Matthew 26:1 says, And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,  After teaching all those around Him, Jesus always spoke to His disciples privately.  We can indeed learn a lot about following Jesus from listening to someone teaching the world about Him, but we need those private times when Jesus speaks to us as a group of believers and even more so individually.  If we are to follow Christ, we must know where He is leading us individually.   Verse two states, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.  I believe that Jesus was asking the disciples if they understood yet Who He really was and what He came to do.  We still have to answer these questions today in order to be saved.  The disciples were looking ahead to the coming crucifixion of Jesus, and we look back on the accomplished fact, but we must accept Who Jesus is in order to be saved.  Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and He was crucified for our sins.  Verse three says, Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,  The religious leaders, the chief priests, scribes, and elders gathered with the high priest Caiaphas.  They were not gathering to accept Jesus, but to figure out how to stop Him.  Verse four declares, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.  These religious leaders thought they might take Jesus by subtility.  It is bad enough when anyone attempts to stop God's work in the world, but when those who declare themselves to be religious leaders do so it is even worse.  Verse four says, But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.  The religious leaders were afraid to take Jesus and kill Him on the feast day for fear of the people.  If these religious leaders had really been following God's direction, then they would not have feared the crowds, especially those who were coming to hear Jesus.  If we are following God's direction in our lives today, we should never allow the crowds around us to stop us from acting.  Verse six states, Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,  Even though the religious leaders would have said avoid a leper, Jesus was in the house of a leper, Simon.  Once more, Jesus was reaching out to someone that even the religious leaders would have said to avoid.  We must acknowledge that Jesus died for all people, no matter how lowly they may be viewed by society.  We, as followers of Christ, must reach out to all people with His message.  I do not find anywhere in the teachings of Jesus where He said that we are to look down on anyone as unworthy of salvation.  Verse seven states, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.  As Jesus was sitting to eat, a woman came and anointed His head with expensive oil.  We are not told who she was, but she wanted to honor Jesus without worrying about the cost evidently.  When we serve Jesus, we can never look at what it might cost us materially.  If God leads us to do something, then we must simply do it.  Verse eight says, But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?  This implies that all the disciples were indignant.  They saw this anointing of Jesus with the expensive oil as a waste.  We should never feel that anything done for God is a waste, no matter the cost.  This woman was more devoted to Jesus than were His closest disciples.  In  verse nine the disciples declared, For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.  The disciples attempted to justify their attitude by saying that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor.  Though this might be a good idea, we should never allow our ideas to get in the way of someone else worshipping God, and we should never put monetary value ahead of sincere worship.  In verse ten Jesus asks, When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.  As with the disciples, we can be certain that Jesus understands our motivations.  When Jesus understood, He asked the disciples why they bothered the woman, since she had done a good work for Him.  We need to live in such a way that we never attempt to stand in the way of someone worshipping or doing a good work for God.  Verse eleven says, For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.  I don't believe that Jesus was unconcerned about the poor, but He knew that His time was almost at an end, so if anyone was going to honor Him in His time on earth, the time had come.  We must put Christ first before we can do good works for Him.  Verse twelve says, For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.  Jesus said that her ointment was a preparation for His burial.  She may not have fully understood this, but Jesus did.  It may be that at times we do not fully understand how everything that we give to God will be used to bring Him honor, but if we give with the right attitude, it will be used the best way possible.  Verse thirteen states, Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.  Jesus said that wherever the gospel was preached that what the woman did would be a memorial to her.  This didn't mean that she would be worshipped, but that her faith would be remembered.

