Big Idea

Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25; Luke 21) gives a timeline, aimed first at a Jewish audience, and begins with a clear prophecy that was fulfilled in A.D. 70.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. identify the three questions the disciples asked Jesus,
2. explain why Luke’s account fills gaps in Matthew’s,
3. trace how Jesus’ temple prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70, and
4. recognize the Jewish context and sequencing that govern Matthew 24.

Key Texts

• Matthew 24:1–3 — Setting and the three questions.
• Luke 21:5–24 — Jesus’ answer about the destruction of Jerusalem.
• Hebrews 6:12 — Faith and patience inherit the promises.
• John 2:20 — Dating detail on Herod’s Temple construction.

Background: Herod’s Temple (why the disciples were stunned)

• A monumental project (≈80 years to complete).
• Massive stones (some ~94 ft long; ~13 ft wide; ~10.5 ft high; Josephus).
• Grand colonnades (≈162 marble columns; porch ≈52 ft tall).
• Jesus’ prophecy: “Not one stone here will be left on another” (Mt 24:2).
• Note on timing: when Jesus spoke (cf. Jn 2:20), the project was ~46 years in—and continued for decades after. Fulfillment wasn’t immediate; the promise required faith and patience (Heb 6:12).

The Three Questions (Mt 24:3; Lk 21:7)

1. When will these things be? (the temple’s destruction)
2. What is the sign of your coming?
3. What is the sign of the end of the age?

Important: Matthew mainly develops Questions 2 & 3. Luke explicitly answers Question 1 (the timing of Jerusalem’s fall).

Four Keys for Reading Matthew 24

1. Luke fills Matthew’s gaps
   • To answer “When will these things be?”, read Luke 21:20–24.
2. Time-words = sequence
   • Words like “then”, “when you see…”, “immediately after” (Mt 24:9, 10, 15, 21, 23, 29; 25:1) show chronology, not random sayings.
3. Jewish context
   • “Abomination of desolation” (Mt 24:15), “Judea” (v.16), “Sabbath” (v.20) are Jewish markers. Gentile readers can misapply these if they ignore the setting.
4. The Church isn’t in view
   • Matthew 24 never names the Church or teaches the Rapture. Jesus is addressing Jewish disciples about Jewish concerns. For Rapture teaching, look to the Epistles.
   • Take care not to lift phrases (e.g., “love of many will grow cold,” Mt 24:12) out of this timeline and audience.

Answer to Question 1 — “When will these things be?” (Luke 21)

Luke 21:20–24 (summary):

• “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies…” its desolation is near.
• Those in Judea flee to the mountains; these are days of vengeance.
• Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until their times are fulfilled.

Historical Fulfillment (A.D. 66–70)

• Jewish revolt (A.D. 66); Rome responds under Vespasian and Titus.
• Romans ultimately surround the city (exactly as Jesus said; cf. Lk 19:41–44), lay siege, starve it out, then destroy it.
• A.D. 70: city burned, Temple dismantled—“not one stone left on another.”
• Massive loss of life; survivors scattered. Jesus’ prophetic details match the historical record.

Timeline Snapshot (for your course slide/handout)

• Prophecy given: c. A.D. 30 — Mt 24:1–2; Lk 21:5–6
• Fulfillment: A.D. 70 — Lk 21:20–24; siege & destruction of Jerusalem
• Ongoing: “Times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24) continue until fulfilled

Discussion & Reflection

1. Why does it matter that Luke answers Question 1 while Matthew focuses on the other two?
2. How do the time-words in Matthew 24 protect us from cherry-picking verses?
3. What dangers arise when we ignore the Jewish context of Matthew 24?
4. How does the A.D. 70 fulfillment strengthen your confidence in Jesus’ words about the future?

Big Idea

The disciples linked the Temple’s destruction with the end of the age. Luke records Jesus’ answer about when Jerusalem would fall (A.D. 70), while Matthew focuses on His coming and the end — teaching us to read both accounts together and in sequence.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain why the Temple’s fall prompted end-of-the-world questions.
2. Summarize Luke’s non-sequential ordering and how “before all this” works (Lk 21:12).
3. Trace the historical fulfillment of A.D. 70 and the “times of the Gentiles.”
4. Apply the lesson: don’t mix audiences or lift sayings out of their timeline.

