Matthew 24 - Short exegesis

Introduction
Matthew records Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in the twenty fourth chapter of his gospel. This chapter is a conclusion to several of the previous chapters. Because of this it is difficult to write an exegetical work with convincing arguments on chapter twenty four without first establishing the proper exegesis of the previous chapters. Due to the purpose and nature of this academic paper an exegetical analysis of these several chapters is not possible. This introduction will serve the purpose of briefly bringing into view the teachings of Jesus that relate to and precede the Olivet Discourse.

Matthew does not present entirely new material in the twenty fourth chapter of his gospel; rather he records a climactic discourse of much of what Jesus had already taught. This discourse is especially related to Jesus’ teachings after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The teachings of Jesus take a slight turn in emphasis once he enters Jerusalem. Readers of the gospel should take careful notice how much emphasis Jesus places upon Jerusalem and the Jews. Jesus almost specifically teaches about the kingdom of God as it relates to them. The following is a list of events that coincide with these teachings:

1. Cursing the fig tree for not bearing fruit (a picture of Israel)
2. Jesus teaches parables against the Pharisee’s
3. Jesus cleanses the temple and condemns the people for making it a market
4. The Jewish leaders officially challenge Jesus
5. Jesus is tested with questions by the Pharisee, Scribes, and Lawyers
6. There are attempts to trap Jesus in his teaching
7. Jesus pronounces seven woes against the Jewish leaders
8. The temple is pronounced desolate
9. Jesus leaves the temple and foretells its destruction

Some of the scriptures preceding Mathew 24 which need to be kept in mind are:
Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast when those who were invited to the wedding feast did not come and it is said “But when the king heard about it, he was furious; and he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city” (Matt 22:7).

Jesus’ parable of the vineyard where those to whom it was given to tend ended up killing the owners son and Jesus asks what the owner will do them and it is said “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons" (Matt 21:41). Jesus pronounces the final judgment against Jerusalem and the Jews when he states:


How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 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 on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth. . . . Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . .” (Matt 23:33-37)

The final judgment against apostate Israel and Jerusalem is clearly taught in these and other like scriptures. This judgment is foundational to the exegesis of Matthew 24 where Jesus describes the details. Jesus’ Olivet discourse is the climactic description of all he had taught concerning the judgment that was to come upon that generation and their city.