Sermon Tone Analysis

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...