Matthew 24:32-36 “Now learn this
parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is
near. So you
also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!
The fig tree was a
common fruit tree in Israel. It is mentioned many times in the Old Testament,
especially as a description of the abundance of the land. Sometimes figs or fig
trees are also used as symbols or pictures. In passages like Jeremiah 24:1-10
and Hosea 9:10 figs or fig trees are used as a representation of Israel.
Jesus’ reference here is not so much on the fig
tree, but on the way that the fig tree follows reliable growth cycles related
to the seasons. Jesus proceeds to declare that the
signs which he had given would be as certain an indication of the time of his
coming, as the fig-tree’s putting forth its leaves of the approaching of
summer; and that the time of his coming was at no great distance.
Jesus then adds, This generation
shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled. Most
commentary frankly acknowledge this as troublesome. And this is why the verse
is troublesome to many other people as well. They want to make the verse read,
"some generation in our future” instead of, "this generation" as
(God Jesus said). On the lips of Jesus 'this generation' always signifies the
contemporaries of Jesus. "Some have sought to get around the force of this
text by saying that the word generation here really means race, and that Jesus
was simply saying that the Jewish race would not die out until all these things
took place. Is that true?
We should accept these words of God exactly
as He gave them. The Bible is not to be read in such a way that it is made to
conform to our opinions and assumptions; instead, we must conform to what it
says.
The word "generation" as used in Matthew
24:34 is from the Greek word "genea" which means,"by implication
an age (the whole multitude of men living at the same time, a space of 40 years
)." This word has the very same meaning as the "generation"
found in Luke 11:50-51 "That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed
from the foundation of the world, may be required of THIS
GENERATION..."from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who
perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be
required of THIS GENERATION." Generation (people living at the same time
or in a 40-year period) is often the best translation of genea. It can mean
nothing but "generation or contemporaries."
Paul knows this very well because he recalls
the words of Jesus spoken. Notice what Paul writes to the church of
Thessalonians. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which
are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your
own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who (killed both the Lord
Jesus and THEIR OWN PROPHETS, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God
and are contrary to all men. (1Thessalonians 2:14-15)
Notice Paul put the killing of Jesus along
with (the prophets) at the feet of their own countrymen. The "generation"
of Matthew.23:36 is the same as the "generation" of Matthew.24:34
both refer to those living in the first century. Matthew 23:34 "Therefore,
indeed, (I send you prophets), wise men, and scribes: (some of them you will
kill and crucify), and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and
persecute from city to city, That the blood of all the prophets, that was shed
from the foundation of the world, would be required of that generation living.
The word "generation" as used in Matthew 23 and Luke 11:50-51 does
NOT mean "race, kind, nation, offspring, stock,"
C.I. Scofield says (p.1034. Old edition,
Scofield Reference Bible). "Gr genea, the primary definition of which is,
‘race, kind, family, stock, breed; Mr. Scofield is wrong here. He used the
wrong Greek word with his definition, for the definition he gives is for the
Greek word. "Genos." But this is not the word used in Matthew 24:34.
The word used in Matthew 24:34 is certainly "genea," but this has a
different definition which is, "by implication an age." If the verse
meant "kind, nation, offspring, stock," that it would have had the
Greek word "genos" but it did not; the word is "genea." and
Scofield's definition of that word is not correct.
But how many Christians today know Scofield's
definition is wrong? I challenge you: Get out your concordance and look up
every New Testament occurrence of the word generation (in Greek, genea) and see
if it ever means 'race' in any other context. Here are all the references for
the Gospels: Matthew 1:17; 11:16; 12:39, 41, 42, 45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36; 24:34;
Mark 8:12, 38; 9:19; 13:30; Luke 1:48, 50; 7:31; 9:41; 11:29, 30, 31, 32, 50,
51; 18:8; 17:25; 21:32. Not one of these references is speaking of the entire
Jewish race over thousands of years; all use the word in its normal sense of
the sum total of those living at the same time. It always refers to
contemporaries. "Many commentators play around with the word 'generation'
(genea), and thinking to avoid embarrassment,
However if we use the Bible to interpret the
Bible biblicaly. We know the generation in Matthew 24:34 is the very same
generation or contemporaries in Luke 11:50-51. The word "genea" is
used in Luke 1:50 "from generation to generation is also used in Acts
13:36, "he had served his own generation. It is also used in Hebrews 3:10,
"I was grieved with that generation.
Jesus to His disciples: Mark 8:38,
"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." In Luke
17:25 He says, "First Christ must be rejected by this generation"
What "generation" was Jesus referring to in this passage? Jesus said
it was the adulterous and sinful generation that rejected him then while Jesus
was alive!
As one can easily see, this word means an age or
period of time, not a race of people. But because of Scofield's Reference Bible
most Christian take "that generation" to mean nation, or races, etc.
Baby eat what they are giving. We not trying to heart anyone here we are just
giving you the plan truth.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth
will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. The tone is
that of One who speaks with supreme authority.
You may sooner expect to see the heaven and earth pass away and return
to nothing, than my words to fail. Here Jesus is addressing the Old Covenant
heaven and earth pass away before his words.
For space I will go deeper into this in a coming article that is part of
study.
Matthew 24: 36 “But of that day and hour
no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. This is one of the most
misunderstood in Scripture. While it is
true that no men would know the day and the hour of Christ’s Parousia . It is equally as true that Jesus never said
that his people would NOT know after his Parousia. After all that is why the disciples ask Jesus
“what will be the sign of You coming, and of the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3)
Jesus clearly gave the first century Church a (time frame) that would
point to his Parousia. Time frames are
like a fence sounding events leading up to his Parousia. No man would know the day or hour however
they would know the timeline and events leading up to his promised Parousia.
After all the signs Jesus had given had bend fulfilled the disciples
know the Parousia was a hand.
James 5:7-9 Therefore be
patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer
waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it
receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.
Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
This statement was never meant to say that the first
century Church could never know the timing of the Messiah's Parousia in
advance. That would conflict with many
other scriptures if that were the intent.
Matthew
14: 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before
the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also
will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be
in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be
grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know
what hour your Lord
is coming. 43 But
know this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be
ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Here Jesus emphasizes just
as the generation of the Flood had no warning as to the timing of that great
cataclysm, but carried on their lives in all their normal activities (eating
and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage), so the people alive when
the Parousia occurs will have no warning either. Jesus further emphasizes. Then two men will be
in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be
grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
While many people use this verse to explain the rapture, it is saying
something totally opposite. "As in the days of Noah...when the flood came
those who were "taken" from the earth were the evil, unbelieving
people. Those who were "left"
were the righteous believers that heeded God's warning Noah, and his family. Noah and his family who were left on earth to "begin again"
after a cleansing judgment by God.
All
this happened during Jesus contemporary generation.
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