Key Texts

• Matthew 24:1–3 — The three questions.
• Luke 21:5–24 — Jerusalem surrounded; days of vengeance; Gentile trampling.
• Luke 19:41–44 — Jesus weeps; predicts siege tactics in detail.
• Matthew 27:20–25 — “His blood be on us and our children!” — words have consequences.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:3 — “Peace and safety” before sudden destruction.

Background

• Why the leap? A Temple that grand seemed “end-of-the-world” proof; its fall felt apocalyptic.
• Luke’s ordering: “But before all this…” (Lk 21:12) shows his section is thematic, not strictly chronological.
• Times of the Gentiles: Waves of Gentile control over Jerusalem persist until fulfilled (Lk 21:24).

Teaching Flow

1. Read the questions (Mt 24:3) and note Israel’s assumptions about the Temple and the end.
2. Track Luke 21: “before all this” (vv.12–19) → siege & scattering (vv.20–24).
3. Historical survey: A.D. 66–70 revolt; Titus; siege; destruction; dispersion.
4. Implications: words matter (Mt 27:25; Prov 6:2); “peace” talk doesn’t equal true peace (1 Th 5:3).
5. Ongoing lens: watch Jerusalem and pray for its peace (Ps 122).

Timeline Snapshot

• A.D. 30: Prophecy spoken (Mt 24; Lk 21).
• A.D. 66–70: Siege & destruction; scattering among nations (Lk 21:20–24).
• 1948–present: Israel reborn; Jerusalem still contested until Gentile times fulfilled.

Discussion & Reflection

1. How does Luke’s “before all this” help you avoid mixing the Church Age with Tribulation texts?
2. What does A.D. 70 teach us about the certainty and pace (“faith & patience”) of God’s word?
3. Why is Jerusalem central in biblical prophecy and prayer (Ps 122)?
4. How should believers speak wisely in light of Mt 27:25 and Prov 6:2?

Big Idea

The disciples asked for a single sign. Jesus points to His visible appearing—like lightning across the sky—accompanied by cosmic upheaval and global recognition (Mt 24:27–31).

Learning Outcomes

1. State why “sign” is singular in the question (Mt 24:3).
2. Summarize the lightning-like appearing and its global visibility (Mt 24:27, 30).
3. Relate God’s voice/appearing to thunder & lightning themes (Job 36; Ps 77; Ex 19; Jn 12).
4. Distinguish the Second Coming from Church Age expectations.

Key Texts

• Matthew 24:27–31 — Lightning-like appearing; sign of the Son of Man; gathering of elect.
• Job 36:30–32; Psalm 77:18; Jeremiah 10:13 — Thunder/lightning with divine activity.
• Exodus 19:16–18 — Sinai: thunders, lightnings, cloud, trumpet, trembling.
• John 12:27–29 — The Father’s voice heard as thunder.

Background

• First-century Jews expected a conquering Messiah; suffering-before-glory was not their frame.
• Jesus rejects premature coronation (Jn 6:15) and teaches readiness instead (Mt 24:42–44).

Teaching Flow

1. Singular sign — clarify the question (Mt 24:3) vs. common “signs” lists.
2. Lightning image — public, unmistakable, horizon-to-horizon (Mt 24:27).
3. Biblical pattern — divine presence voiced/seen in thunder/lightning (Job 36; Ps 77; Ex 19; Jn 12).
4. Cosmic signs — sun/moon/stars shaken (Mt 24:29) preceding the appearing.
5. Response — global mourning, then gathering (Mt 24:30–31).

Timeline Snapshot

• Tribulation judgments unfold → cosmic upheaval → appearing like lightning → gathering.

Discussion & Reflection

1. Why does the singular “sign” matter for interpretation?
2. How does the thunder/lightning motif deepen your view of God’s appearing?
3. What’s the difference between watchfulness and date-setting (Mt 24:36, 42–44)?

Big Idea

“Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Mt 24:28) pictures the Tribulation’s aftermath and the thoroughness of divine judgment as Christ returns.

Learning Outcomes

1. Interpret the corpse/vultures metaphor in context.
2. Trace the Seven Seals and their escalating judgments.
3. Explain how the imagery anticipates Rev 19:17–18.
4. Apply the warning toward watchful, faithful living.

