Jesus told the people and the 12 to do what the Pharisees said, but not to do what they did. What they said and what they did was two different things. But they liked to put on a good show to make themselves feel good. "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (NIV Matt23:12) Jesus corrected the Pharisees and teachers on some of the things they were doing that were wrong. Jesus told them they would be held responsible for the innocent blood of the righteous from Abel to Zechariah. (Jesus says Zechariah was the son of Berekiah and in 2Chron 24:21 it says he was the son of Jehoiada. Maybe we'll find out how this works once we're on the other side?)
As they walked away, Jesus told them that none of the stones of the temple would remain. On the Mount of Olives, the 12 asked Jesus what would be the signs of His coming again. Jesus told them that at first there will be many who will claim to be Him, everyone will be fighting with everyone else, and there will be famines and natural disasters. Then Christians will be hated because of Him and others will turn away from Him and hate others. False prophets will deceive many people. Love will be very scarce. The gospel will be preached to the whole world and then the end will come. Everything will go dark and then everyone will be able to see the coming of the Son of Man. Only God knows when this will happen and it will be when everyone least expects it.
Jesus continued speaking about the end of the age by telling the parable of the 10 virgins who went to meet their bridegroom. Each virgin had an oil lamp, but only five thought to bring extra oil. They fell asleep. At midnight someone shouted that the groom was arriving. They got up and started to light their lamps. Uh-oh five lamps wouldn't light because they didn't have enough oil, and those girls asked the others for some of their oil. But they were wise and told them to go buy their own oil. While the five unprepared virgins were gone buying oil, the bridegroom arrived and took the five who were ready to the wedding, and the doors were closed. The five returned and shouted to be let in to the wedding. The bridegroom told them he didn't know them. So always be prepared! You don't know when all of this will happen.
Tomorrow read Matthew 25:14-26:68
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