Why do people quote things out of context? One of the verses people always quote is this. Matthew 24: 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. They seem to quote it to everyone who has a different view of their understanding of Scripture from them. Let’s study the context of the verses. It starts with Jesus speaking about the destruction of the temple. 24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Then the disciples bewildered asked Jesus ““Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” It is pertinent here the disciples equated the “end of the age” to the destruction of the temple. The end of the age here is a term which means end of a dispensation. In other words, the end of the Mosaic Law. It is simple really no temple, no bulls and goats, no way the Law can be practiced. So Jesus says this: “9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, THIS GENERATION will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” It is pertinent these incidents are incidents which precede the destruction of the temple, there were upheavals and there were political turmoil before the temple is being destroyed. There were people who led rebellions against the Roman Emperors who tried to defile the temple. Of the many three famous of the leaders, are Thadeus, James and Simon. They tried to liberate Israel from Rome. You see to us Messiah means Jesus Christ. To the Jew at that time when Jesus was speaking a Messiah is like a freedom fighter, a Nelson Mandela. These were the false Messiahs he was talking about. With regards the abomination of the desolation, it was Nero bringing a pig offered in the Holy of Holies to defile the temple and him declaring himself as Lord and God. He persecuted the Jews through a general Titus and caused the Jews to flee to the mountains. At the time of these persecutions, women ate their own children, hence the mention of nursing mothers and pregnant ladies. Jesus said all these things will come within that generation. All these things are recorded in the writings of the historians especially Josephus. This is what I am trying to say. Don’t quote verses out of its context. Just because you think you are right, it doesn’t give you the right to call a person a false prophet. Quoting Scriptures without knowing the background and history will show you up as arrogant and ignorant. Even more it shows you to be teaching falsely from the person you are accusing. Heres a better approach as compared to calling people names. Try this Why do you say that? Lets learn together.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:41:11 +0000
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