The Kingdom of God Draws Near

The Kingdom of God Draws Near

Introduction

1. The Example (vv.29-31)

A Practical Illustration

The Object

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

Attention turned to something practical

Fig trees were quite common in this area.

It was near Bethany, just outside Jerusalem, that Jesus had cursed a fig tree in front of his disciples.

So, Jesus here takes and example from something that was probably right in front them

They're on the mount of olives.

Across the Kidron valley is the temple, that has been the focal point of this discussion with his disciples.

And now he points their attention to this fig tree.

The Observation

30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

This is a simple illustration from life.

When the leaves start appearing, the seasons are changing... the summer is near.

Keep in mind - this was the time of the Passover... when is this celebrated?

March / April (Easter) - Spring time in the Northern Hemisphere

We love the change of seasons...

I particularly love the change from winter to spring... and then to summer.

As those leaves appear, you know that the warm summer months are approaching.

This is simple and obvious... and yet so important to see.

Jesus is picturing this because there is an inevitability about what happens.

When the leaves start appearing on the trees, no one asks why... they know why...

The seasons are changing... the summer months are approaching.

It can be no other way!!!

A Real-life Application

31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

When you see these things

These things refers to all the different "signs" that Jesus has outlined for His disciples.

Wars and Revolutions

Nation rising against nation

Earthquakes and Pestilence, famine etc.

Even Persecutions (v.12)

You know

These signs are like the leaves on the tree.

In as much as it is certain that leaves on the tree indicates summer approaching, so it is certain that these signs, when you see them, indicate that God's Kingdom is approaching.

Practically Speaking... Implications?

What goes through your mind when you read the news?

Is your thought merely... "what a terrible world we live in?!"

Need to think this through -

All that we see happening... wars, natural disasters are signs and indicators given to us to point us to something important.

For the Christian, it should be impossible for us to look at things and say... oh, that's just because of sin... or just because people are so evil...

Must go beyond - something greater is working out here... and these things are all signs pointing my attention to something important!

The kingdom of God

In Luke 21:27, Jesus had already spoke about the Son of Man coming with power....

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27)

This is speaking of the same event... the Kingdom coming / The Son of Man Coming...

In other words.... when these things take place, recognise that the final reign of Jesus as King is approaching

Important: This is not a specific time given...

No one knows the hour...

However, there are signs that the day is approaching.

The Kingdom of God - refers to the final, authoritative reign of Christ.

Christ rules presently.... He is seated at the right hand of God... but there is final day when He will judge the living and the dead...

2. The Certainty (vv.32-33)

32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

I tell you the truth

This very phrase immediately sets up the certainty of what Jesus is telling His disciples.

"Truly, truly..." is the important phrase wherein Jesus calls His disciples to pay careful attention.

"I solemnly declare to you!!!"

It's a phrase used only by Jesus... 70 times.... Draws emphasis.

This Generation

This is where the questions arise in people's minds...

What did Jesus mean by "This generation...?"

Those living at the time of Jesus

This is how we typically understand the word.

When we speak about this generation, we're referring to a group of people... born within 10 or 20 years of each others.... will die around the same time....

In that sense, if this is what Jesus was saying, then all that he had said would come about and be fulfilled before the passing of His disciples...

Not necessarily all... but as a general rule...

Most of the people of that "generation" - would have been dead by the end of the first century...

Remember - He's spoken about the Kingdom of God coming...

Those who would still hold to this view, will sometimes argue that the kingdom refers to the age of the church... Destruction of the temple / Jerusalem marks the real age of the church now that the Jewish sacrificial system etc. is no longer being carried.

The other alternative (if holding to this view) is that Jesus was mistaken...

Generation (genea) = ethnic grouping

In this sense, he may have been referring to the Jews themselves...

Recall earlier that Jesus was confronting the Jews about the killing of the prophets.

"Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.” (Luke 11:50–51)

A group of people with particular characteristics...

Wicked people in Noah's Day

"Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” (Genesis 6:11–12)

"The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” (Genesis 7:1)

Israel's corruption predicted

"They have acted corruptly toward him; to their shame they are no longer his children, but a warped and crooked generation. Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” (Deuteronomy 32:5–6)

This generation would not be limited to "one generation..."

There would be many hundreds of years that generations would come and go... but they would be corrupt / warped.

