There is an abundance of evidence to support the proposition that Matthew, Chapter 24 was historically fulfilled in the immediate years prior to and culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70.[1] Such cataclysmic judgments were prophetically referred to as the Day of the Lord. During such judgments, men were humbled and God was exalted (Isa. 2:11,17). A Day of the Lord was a day or time of destruction from the Lord (Joel 1:15). It was often described with cosmic, apocalyptic language like the sun turning into darkness and the moon turning into blood (Joel 2:10, 31). In other words, the normal ways of being and the normal sources of light would not seem to work as expected.
Around BC 630 to 620, the Prophet Zephaniah explained that such judgments come as a result of “those who have turned back from following the Lord, and those who have not sought the Lord nor inquired of him” (Zeph. 1:6). These types of judgments have happened in the past, and they can occur again; they are reoccurring. For example, the judgment against the Northern Kingdom in BC 721/722 (by the Assyrians) and the judgment against Judea in BC 586/587 (by the Babylonians) were both referred to as a Day of the Lord event (Isa. 13:9, 22:12; Jer. 25:33, 46:10; Ezek. 7:19, 13:5, 30:3). The Second Coming of Christ will also be a Day of the Lord event.
The Prophet Zephaniah prophesied:
That great day of the Lord is near, near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. That day is a day of anger, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness…. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have practiced His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will remain hidden on the day of the Lord’s anger.
Zeph. 1:14-15; 2:3.
As Jesus and His disciples were departing from the area of the Temple, His disciples made mention of the Temple (Matt. 24:1). Mark and Luke recorded that His disciples specifically mentioned the beautiful stones, buildings, and votive gifts (Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6). Jesus responded to them that “not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down” (Matt. 24:2). Without a doubt, Jesus was referring to the Temple’s destruction by the Romans in AD 70. To this date, nearly 2000 years later, the Temple has never been rebuilt. At Matthew 24:23, Jesus explained that the judgment would occur before the current generation had passed (Matt. 23:36).
Jesus explained the reason for the judgment in Matthew, Chapter 23, portions of which can be described as a Woe Prophetic Oracle. A Woe Prophetic Oracle is “a distinctive form of prophetic speech [which] is often found accompanying an accusation or threat which immediately preceded an announcement of judgment.”[2] A “woe” is “an interjection denoting pain, discomfort, and unhappiness.”[3] Matthew 23: 13-36 contains 7 or 8 “woes” (depending on the ancient manuscript). The invective is directed at the scribes and Pharisees, who were the primary religious teachers of Israel.
The influence of the scribes and Pharisees was derived from their learning and education. The people depended on the scribes and Pharisees for accurate Bible teaching, but Jesus warned the people to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees (Matt. 16:12, 23:13). Jesus called them hypocrites. The Greek word hypokrites is defined as an “actor or pretender.”[4] Jesus was criticizing the Jerusalem religious leaders for being pretenders and actors. The same criticism could perhaps be leveled at many modern Christian teachers and believers, as well. Jesus said that the scribes and Pharisees blocked the people from entering into Kingdom living, and that the scribes and Pharisees, themselves, also never entered into Kingdom living (Matt. 23:13). In a recent blogpost, I quoted N.T. Wright, who described the Christian spiritual life as a “whole new way of being human,”[5] which is true, authentic Kingdom living. In contrast to our “whole new way of being human,” the scribes and Pharisees were actors and pretenders. Regarding the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, “Leave them alone; they are blind guides of blind people. And if a person who is blind guides another who is blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14). Paul later explained that they sought to establish their own righteousness, rather than subjecting themselves to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3).
Jesus also described the scribes and Pharisees as being evangelistic. However, He condemned them for traveling around on sea and land to make a proselyte (a convert), but then turning the proselyte into a son of Gehenna (Matt. 23:15). In fact, Jesus said that the proselyte would become twice as much a son of Gehenna as the scribes and Pharisees, meaning such proselytes were apostate believers destined to experience the wrath of God. The proselyte was turned into a religious hypocrite. The Pharisees failed to emphasize the weightier truths like justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matt. 23:23). The scribes and Pharisees were accused of straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel (Matt. 23:24).
The scribes and Pharisees were also accused of being like a whitewashed wall (Matt. 23:27). They were beautiful on the outside, but inside, they were like dead men’s bones and full of uncleanness (Matt. 23:27). In other words, they looked holy on the outside, but in reality, they were pretenders and actors. The scribes and Pharisees had a problem with self-righteousness, just as many of us do. As believers, we must seek authenticity. We are required to pursue a whole new way of being human. We must seek a life under God’s authority, wherein even our lips are not our own (Ps. 12:4). Most, however, continue to pursue an existence as independent moral agents. Many have confidence in their own inherent righteousness. In reality, no human or angel can remotely approach God’s righteousness. As Christians, we are called to pursue a righteousness that is not our own. In fact, we are called to pursue a new existence in Christ.
Jesus explained that while the scribes and Pharisees built and maintained the tombs of the prophets and righteous dead, if they had lived during their time, they would have persecuted and even participated in the murder of the prophets and righteous believers (Matt. 23: 29-31). Of course, many of these scribes and Pharisees called for the death of Jesus and persecuted the burgeoning Church. The same hypocrisy would likely be true of most modern Christians. If Jesus showed up today, He would most likely be persecuted. Most do not want to accept God as the God of their lives. Psychologically and spiritually, most will fight to maintain their status as independent moral agents.
Speaking of the Jerusalemites and Advocates of the Old Covenant, Jesus said:
Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you will fall the guilt of all of the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the alter. Truly, I say to you, all of these things will come upon this generation.
(Matt. 23:34-36)
There is an ever-present and ongoing human and angelic mindset of opposition and hatred against God and His plan for humanity. Considering the human hostility and disinterest toward God, it is amazing that cataclysmic judgments do not happen all of the time. God is gracious and patient (Joel 2:13), but eventually, great historical judgments did and will occur. As explained by the Prophet Habakkuk, the invading army was appointed by God to bring judgment upon the rebellious (Habak. 1:12).
Graciously, Jesus prefers to bless. He said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!” (Matt. 23:37-38). The humble are encouraged to seek righteousness and humility, with the hope that they may be hidden in the day of judgment (Zeph. 2:3).
The featured artwork on this page is titled “The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70” by David Roberts, c. 1850 CE.
[1] For further thoughts on the fulfillment of Matthew 24, among other scholars and teachers, I encourage the reader to listen to Bruce Gore, who lectures on the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and its parallel with the Book of Revelation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJVZTFuyAXE
[2] “Woe.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary: Volume 6, Si-Z. Editor-in-Chief, David Noel Freeman, et al., Doubleday, 1992.
[3] “Woe.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary: Volume 6, Si-Z. Editor-in-Chief, David Noel Freeman, et al., Doubleday, 1992.
[4] “G5273 – hypokritēs – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 18 Nov, 2021. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5273/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[5] Wright, N.T. “Paul: A Biography.” iPad Ed., San Francisco: HarperOne, 2018, p. 91 of 465.