Although the location was advantageous for the merchants, the shops did not need to be on the temple grounds. The presence of the shops made part of the temple grounds a commercial area. This is the reason Jesus referred to the practice as turning the temple into a house of merchandise. Secondly, some merchants appeared to be making an unreasonable profit at the expense of those who traveled from afar to worship in Jerusalem according to the Law. The travelers without sacrificial animals or the correct currency were at the mercy of the merchants to pay whatever they demanded. Both trespasses interrupted the spirit of worship that should have been present within the temple grounds. As a result, Jesus drove all of them—including the animals from the temple grounds, poured out the money changers' money, and turned the merchants' tables over. The temple held a special place in the relationship between God and Israel. King Solomon ordered the construction of Israel's first temple. When Solomon prayed and dedicated Israel's first temple, he prayed that it would be a place for God to dwell among His people. God specified in the Law the activities that should take place within the temple. Those activities foreshadowed the atoning work of Jesus for all of mankind. There was even a place within the temple grounds specified for Gentiles. Any person that came to the temple should have done so for some form of prayer and/or worship. The merchants appear to have been there to make a profit and not for prayer or the sincere worship of God. It was personal for Jesus; especially during the Passover. The Passover observance foreshadowed Jesus' crucifixion for the sins of the world. Anything that profaned the Passover, or the temple, was spiritual pollution. Therefore, Jesus cleansed the temple. C. Hudson June 26, 2025