Key Texts

• Matthew 24:27–30 — Appearing, corpses/vultures, cosmic signs.
• Revelation 6; 8:1–5 — The Seven Seals; silence before trumpets.
• Matthew 24:7 — Famines, earthquakes — preview signs.
• Revelation 19:17–18 — Birds feast after judgment.

Background: Prophetic Imagery of Judgment

• Vultures signify the certainty and completeness of judgment.
• “Corpse” depicts a world spiritually dead and devastated by rebellion.

Teaching Flow

1. Revisit the singular sign; then the aftermath image (Mt 24:28).
2. Walk through Seals 1–7 (Rev 6; 8:1–5).
3. Connect to Rev 19:17–18 — divine cleanup after victory.
4. Call to readiness — avoid spiritual decay; live faithful.

Timeline Snapshot

• Seals → Trumpets/Bowls → Cosmic darkness → Appearing → Aftermath.

Discussion & Reflection

1. How does this metaphor correct casual views of judgment?
2. Where do you see God’s justice and mercy in this sequence?
3. How should this shape urgency in evangelism and holiness?

Big Idea

The Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8–11) unleash escalating judgments that devastate earth’s systems and harden the unrepentant—yet they also serve as urgent mercy calls to turn to God before the final wrath. Mankinds escape is not through hiding, but through repentance, faith, and readiness in Christ.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline the Seven Trumpets and what each one affects.
2. Explain how trumpets intensify earlier seal judgments and preview later bowls.
3. Discern the purpose of judgment as both justice and summons to repent.
4. Apply “escape” biblically: turning to Christ now, living watchfully, warning others.

Key Texts

• Revelation 8:6–13; 9:1–21; 11:15–19 — The Seven Trumpets.
• Matthew 24:28–30 — Aftermath imagery; appearing of the Son of Man.
• Joel 2:1 — Trumpet as alarm/warning of the Day of the Lord.
• 2 Peter 3:9 — God’s patience aims at repentance.

Background

• Trumpets in Scripture announce war, worship, gathering, or warning (Num 10; Joel 2).
• Structure: Seals → Trumpets → Bowls. Trumpets intensify impact and target earth’s life-support systems and hardened hearts.
• Context: After the Seals, heaven’s silence (Rev 8:1) precedes trumpet alarms—mercy before the next wave.

Teaching Flow

1. Trumpet 1 — Scorched earth (Rev 8:7): Hail and fire mixed with blood; one-third of trees and all green grass burned. Consider oxygen, cooling, CO₂ absorption, erosion control—now diminished.
2. Trumpet 2 — Sea catastrophe (Rev 8:8–9): “Great mountain” burning thrown into the sea; one-third of the sea becomes blood, sea life dies, and ships are destroyed (tsunami-like displacement).
3. Trumpet 3 — Freshwater poisoned (Rev 8:10–11): Star “Wormwood” makes one-third of rivers/springs bitter; many die from the waters. Wealth and status can’t shield from judgment.
4. Trumpet 4 — Celestial dimming (Rev 8:12–13): one-third of sun, moon, stars darkened. An eagle cries, “Woe, woe, woe,” flagging that the next three trumpets are uniquely severe.
5. Trumpet 5 — Demonic torment (First Woe, Rev 9:1–11): Locust-like beings from the abyss torment the unsealed for five months—agony so intense people long to die but cannot (v.6).
6. Trumpet 6 — Mass death (Second Woe, Rev 9:13–21): Four bound angels released at the Euphrates lead a vast infernal cavalry; one-third of remaining humanity is killed. Yet the survivors still do not repent (vv.20–21).
7. Trumpet 7 — Kingdom proclamation (Third Woe begins, Rev 11:15–19): “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ…” Accompanied by lightning, thunder, earthquake, and hail—heaven declares Christ’s reign.

Timeline Snapshot

• Seals (global shocks) → Trumpets (escalating alarms; thirds struck; woes announced) → Bowls (final, rapid wrath).
• Between judgments: God extends mercy calls to repent; hardened hearts refuse (Rev 9:20–21).
• Trumpet 7 heralds the inevitable: Christ’s kingdom claim and coming consummation (Rev 11:15).