Matthew 25:31 says, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  This is simply a statement about the return of Christ.  When Christ returns with His angels, He will sit on His throne in His glory, and will not a baby in a manger.  There will certainly be room for Him in the world.  Verse thirty-two states, And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  Jesus tells us that everyone living will appear before Him, and He will separate them as a shepherd would separate sheep and goats.  Verse thirty-three continues, And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  The sheep and goats will be on opposite sides during the judgment of God, just a those who are saved will be separated from those who have not put their faith in Christ.  Verse thirty-four declares, Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  Jesus tells us that the sheep, those on the right hand of God will be invited in as those blessed by the Father through faith in the Son.  This is how the relationship between God and man was meant to be, even before God's creation began.  In verse thirty-five Jesus says, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  I believe that these are actions that God expects from His people.  We cannot divide the world into those who have a lot because they deserve it and those who do not because they don't.  I think we sometimes seem to have the attitude in America that God has blessed us because we deserve it and that His blessings are strictly for our benefit.  Being blessed by God, if indeed we are, means that we are to help the less fortunate and not to look down on them with contempt.  The whole world belongs to God, and all the people in it.  The only way we can claim to be better than anyone else is because of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and even then we are to see ourselves as simple servants to God.  Just as God reached out to us in love, we are to reach out to the world.  Verse twenty-five continued with the commendation saying, Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  We do not have to search very hard to find people in great need today.  We often write off people in prison by thinking they got what they deserved, but Jesus tells us we are to have compassion for them, even if the are there because they are guilty.  As followers of Christ, we cannot be a me first group of people, but must be a God first group of people.  Sharing with the less fortunate is an expectation, but condemning them is not.  Verse thirty-seven states, Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  I believe that Jesus is telling us that we shouldn't even be aware of our good works.  If we are doing good works so that we can be praised, then I believe that is all the reward we will receive.  Verse thirty-eight continues the question asking, When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Then verse thirty-nine ends the question stating, Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  As stated above, we don't do good works for self reward.  Jesus tells us that we should not even be aware of when we did these things for God.  Then in verse forty Jesus gives the answer declaring, And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  Jesus says that when we help the less fortunate, then it is the same as helping God Himself.  Since everything belongs to God anyway, He could simply take things away from us and give them to someone else.  Instead, like the talents, God chooses to bless some with more than others, expecting them to use what they have been blessed with to enlarge His kingdom.  Verse forty-one says, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  Just as those on the right were commended for their actions, those on the left were condemned for their lack of action.  We may not even acknowledge when we fail to act in God's love, because we don't have His love for all people in our hearts.  Verse forty-two continues, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  Then verse forty-three concludes,I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  These are the same things that those that loved Christ had done.  Their lack of action condemned them.  It is not enough to avoid doing wrong, but we must also do what is right.  Verse forty-four says, Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  They asked the same question those who had been commended asked.  They wanted to know where they had failed to do these things.  I believe that was one of the keys to the problem.  Had they been following God's leadership, they would have known when they failed to do His will.  Verse forty-five says,  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  The answer was the opposite as with the other group.  It named the least of these once more, but said anytime they failed to help the least that they failed to help God.  Then, verse forty-six declares, And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.  This is not a statement about working for salvation, but is a statement about being led by the Holy Spirit to help the less fortunate in the world.  Since those who were told to enter into heaven didn't even know when they had done these good works, they weren't working for their own benefit, but were doing the will of God.  So must we as followers of Christ.

Matthew 25:14 says, For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  Jesus is still teaching His disciples, and that would mean any who follows Him by faith, about the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus was returning to heaven, a far country, and He was leaving His disciples in charge of everything, especially His gospel message, while He was gone.  This has not changed.  Verse fifteen states, And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  Not everyone has the same talent, or ability, to do the work of God's kingdom, but all are given a responsibility to serve according to their ability and calling.  These servants did not determine how many talents they would have, but their lord did, just as God determines our capability to serve Him.  Verse sixteen states, Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  The one with the five talents begin to use them and doubled them for his lord.  When we use the talents that God gives us, it is always for His benefit and glory and not for our own.  Verse seventeen says, And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.  Though he wasn't given as much, the second servant likewise used and doubled what he had been given.  We can only use the talents that God gives us, and we should never be concerned with how many talents someone else has.  Verse eighteen says, But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. The last servant did not use his talent, but buried it.  We should never be guilty of burying, or not using, the talent, or talents, that God gives us.  