Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 24:1–14

The temple that the disciples saw was still under re-construction and was supported by King Herod. Although nowhere near the splendour of the original built by Solomon, still, the stones laid for this temple were massive, and its exterior glistened in the sun as a stunning piece of architecture.

1. What did the temple represent as far as the people were concerned?

2. What did the temple represent as far as God was concerned?

3. What is meant by “Not one stone here will be left on another”?

4. What did such destruction mean to the people and to God when the Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus, the Roman General?

5. The disciples were relating the destruction of the temple also to Jesus’ second coming and the end of the age. Did Jesus dispute their view? Why not?

6. In light of this, list the signs in vv. 5-8.  Consider,

a. What has happened historically

b. What is happening in our days, and

c. What has yet to happen?

7. Do you think we are living in the “end-time”? Why or why not?

8. Preceding His coming, Jesus highlights in vv. 9-12 the signs of persecution. Although the immediate setting was in “local councils” and “synagogues” (according to Mk. 13), it does spread beyond that.

There is a report that there are more martyrs in the last century than any time in the history of Christianity. Name five countries that you know are persecuting believers today (if you have access to the internet, take time to visit www.persecution.org today).

9. Should you be afraid of persecution? (See Lk. 21:19.)

10. In spite of the intensifying of all the signs, what did Jesus cite as the final one before “the end will come”?

11. How then should we live?

12. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 24:15–31

As Jesus continues to foretell of the “Great Tribulation”, it appears that He is addressing different aspects of it:

1. Vv. 15-20: addressing the Jews

a. Who is the main character responsible for the great distress? (You may wish to consult Dan. 7:8, Rev. 19:20, 2 Thess. 2:4-8 etc.)

b. What do you sense about the times conveyed in vv. 16-20?

c. In this section, what might indicate that the Jews are those who are addressed primarily?

2. Vv. 21-28: addressing the entire world

a. How severe will the Great Tribulation be?

b. How does the belief of “pre-tribulation” rapture affect the interpretation of who the “elect” might be in this section? (i.e. if believers are taken up before the Great Tribulation, who might the “elect” be?)

c. If false Christs and false prophets can perform great miracles, how can we tell they are false?

d. How does v. 27 help us in discerning at least the false Christs?

3. Vv. 29-31: Final Signs and His actual coming

a. Try to draw a picture of the final signs

b. While many of the preceding signs might have happened in varying degrees, have these final signs happened yet?

c. Why would all the nations mourn? What would they be mourning over?

d. But to the “elect”, what will that day be like?

4. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 24:32–39

As Jesus wraps up the foretelling of the signs of the end-time in response to the disciples’ questions in 24:3, He uses the fig tree as an analogy:

1. As you mull over all the signs in the preceding verses, do you get a sense that Jesus is “right at the door”? Why or why not?

2. Why does Jesus emphasize that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”?

3. While “this generation” suggests many interpretations or speculations, it is perhaps more natural within the context to assume that it refers to the generation in which all these signs will come together. Will it be our generation?

4. How should we react to the pronouncements of the time of Jesus’ coming from self-proclaimed prophets based on v. 36?

5. Why would our Father God not give us more specific timing to help us better prepare ourselves to face Jesus’ coming?

6. In what ways does His coming resemble that of the flood? Try to analyze your comparisons in detail.

7. What lessons should we learn from the flood?

8. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 24:40–51

1. Jesus is using another analogy (a farming analogy that His hearers are more familiar with) to get His point across. What is His point? To whom is it directed?

2. Read 2 Peter 3:8-10 to reflect on the words of Peter on the same subject. (Mind you, Peter heard these words by Jesus with His own ears.)

3.  (1) The Unexpected Hour: Analogy of break-in:

a. Have you ever tried to stay awake and yet kept going back to doze? What caused you to doze and how could you have avoided it?

b. How can you apply this (a) to “keep watch” as Jesus has commanded us?

c. In the Bible, “prayer” is often associated with keeping watch and being ready (e.g. 26:41). In what way(s) would prayer help us in terms of being awake and of keeping watch?