Discussion & Reflection

1. How do the “thirds” (trees, seas, waters, lights) function as both judgment and warning?
2. What does the refusal to repent (Rev 9:20–21) teach about the danger of a hardened heart?
3. In practical terms, what does it mean to “escape” the Tribulation’s carnage today?
4. Who in your life needs a loving, urgent invitation to turn to Christ now?

Big Idea

The Seven Bowls (Revelation 16) are God’s final, rapid judgments poured out on a world that has hardened itself through the Seals and Trumpets. “Winning” is not outlasting wrath but repenting, believing, and staying awake in Christ (Rev 16:15)—God’s mercy still calls even as judgment falls.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline the Seven Bowls and how they intensify the Tribulation’s trajectory.
2. Explain why refusal to repent escalates judgment (Rev 16:9, 11).
3. Define biblical “escape” as salvation and watchful obedience in Christ (Rev 16:15).
4. Apply a pastoral response: repent now, witness urgently, endure faithfully.

Key Texts

• Revelation 16:1–21 — The Seven Bowls poured out.
• 2 Peter 3:9 — God’s patience aims at repentance.
• Luke 21:36 — “Stay awake… to escape all these things.”
• Revelation 14:9–11 — Warning to worshipers of the beast.

Background

• Sequence: Seals → Trumpets → Bowls (final, rapid, comprehensive).
• Setting: A planet already reeling from the first fourteen judgments now faces the last seven.
• Purpose: Just and true judgments (Rev 16:5–7) that still plead for repentance (16:9, 11).

Teaching Flow

1. Bowl 1 — Painful, virulent sores (Rev 16:2): Targeted on those who bear the beast’s mark and worship his image—rapid, destructive, pernicious affliction.
2. Bowl 2 — Sea becomes like a corpse’s blood (Rev 16:3): Every living thing in the sea dies (where Trumpet 2 struck a third, Bowl 2 finishes the rest).
3. Bowl 3 — Rivers and springs become blood (Rev 16:4–7): Remaining freshwater turns to blood; heaven vindicates God’s justice for the blood of saints and prophets.
4. Bowl 4 — Scorching heat from the sun (Rev 16:8–9): With waters ruined, fierce heat exposes hardened hearts—yet people curse God and do not repent.
5. Bowl 5 — Darkness on the beast’s throne (Rev 16:10–11): His kingdom is plunged into crushing darkness; people gnaw their tongues in pain—still refusing repentance.
6. Bowl 6 — Euphrates dried; demonic deception; Armageddon set (Rev 16:12–16): Spirits like frogs gather world powers for the final conflict; Jesus interjects: “Behold, I am coming like a thief… blessed is the one who stays awake.”
7. Bowl 7 — “It is done!” global earthquake and collapse (Rev 16:17–21): The greatest earthquake in history; cities fall, Babylon judged, islands and mountains vanish; lightning, thunder, hail close the series.

Timeline Snapshot

• Seals (global shocks) → Trumpets (escalating thirds, mercy warnings) → Bowls (final, rapid, total).
• Repeated refrain: humanity did not repent (Rev 16:9, 11) versus Christ’s call: “Stay awake.”
• Bowl 7 climaxes history’s shaking and sets the stage for the Lord’s appearing and judgment of Babylon.

Discussion & Reflection

1. What does the progression from Seals → Trumpets → Bowls reveal about God’s justice and mercy?
2. Why do repeated refusals to repent intensify judgment (Rev 16:9, 11)?
3. How does Jesus’ interjection in Rev 16:15 shape our response today?
4. Who needs your loving, urgent invitation to turn to Christ now?

Big Idea

Armageddon is the final, global convergence of hostile nations against Jerusalem (Joel 2–3; Zech 12–14), climaxing in the Lord’s visible intervention and victory (Rev 19:11–21). The biblical path to “escape” is not surviving the battlefield but belonging to the Lord who wins it—repentance, faith, and watchful allegiance to King Jesus (Rev 16:15).

Learning Outcomes

1. Trace Armageddon across Joel 2–3, Zechariah 12–14, and Revelation 19.
2. Explain how the “valley of decision” (Joel 3:14) and Jerusalem’s siege frame the final conflict.
3. Identify how the Lord ends the battle and enthrones His rule (Zech 14:3–9; Rev 19:11–16).
4. Define biblical “escape” as turning to Christ now and staying spiritually awake (Rev 16:15).