"They would not be like their forefathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.” (Psalm 78:8)

Note: In this sense.... it may be that "this generation" is speaking specifically about the Jewish people, who had the revelation of God... but were living contrary to God's ways.

This leads us into a further possibility...

God's Chosen People...

In this sense, it may be argued that Jesus was speaking about His disciples.

Those who believe in the coming redemption will not pass away.

In this sense, it is a promise from Jesus.

In this sense.... it may be seen as a reassurance... an encouragement

Jesus is thus saying that... until such time as the kingdom is consummated.... faithful disciples will endure

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Some Thoughts...

We can spend hours debating the exact meaning... and make no progress.

The emphasis is on certainty.

The emphasis is on the fact that God's Kingdom is coming... and there is nothing that will stop that.

In the words of I. Howard Marshall, “the emphasis is on the certainty of the End rather than on limiting the date of the end.”

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.; Vol. 2, p. 439). P&R Publishing.

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Heaven and Earth will pass away

We think of heaven and earth as the most stable of all things.

Although sometimes the earth shakes in an earthquake.... skies can become blackened etc.... we generally see them as stable and reliable.

Speaks of a De-Creation....

This is what is ultimately going to happen at the return of Christ.

Jesus speaks of this in terms of something that is certain...

When He speaks about "heaven" here, it is the created bodies... the stars, planets, sun moon... all of these things, along with the earth

2 Peter 3:10

My words will never pass away

Firstly, we must see Christ's claim to Divinity here!

Scriptures referring to God's Word...

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)

"Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89)

"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160)

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”” (Isaiah 40:8)

"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.” (Luke 16:17)

Implications of Jesus' Words

Jesus is telling His disciples that all that He has told them will most certainly happen.

Even as he claims equality with God on the basis of the certainty of His words, He's telling His disciples that they can be certain that what He's told them will happen.

There will be no changing!!

Charles Spurgeon said it like this:

Whatever alteration may come before the last great change, Christ’s words shall still stand.… And when the greatest alteration of all shall take place, and this present dispensation shall come to an end, and all material things shall be consumed with fire, and be destroyed, yet, even then, there shall remain, above the ashes of the world, and all that is therein, the imperishable revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.; Vol. 2, pp. 439–440). P&R Publishing.

3. The Caution (vv.34-36)

Christ has spoken these words for a reason..

He wants to warn His disciples... that they may be saved... that they would continue to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom

The Dangers...

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

"Hearts weighed down..."

Jesus immediately goes to the heart

In a sense, He is being a faithful Shepherd.

Christ is concerned for His disciples, and present them with these warnings

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)

Christ's concern here is that the hearts of his disciples would become weighed down in this world.

We need to consider the practicality of this concern.

Ponder.... has your heart ever been weighed down?

This was not to unbelievers, but to disciples!

"disspation..."

Speaks of excessive indulgence in pleasure...

Most properly, links with the next - "drunkenness..."

"drunkenness..."

This was a typical struggle - common in the day, as it is in our own.

But the drunkenness was a means of escape

Dissipation and Pleasures are indulged in today very often.

The idea here is using things of this world for selfish pleasure....

The problem... these things take your eyes off of the goal... they blind people...

"anxieties of life..."

"The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

"“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25)

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:30–33)

Anxieties are common in life!!

Practical - how often are you weighed down? What is presently weighing you down?

Jesus was giving really practical exhortation and encouragement.

The Suddenness...

"...and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." (v.34)

Think about the rich fool who wanted to build bigger barns... (Luke 12:16-21)

Think about Noah... the flood coming upon the earth suddenly.

Think about Sodom... every man carrying out their day... even those who were warned, laughed off the warning.

"Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:12)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3...

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

The Extent...

35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.

This is a cosmic scene

Not a single person through the course of humanity will escape the judgment of Christ

The Call...

"Be Careful" (v.34)

36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

"Be Always on the watch..."

Call for constant vigilance

It is necessary that God's people continue to watch and be aware.

We so easily walk away... go down the paths of our own sinful hearts.

We so quickly and easily become distracted.

Jesus calls to this place of urgent watchfulness.

"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:33)

"Pray..."

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

"pray continually;” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

We've considered this previously.

Prayer is our expression of dependence.

In this world... we have an adversary.

We are utterly dependent upon God.

"Prepare to stand..."

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Turn to: Romans 13:11-14

Turn to: Galatians 5:16-26

Application / Conclusion

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10–13)

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6–9)