The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 24 Part 4 End Times Marked By Harsh Betrayals

Matthew 24:9-10  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

In answering His disciples questions, Jesus continues describing the end times but has not yet addressed the specific signs of His return or the timing of it.

He previously sent out His disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom with warnings about hostility to the message.

However, the men Jesus sent out had a productive ministry and did not experience any of the harsh persecution Jesus warned of.

Matthew 10:17-25  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 

Here are the main points Jesus warned His disciples about for their mission to preach the gospel in Matthew 10.

However, Jesus also spoke of their future ministry as Christ's apostles as we shall see.

First, Jesus said that Jewish religious leaders would deliver them to the Sanhedrin council for judgment when they preached the gospel of Christ.

Acts 4:1-2  And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

Jesus' apostles were arrested and interrogated by the Sanhedrin many times in the Book of Acts, after the church was birthed (See Acts 4:1-22; Acts 5:17-42; Acts 6:8-15; Acts 7; Acts 8:1-4; and Acts 9:1-2).

Second, Jesus said that His apostles would be scourged which means they were flogged with small whips or struck with wood rods.

Historical accounts of apostolic scourgings are recorded in Acts 5:40; Acts 16:37; Acts 22:19. 

Third, Jesus said the disciples were not to think about how they would answer the charges levied against them by wicked religious leaders.

Acts 4:8-11  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9  If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 

Instead, the Holy Spirit would give them the right words to say at the time they were needed.

This persecution happened after Peter and John had been preaching the gospel in the Temple and had healed a man who was born lame and unable to walk (See Acts 3:1-10).

Peter and John were arrested and brought before the council just as Jesus predicted.

Peter was filled by the Holy Ghost first, and then he replied to the ruler's questions with a Spirit guided answer.

This also happened many times in the book of Acts.

Fourth, Jesus said that family members would betray other family members, such that those betrayed were put to death.

Fathers will betray their children and children will rise up against their parents.

There is no scripture record that Jesus' apostles were ever betrayed by a family member, but it certainly did happen to many Christians over many centuries of history.

Micah 7:5-7  Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6  For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7  Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 

This is something the Old Testament prophets spoke of in connected with final judgment, end times and the day of the LORD.

Micah warned believers not to put their trust in close friends or family members because a man's enemies are the people in his own home (See also Zechariah 13:3).

Therefore, when such troublesome end times arrive, trust God completely. Wait for His salvation and pray with the knowledge that He will hear your prayer.

This is a prophetic statement of Jesus about the end times and is connected to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24.

The operative principle Jesus gave is that the disciple is not above his master. If Christ suffered, then so will His disciples.

This is true for every generation of Christians. Jesus suffered for us in order to save us and we will suffer for the sake of the gospel and His glorious name..

Generally, Pastors, parishioners, parents and individual Christians will face persecution and hatred from a depraved and wilfully wicked culture.

Depraved societies do not like to hear a message that God has moral standards and deviation from any of them results in sin and condemnation upon sinners.

Specifically during the end times, family betrayals will happen frequently, and those who refuse to submit to antichrist, will be put to death.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of Christ's twelve disciples and those living during the end  times may face betrayal for their faith in Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

Suffering for the sake of the gospel and the name of Jesus, is not because we did something wrong. 

Suffering springs from the same Christ rejection, gospel hatred and spirit of antichrist that is in the world today, as it was in the time of Jesus.

The world hated Him and as a result it will hate His followers.

Thus, we may suffer for our faith just as countless other Christians have done through the ages. 

Suffering always preceded glory and Jesus is the perfect example of it (See Philippians 2:5-11).

The believer in Christ can be joyful when enduring suffering for the cause of Christ (See James 1:2-5).

Psalm 27:10  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.  

King David knew a lot about suffering and betrayal by those he trusted or loved.

David's own son named Absalom, tried to take the kingdom away from him.

His closest advisor named Ahithophel, led the conspiracy against the king.

Yet, David could confidently say that when those whom he loved abandoned him, Jehovah would take him up and draw near.

Psalm 118:8-9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 

In this place, the Psalmist tells us very bluntly that it is better to trust Jehovah and His Word rather than to confide in a man or trust man's advice.

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

When suffering or betrayal come our way, we can find comfort knowing that God is with each one of His children.

We do not need to be afraid or filled with great apprehension when we suffer for Christ, because God promises to help us and to uphold us with His power.

He will work all things out for our good and His glory (See Romans 8:28).

Although it is nothing new, it is certainly is strange that those who know the way of righteousness, turn away from it. 

The apostle John said that such men were with them, but went out from the church, because they were never truly born again (See 1 John 2:19). 

Jesus warned us that each church would have wheat (Spirit regenerated believers) and tares (Unconverted followers).

The apostle Paul often spoke of deserters, men who began well but were waylaid by false teachers or unsound doctrine (See 2 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 4:16). 

For example, Demas began well by serving with Paul ministering in churches, but later left ministry because he loved the world more than the gospel (See Philippians 1:24; Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:10).

2 Timothy 4:17  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Paul could truly say that even when all men left him the Lord Jesus stood with His apostle, strengthening Paul and empowering him to preach the gospel.

God has blessed this simple Bible study blog and sent it out into more than 150 nations.

Let us remember that many Readers live in places where they may potentially suffer for the sake of the gospel.

Let us pray for one another to remain faithful until the day Jesus calls us home to heaven.

Let the soberness of end times teaching impact us such that we are ready to share the gospel and ready to die for our faith, it need be.

Praise God for His Word, His indwelling Spirit and His glorious Son, Jesus Christ.

Bob