Key Texts

• Joel 2–3 — Alarm in Zion; nations gathered; the Lord judges in the valley of Jehoshaphat.
• Zechariah 12–14 — Jerusalem besieged; the Lord fights; His feet stand on the Mount of Olives.
• Revelation 19:11–21 — The Rider on the white horse; the Beast and False Prophet judged.
• Matthew 24:28 — “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Background

• Armageddon’s stage: After Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls, hardened nations assemble for war (cf. Rev 16:12–16).
• Joel’s lens: Alarm in Zion; an unstoppable, locust-like army; nations gathered for judgment (Joel 2–3).
• Zechariah’s lens: Jerusalem besieged, then dramatically delivered when the Lord fights (Zech 12:2–9; 14:1–5).
• Revelation’s lens: The King appears, conquers, and captures the Beast and False Prophet (Rev 19:11–21).

Teaching Flow

1. Alarm & Assembly (Joel 2–3): Trumpet in Zion; a vast, devastating force; God summons the nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment. The “valley of decision” is God’s decision rendered on rebellious nations (Joel 3:14–16).
2. Siege & Deliverance (Zech 12–14): Jerusalem becomes a cup of staggering; half the city is taken (14:2). Then the LORD goes forth to fight; His feet stand on the Mount of Olives; the landscape splits; He reigns as King over all the earth (14:3–9).
3. The King Appears (Rev 19:11–21): Heaven opens; the Rider called Faithful and True judges and makes war; the Beast and False Prophet are seized and thrown alive into the lake of fire; the carrion birds gather—echoing Jesus’ word in Mt 24:28.
4. Meaning of “Escape”: Not outmaneuvering armies, but coming under the Kingship of Jesus before that Day. The call is, “Behold, I am coming like a thief… blessed is the one who stays awake” (Rev 16:15).

Timeline Snapshot

• Bowls culminate → nations gathered (Rev 16:12–16) → Jerusalem besieged (Zech 14:1–2) → the LORD fights & appears (Zech 14:3–5; Rev 19:11–16) → Beast and False Prophet judged (Rev 19:20) → victory & cleanup (Rev 19:17–21).

Discussion & Reflection

1. How do Joel, Zechariah, and Revelation harmonize the final conflict and the Lord’s victory?
2. Why is the “valley of decision” ultimately God’s decision, not human vacillation?
3. What does it mean to “stay awake” (Rev 16:15) in practical discipleship today?
4. How does Jesus’ metaphor in Mt 24:28 sober our view of the end?

Big Idea

Immediately after the Tribulation (Mt 24:29) Jesus appears in glory and sends angels to gather and separate humanity (Mt 24:31; 25:31–46). A mixed multitude survives the judgments, but the first royal act of King Jesus is separation—the righteous from the unrighteous.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the sequence: Tribulation ends → the Son of Man appears → angels gather and separate.
2. Identify the “mixed multitude” of survivors and why separation is necessary.
3. Show how Jesus’ parables (weeds, net, sheep & goats) anticipate this moment.
4. Apply the call to respond to Christ now rather than presume on survival.

Key Texts

• Matthew 24:29–31 — Cosmic signs; appearing; angels gather the elect.
• Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 — Weeds among wheat; explanation of end-time harvest.
• Matthew 13:47–50 — Dragnet; good and bad fish sorted.
• Matthew 25:31–46 — Sheep and goats before the King.
• Matthew 8:22 — “Let the dead bury their own dead” (priority of discipleship).

Background

• Chronology: Matthew 24–25 unfolds in order; “Immediately after” marks the post-tribulation moment (Mt 24:29).
• Context: Earth smolders after twenty-one judgments; Armageddon has concluded; the King has arrived.
• Mixed survivors: Some believed during the Tribulation; others refused—both groups remain alive until Jesus separates them.

