“1 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down’” Matthew 24:1-2.
Jesus has been teaching and speaking in Israel's temple structure in Jerusalem. He has just completed pronouncing seven "woes" of judgment in Matthew, Chapter 23, against Israel's religious leaders: the scribes and the Pharisees. He concluded with a declaration that He was officially abandoning Jerusalem and her children to coming judgment: “37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate” Matthew 23:37-38.
Jerusalem has refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and receive His protection.
Now in Chapter 24 Jesus and His disciples have left the temple and are walking away from it. Despite the serious tone of Jesus' most recent pronouncements in Chapter 23, the disciples turn and comment to Jesus about the beauty and majesty of the buildings of the temple. The temple had been extensively renovated in recent years, and historians report that it was known for its beauty and grandeur. Christ will not allow the disciples to miss the point of His recent revelations about the coming judgment on Jerusalem. His prediction is shocking when He says, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down” Matthew 24:2.
This is hard to hear because it challenges us to look within ourselves to see to what extent we are stepping away from Christ, ignoring the day he will judge us. We may have a reputation of beauty and grandeur here on earth in our present life, but where are we in relation to Jesus Christ? To what extent does our life reflect our true acceptance of Jesus as our Savior?
Today, take this to prayer!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
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