Jesus Interpreting Daniel

from Google Images

One of the things I look for in my Bible studies, and really enjoy when I find it, is to see where the Bible undeniably interprets itself. I hate it when I must rely upon my own interpretation or that of other men whom I respect. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but it is always, at least in my own mind, a tentative matter, until I am able to discover where scripture interprets itself. One of the really wonderful things I have discovered, through reading and listening to godly men, is that Jesus’ Parable of the Tares is based upon Jesus’ understanding of Daniel’s prophecy.

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Understanding the Parables

from Google Images

It has been said, “If a parable has to be explained, it loses much of its force, just as a joke does when someone doesn’t get it and needs an explanation.”[1] The problem with accepting this analysis is that the reasons Jesus gave for his speaking in parables was, first of all, to hide the mysteries of the Kingdom of God from those who had hardened hearts toward the word of God (Matthew 13:10-15), and, secondly, to reveal those mysteries to the elect or those who had ‘ears to hear’ (Matthew 13:9, 16-17, 34-35). Moreover, sometimes even the disciples didn’t “get it” and the parables had to be explained (Luke 8:9; Matthew 13:36). Far from being akin to telling a joke, the parables are the keys to understanding the New Testament mysteries (Matthew 13:35).

 

John as Elijah

from Google Images

For the most part, the New Testament begins with the preaching of John the Baptist. He was sent to, among other things, introduce the Messiah to his people, the Jews. In my previous study on the motif of the eschatology of the parables, I mentioned that John’s ministry was in perfect harmony with Jesus’ Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. We are told that John warned the Jewish authorities of the coming judgment of the nation (Matthew 3:7, 10) at the hand of the Messiah (Matthew 3:12). Moreover, he went on to say that at the time of the harvest the Messiah would separate the grain from the chaff, i.e. the believers from the unbelievers, burn the chaff in the fire and save the grain in his barn.

 

It Is Not Given for Them to Understand!

fromg Google Images

This study represents the first in a series of studies, which I hope to do on Jesus’ parables. However, I don’t intend to do an in-depth study of any. What I want to show is how Jesus’ parables affect our eschatology. Moreover, this study is not a study on eschatology itself, but it will set the stage for what is to follow. Lord bless you as you consider what the word of God says.

 

With the Sound of a Trumpet

from Google Images

This study represents my final study in the series that addresses Matthew 24:36, which some brethren try to use to show a division in the Olivet Discourse. On one side of verse-36, according to their eschatology, is the events leading up to the Lord’s judgment upon Jerusalem in 70 AD. On the other side of verse-36, i.e. verse-36 and following, is the alleged Second Coming of Jesus, which for them is a visible, physical event. I have been demonstrating that this just isn’t so. The scriptures simply don’t support such an understanding. The facts are that Jesus returned spiritually in 70 AD to judge Jerusalem, and at that time he ended the Old Covenant by destroying the Temple in the persons of the Roman armies.

 

When Did the Old Covenant End?

from Google Images

It seems to me that the date or at least the general time period when the Old Covenant ended would be important to our understanding of eschatology. After all, God’s covenant with the Jews was his modus operandi for about 1400 years, as that pertained to his dealing with mankind. Everything God did in the world, prior to Jesus being born, was either through or as a result of his covenant relationship with the Jews. Even Jesus’ birth was in fulfillment to promises God made to the Jews under that covenant. So, how did the Old Covenant end? Did it end immediately as the new began? Were both in force simultaneously for a period of time? Did it end at all? Is it still in force today, and if so, are both the Old and the New Covenants valid together?

 

A Very Weak Argument for Division

from Google Images

For some time, now, I’ve been discussing the argument that Matthew 24:36 represents a division in the Olivet Discourse. The first part, usually Matthew 24:1-34 is said to represent a spiritual coming of Jesus in 70 AD to judge Jerusalem and destroy the Temple, while the second part verse-36 and following to the end of Matthew 25 represents Jesus’ physical Second Coming, which is alleged to be in our future, nearly 2000 years after Jesus’ words were written. In my previous study I showed how the argument that the word but represents a division in the chapter is untenable. In this study I hope to show that a similar argument often used by some scholarly writers is equally untenable, but let any readers who peruse these studies judge that for themselves.