Teaching Flow

1. Review the marker (Mt 24:29–31): The sun darkened, powers shaken, the Sign of the Son of Man, and angels sent with a loud trumpet to gather His elect.
2. First royal act: separation, not cleanup (Mt 8:22): Jesus prioritizes the spiritual state of people before the physical restoration of the world.
3. The mixed multitude: Saved and unsaved stand side-by-side after the Tribulation—history’s field contains both wheat and darnel.
4. Parables that prefigured this moment:
   • Weeds & Wheat (Mt 13:24–30, 36–43): angels remove causes of sin and lawbreakers; the righteous shine.
   • Dragnet (Mt 13:47–50): good and bad fish sorted; the evil thrown into the furnace.
   • Sheep & Goats (Mt 25:31–46): the King separates nations and individuals by their treatment of “these my brothers.”
5. “One taken, one left” (Mt 24:40–41): In this post-tribulation context, the taken are removed in judgment, while the left remain to enter the King’s administration.

Timeline Snapshot

• Tribulation ends → cosmic signs → appearing of the Son of Man → angels gather/separate → sheep enter kingdom / goats judged.

Discussion & Reflection

1. Why does Jesus prioritize separation over immediate cleanup of the earth?
2. How do the three parables deepen our grasp of end-time sorting?
3. What does “one taken, one left” mean in this context—and how does that shape our urgency?
4. Who in your life needs a clear invitation to follow Jesus today?

Big Idea

Jesus’ fig tree lesson (Mt 24:32–35) is a closing analogy at the end of His Tribulation discourse: as budding figs signal summer, so the Tribulation events signal the nearness of His appearing. Scripture often uses the fig as an image connected with Israel (e.g., Hos 9:10; Jer 24), but in Matthew 24 the emphasis is the timing cue for the generation that experiences these events.

Learning Outcomes

1. Summarize the Bible’s fig/Israel connections (Hos 9:10; Jer 24) and general fig background.
2. Explain how the fig tree analogy in Mt 24:32–35 functions within the chronological flow of Matthew 24–25.
3. Understand the distinction between symbolic connections and Jesus’ practical timing lesson.
4. Apply the call to faithful, fruitful discipleship rather than speculative date-setting.

Key Texts

• Matthew 24:32–35 — “From the fig tree learn its lesson…”
• Hosea 9:10 — “Like the first fruit on the fig tree… I saw your fathers.”
• Jeremiah 24:1–10 — Two baskets of figs: good and bad; promise and judgment.
• Numbers 13:23; Deut 8:7–8 — Figs among the covenant blessings of the Land.
• Luke 13:6–9 — Parable of the fruitless fig tree in the vineyard (patience → accountability).

Background: Figs in Scripture

• Frequency: The Bible mentions figs and fig trees many times; associated with sweetness, shade, and abundance.
• Blessing & Judgment: Figs appear among promised blessings (Deut 8) but also in judgment scenes when Israel turns to idols (Jer 8:13).
• Symbolic use: Hos 9:10 and Jer 24 use figs to depict Israel—good figs (restoration) and bad figs (discipline).

Teaching Flow

1. Read the fig lesson (Mt 24:32–35): Leaves → summer is near; likewise, when “you see these things,” know He is near. This is placed after the Tribulation marker in Mt 24:29.
2. Fig & Israel threads: Hosea 9:10 likens Israel to early figs; Jeremiah 24 contrasts good/bad figs—obedience vs. rebellion. These inform the biblical imagination around figs and Israel.
3. Parable insight (Luke 13:6–9): God seeks fruit; patient cultivation precedes judgment. Fruitlessness invites removal—sobering for any “leafy” appearance without life.
4. What Jesus is—and isn’t—saying in Mt 24: He gives a timing analogy, not a command to date-set. The generation within the Tribulation will not pass until “all these things” occur (v. 34).
5. Discipleship takeaway: Rather than speculation, Jesus calls for watchfulness and fruitfulness—real obedience (“hearken” = hear and obey).

Timeline Snapshot

• Tribulation discourse (Mt 24) → Immediately after (24:29) → cosmic signs & appearing → fig tree timing analogy (24:32–35) → assurance: “My words will not pass away.”

Discussion & Reflection

1. How do Hosea 9 and Jeremiah 24 enrich your reading of Jesus’ fig lesson?
2. Why is it important to keep Matthew 24–25 in chronological sequence?
3. Where might we be tempted to have “leaves without fruit”? What fruit is God seeking?
4. How should the certainty of Jesus’ words (Mt 24:35) shape daily obedience?