CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 24:36-44

When we last left Jesus, He had completed the journey from the North Country to Jerusalem for the annual Passover feast. A growing crowd of pilgrims had accompanied Him and the disciples, and He had entered Jerusalem triumphantly. Once inside the city, Jesus went to the Temple to teach. He was so angered by the injustice in the Temple marketplace that He overturned tables and angered the Temple authorities. The crowds that followed Jesus had now swelled to include many residents of Jerusalem, including representatives of the various religious and political parties. They attempted to trick Jesus with their questions, but His answers only served to silence them and gain Him further approval from the crowds.

Herod’s Temple was about 50 years old at this time. It was an architectural wonder – probably about ten stories tall and beautifully adorned with gold. The disciples were marveling at this shrine as they left for the Mount of Olives. Jesus warned His disciples that it would one day be completely destroyed. Jesus’ words came true about 40 years later when Titus squashed the Jewish rebellion in 70 AD, burning the Temple and sacking the city. Jesus’ words about the Temple, the religious establishment, and the popular Pharisee party, though true, angered very powerful people. He knew His actions and teachings in the Temple had sealed His fate – He would be killed, and quickly. It was time for His disciples to hear His most urgent teachings.

Jesus’ fifth and final sermon in Matthew is known as the Olivet Discourse, so named because Jesus delivered it from the Mount of Olives. This important ridge east of the city contained over 150,000 graves. Roman soldiers would eventually camp here for the 70 AD siege. It was an appropriate place for apocalyptic teaching (teaching dealing with the End of Days.) If a ten story structure could be destroyed, it would surely be the end of the world. The disciples wanted to know when! Jesus warned them not to be deceived – just because some charlatan claims to know when the end is coming, don’t listen. Even terrible wars and natural disasters don’t mean The End, but are reminders that The End is coming.

Jesus felt it was important for His disciples to know that, though He would soon die, one day He would return, and the current order of things would pass away. In today’s scripture focus, Jesus reminds the disciples not to become fixated on the “when” of that return. Not even Jesus knew that information! Instead, they should remember the lesson of Noah – watch and be prepared. On the day Noah and his family entered the ark, people were still conducting business as usual. Since most were not prepared for the flood, they perished, but Noah, having prepared, was spared. When Jesus returns, people will be working in the fields or the house, but only those who are prepared will be spared destruction.

Today we’ll discover the hope Matthew 24 gave to 1st Century disciples, and examine what it says to 21st Century disciples.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. What parts of “End Times” discussions excite you? What parts frighten or sadden you?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Disciples were told to keep watch.

• We must keep watch today.

• Jesus offered the disciples hope.

• Jesus offers us hope today.

This Week’s Assignment –

Matthew 24:36-44 is a good passage for memorization. When things get tough, it’s good to have some “hope” stored in your brain. How much of this passage can you commit to memory this week? Start with verse 36, and see how far you get.

CrossGroups Connection Guide

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 23:1-12

Let’s take a look at where today’s scripture focus fits in the story of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus, having primarily ministered in the north country, has entered Jerusalem, surrounded by a crowd of followers. He immediately causes great controversy by disrupting commerce in the Temple. Following this, the leading religious groups attempt to entrap Jesus so they might destroy Him. The Pharisees (translation: conservatives) try to trap Him with a question on taxes. The Sadducees (translation: liberals) try to trap Him with a question on resurrection. A lawyer tries to trap Him with a question on the Law. All His answers both astound and silence them. They give up on questions, but certainly not on seeking Jesus’ destruction.

In Matthew 23, Jesus teaches the crowds that have accompanied Him, which have probably grown to include some residents of Jerusalem. The original readers of Matthew were first century Jews, probably living in Galilee. By the time of Matthew’s writing, the Temple had already been destroyed. The Pharisees had grown even stronger as a sect. The scribes were likely a sub-set of Pharisees who made hand-written copies of the books of Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and took on the responsibility of their interpretation, along with teaching the oral tradition that had developed. Jesus’ teaching on the Pharisees and scribes would have been of particular interest to Matthew’s readers, as they were the most important religious group of the time.

So, it might have seemed shocking to both Jesus’ audience and Matthew’s readers to hear Jesus say to respect the teaching of the Pharisees. Jesus honored Moses’ teaching. However, Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the religious teachers. While the Law was important and meaningful, the Pharisees’ interpretation was harsh. The Pharisees interpreted the Law through their cumbersome and tedious oral tradition, which often contradicted the very spirit of the Law they were meant to uphold. It created impossible burdens on the common people. Jesus, on the other hand, interpreted the Law through love, mercy, and justice. Thus, Jesus’ teaching was easy and light.

Not only was the Pharisees’ interpretation of the Law off, but their own lives didn’t even line up with their teaching, making them hypocrites. The Law commanded boxes to be worn on the head and arm containing scriptures (phylacteries) and tassels to be worn on garments to remind Jews of their special covenant with God. The religious leaders wore these in a ridiculous fashion in order to show off their devotion. They reveled in titles and places of honor. Jesus, in contrast, commanded His followers to humble themselves and honor God in secret, and to honor the Law not through silly rules but through servant hood. Isn’t it ironic that the One worthy of titles and thrones refused them in favor of humble service to God and others?

In today’s sermon, we’ll take a look at how our view of God’s word can help us live free of hypocrisy.

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. What is a hypocrite? Can you think of a time you observed someone being hypocritical? Don’t use names!

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites.

• Would Jesus call you a hypocrite?

• Jesus said the greatest among the crowd would serve them.

• Jesus offers you the gift of humble servant hood.

This Week’s Assignment –

Memorize Matthew 23:11-12