4.  (2) The Unexpected Hour: Household servants

a. What are the characteristics of a faithful and wise servant?

b. What challenge will the “delay” of the return of the master pose to any servant?

c. What are the characteristics of the wicked servant?

d. How is this servant different from the faithful one in terms of:

1. Their relationship with the master
2. How they look upon their charge
3. How they look upon fellow workers
4. Their being “prepared” to face their master and
5. Their ultimate ‘reward”

e. Who might the “hypocrites” be?

5. What then is the essential message of this warning and how may you apply it in your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 25:1–13

(3) The Unexpected Hour

In the Old Testament, Israel is often spoken of as the bride of the Lord. Therefore this parable of the virgins may speak to those who think they are surely part of the Kingdom of Heaven within the People of God of Jesus’ days and within the church today.

1. Why are the characters in this parable called “virgins” and what are their roles?

2. In what ways are they being likened to the Kingdom of heaven?

3. How is the use of five versus five similar to 24:40-41?

4. In the parable

a. When should the virgins prepare their lamps?

b. How should they do so?

c. Why would they not do so?

d. Why can’t the foolish ones go and get oil when the bridegroom comes?

e. What is their fate?

5. Since “sleep” is often used to describe death, and all the virgins dozed off as the bridegroom is a long time in coming, and “oil” depicts the Holy Spirit:

a. How should we prepare for Jesus’ coming?

b. When should we do so?

c. Why is it too late, if we have not done so when Jesus comes?

d. What would be our fate?

6. Why would Jesus call five out of all foolish and the others wise?

7. In what way would this parable serve as a warning to the Jewish hearers?

8. What then is the essential message of this warning to you in terms of the “unexpected hour” motif and how may you apply it in your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 25:14–30

Apart from the “unexpected hour” motif, another recurring theme of this series of parables is “the journey” of the master or king:

1. Why does Jesus stress the length of “the journey” over and over again through these parables (24:48; 25:5)?

2. What is the basis on which the varying “talents” are given?

3. If the basis is “ability”, then talents cannot be ability (as the word is being coined today). What might it be?

4. Rev. Stephen Chan opined, as a result, “talents” are really opportunities. If this is the case, it means that even if we have the ability (or gifts), we still have to wait for God’s assigned opportunity, timing or task. Do you agree?

5. How much might you be affected by the amount of God’s given ability and task when it comes to our attitude of serving, especially when others have received far less or greater than ours?

6. What are the rewards given to the first two servants? Is there any difference between the two? What is the message being conveyed by Jesus?

7. What reasons are given by  the last servant for not using the talent at all?

a. Is what he says of the master true?

b. By what he says, can you tell his relationship with the master and his attitude toward the task assigned?

c. Do you think his reasons are valid or are they excuses?

8. What is the verdict of the master, and is his verdict justified? Why?

9. How do verses 28-29 play out in real life, that is, when it comes to serving in the church?

10. What kind of a warning is it to the immediate audience, i.e., the Jews?

11.What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 25:31–46

1. Jesus now turns the focus of His message from the “long journey” to His eventual arrival or return. What is He declaring about His return in vv. 31-32?

2. He then gives us a picture of His judgment over “all the nations”, using a pastoral analogy, that of the division of sheep and goats. Who are the sheep and who are the goats?

3. What is the reward of the righteous? Try to understand what this reward really is and how great it is.

4. What is the “reward” of the cursed? Why are they called the “cursed” and do you get a sense that where they will be sent is not really originally meant for them?

5. What is meant by “one of the least of these brothers of mine”?

a. Why are they called the least?

b. Why are they called His brothers? Can we base our understanding by comparing to Hebrews 2:11?

6. As we seek to understand this passage, what can we observe about the first church in the Book of Acts in this respect?

7. Throughout the New Testament, the clear message of salvation is that of faith in Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16 etc.):

a. What message might you get from this as a stand-alone passage?

b. What message might you understand when taken together with the rest of Scripture?

8. What is the purpose of Jesus giving this sermon as one of His final ones?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?