Jesus' Final Departure from the Temple: And a Promise of Hope

Scripture Reading

Opening Prayer

Introduction/Review

Story about misbehaving child

Exposition

Matthew 23:37 ESV

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Jesus makes a new address

Rather than Woe, it is “O”

This is a complete change in Jesus emotional state regarding the rejection of the messiah by the Jews.

This is a Lament rather than a condemnation

He makes His desires clear

Jesus would like to have “gathered therm together”

I. You are responsible for your rebellion against God.

Matthew 23:38 ESV

See, your house is left to you desolate.

See - Here is what Jesus calls them to recognize based on their rejection of the messiah

“Your house” - The temple

Contrast with “My house” of 21:13 (My house shall be called a house of prayer)

Is empty (Desolate) - Lit. “uninhabited”

Jer 22:5

Jeremiah 22:5 ESV

But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

Essentially, Jesus is mourning over the fact that the temple is just a building because the nation has rejected God

Matthew 23:39 ESV

For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

Some suggest that this verse proposes a path to save the temple and God’s people.

Rather, I want to point out to you that this is a quote from Psalm 118.

We won’t take the time to fully explore Psalm 118 but know that this portion of Scripture (chs. 21-23) is essentially a fulfillment of Psalm 118.

Psalm 118 clearly points to Jesus ultimate victory over the “builders” who rejected him as messiah.

It also points to the phrase quoted here as an expression of ultimate victory.

This, combined with the fact that the phrase translated here “until you say” in Matthew always points to the “day of the Lord” clearly instructs us that this is not a way that the Jews could avert what was coming, but that, when Jesus returns, He will then be recognized as the Messiah.

II. You are responsible to turn from your rebellion to hope in Christ

Transition

Chapter break

introduction the the Olivet discourse.

Matthew 24:1 ESV

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

In other recordings of this passage, the disciples point out the buildings’ sizes and beauty.

Illustration:

Amish kid’s first time in the city

Matthew 24:2 ESV

But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Jesus clarifies His prophecy about the temple to His disciples.

The actual buildings will be destroyed.

Fulfilled in 70 A.D.

Josephus- “One could not believe that anyone had ever inhabited the place

Ezekiel 10:18–19 ESV

Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.

Ezekiel 11:22–23 ESV

Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.

III. Salvation is found only in Jesus.