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Be Warned, Jesus Will Judge the Nations – Matthew Chapter 25
Chapter 25 continues Jesus’s warning on being prepared (for the Rapture). He gives two parables to illustrate things concerning this event. First, in the parable of the virgins, the idea is simply to be prepared; but the idea of the talents is a warning to be faithful. Finally, at the end of the chapter, Jesus tells what will happen to the Gentile world (in judgment) when He returns.
Jesus Foretells the End of the Age – Matthew Chapter 24
After Jesus’s denunciation of the leaders and warning of Jerusalem’s destruction, His disciples seek to understand His prophetic words about the destruction of the temple and the future setting up of the kingdom. Jesus began by giving them a general overview of increasing despair as the world moved towards the time of the Tribulation and then provided them a sign to signify when the kingdom would be set up.
Jesus Condemns the Religious Leaders – Matthew Chapter 23
Chapter 23 concludes this section of the “testing of the Lamb (Jesus)” with Him condemning the religious leaders for their pride and hypocrisy. Here Jesus pronounced seven woes upon the pharisees and scribes leading to His ultimate pronouncement of judgment. In His final words, Jesus laments over Jerusalem and declares that He will not return again until they accept Him as Messiah.
Jesus is Questioned by the Religious Leaders – Matthew Chapter 22
Chapter 22 continues with the overall theme of testing. But before, this Jesus continued His parabolic teaching to the leaders indicating how that their rejection of Him will lead to the kingdom being offered to others and their destruction. After this, differing groups came to Jesus to question Him to entrap or find reasons to condemn Him.
The Presentation of the King and the Lamb – Matthew Chapter 21
Jesus now enters into Jerusalem, presenting Himself as the rightful King of the Jews. Fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah, He enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The next day Jesus entered the temple and for the second time cleansed it. During these last days of Jesus before His crucifixion, He is tested by the religious leaders, fulfilling Moses instructions of testing the lamb (Exodus 12).
Who is the Greatest? – Matthew Chapter 20
Continuing with the principle of “the last shall be first and the first, last”, Jesus continued teaching His disciples in a parable. The point He was making was that, He would appoint those to serve Him throughout the church age and would reward them just as He rewarded the twelve apostles. As He headed toward Jerusalem, again He reminded them of His upcoming death and resurrection.
Jesus Teaches on Divorce and Wealth – Matthew Chapter 19
Leaving Galilee, Jesus now heads toward Jerusalem where He will be crucified and raised from the dead. Along the way, He is questioned about divorce by the pharisees and provides valuable teachings on the priority and permanence of marriage. Even though His words are difficult to receive, He continues by teaching that His disciples should always be like children.
Children of the Kingdom (Relationships) – Matthew Chapter 18
Continuing from the idea of “heirs of the kingdom”, chapter 18 deals with the children of the kingdom. That is, all who would be in the “new” kingdom should be humble as children and be careful of how they treat the least in the new kingdom (church).
The Transfiguration of Jesus – Matthew Chapter 17
After Peter’s great confession of Jesus dual nature as Messiah and God, Jesus began to reveal His upcoming death and resurrection. Then because of Peter’s unwillingness to accept this, Jesus taught them on the nature of discipleship – always doing the Father’s will. But He also encouraged them that some of them would see the coming Kingdom.
Peter’s Great Confession – Matthew Chapter 16
After returning from the region of the Gentiles, Jesus is once again confronted by the religious leaders, asking for a messianic sign. Jesus rejected their request and warned His disciples of the false teachings of those leaders. He then continued to ask about what the people and the disciples themselves thought of Jesus.
Jesus Blesses the Gentiles – Matthew Chapter 15
When Jesus is confronted by the pharisees because His disciples did not wash before eating, He teaches that true defilement comes from within and not without. He leaves and enters the regions of the Gentiles and with three examples of ministry teaches His disciples how that their future ministry would incorporate blessings for the Gentiles.
Jesus Trains His Disciples – Matthew Chapter 14
After revealing the mystery kingdom AND since the rejection of Jesus as the nation’s Messiah and King, Jesus “withdraws” and begins to teach and train His disciples for their future work in the ministry. The death of John the Baptist marks this transition.