Verse nineteen says, After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  No matter how long Jesus tarries in His return, He will return.  These talents never belonged to the servants, but always belonged to their lord, just as everything in the universe belongs to God.  Verse twenty states, And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  This servant faithfully used what his lord had entrusted him with and doubled it.  He was ready for the return of his lord.  Verse twenty-one states, His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  The servant was rewarded for his faithfulness and given even more to rule over.  Notice he was not set free to do whatever he wanted.  He was still responsible to his lord, just as followers of Christ we are always responsible to Him.  Verse twenty-two says, He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  Then verse twenty-three continues, His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Though having fewer talents, this servant also doubled them, and was rewarded the same as the servant who started with five talents.  The main point was not the number of talents given, but the wise use of them.  Verse twenty-four says, Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:  Continuing in verse twenty-five, And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.  The servant with one talent came to his lord, not with an increase but with an excuse.  I believe that their lord knew their ability when he entrusted them with the talents, just as God knows our ability when He entrusts us with our talents.  We can only gain things for God if use what He entrusts us with for His glory, and we must never be so afraid of God that we do nothing.  Verse twenty-six declares, His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  Then continuing in verse twenty-seven, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  Just like this servant and his lord, we should know what God wants of us when He becomes our Lord.  God expects us to faithfully use our talents for His glory, and not to be wicked and slothful.  This does not mean that we have to earn our way into heaven, but only that we should use our Goal given talents for His benefit and glory.  Verse twenty-five says, Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  This unfaithful servant lost what he had, and it was given to the servant with five talents.  Again, this was not about the servants gaining more, but about faithfully using what their lord had entrusted them with for his benefit.  Verse twenty-nine says, For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  I believe that this is a reference to our faithfully using what God has entrusted us with to advance His kingdom.  The servant with one talent did not really know his lord at all, but was only concerned with his own safety.  When we truly know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we will serve Him with joy and not fear.  Verse thirty declares, And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  As stated already, I believe that this was due to a lack of knowledge of who the lord was, and not because of a lack of material gain for the lord.  We must know Christ and put our faith in Him, or we will likewise be cast into utter darkness when He returns.

Matthew 25:1 says, Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  In this parable, Jesus is still teaching about the second coming.  Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom with their lamps.  We know that the bridegroom is Jesus, and I believe the virgins are those who profess to be His servants.  Verse two says, And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Jesus then speaks of the nature of the ten virgins.  Five were wise and prepared and the other five were foolish.  I believe that those who were prepared really believed that the bridegroom was coming, just as we can be certain that Jesus is coming again.  We should live every day prepared for the return of Christ and do everything that we can to shine His light into the world to prepare for His coming.  The foolish evidently did not take the coming of the bridegroom seriously and were not prepared.  Verse three states, They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  The foolish virgins appeared to be ready.  They had their lamps, but no oil with them.  I believe this would be those who appear to accept Christ and put on a good show of serving Him, but they really have an empty faith.  We as followers of Christ must live our lives filled with faith in Christ, always prepared and ready to serve Him.  Verse four then states, But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  Hopefully, we will be like the wise and ready to serve the Bridegroom, or Christ.  I believe that our light in the world is to share the gospel of Christ, and our oil is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The only way that we can claim to be wise is through accepting Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives.  Verse five states, While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  While the bridegroom tarried,  all ten slept.  Even the most vigilant of Christian must at times rest, but even when sleeping, we must be ready for the second coming of Christ.   Verse six says, And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  We might find it strange that the bridegroom came at midnight, but it was evidently the custom of the bridegroom to come to the bride's house the night before the wedding in that day according to Matthew Henry.  No matter the time of the night that the bridegroom came, the ten were to be ready.  No matter how long Jesus tarries in His return, we are to be prepared for it to happen at any time.  Verse twenty-five states, Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  All ten went through the motions of getting ready, but that was not enough.  Verse eight says, And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  The five whose lamps went out due to a lack of oil asked the other five for oil.  When the Bridegroom, or Jesus, returns, it will be too late to get prepared for His return, and we cannot look to anyone else to help us be prepared.  Verse nine declares, But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  The wise could not share their oil and still be prepared themselves.  I believe this means that the only way that a person can be saved is by accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord while there is still time.  When Jesus returns, or when a person dies, it is too late.  Verse ten says, And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  As just discussed, when Christ returns, the way door to heaven will be shut.  There will be no way to gain entry into God's everlasting kingdom after the return of Christ, or after the death of an individual for that matter.  Verse eleven states, Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  The five foolish virgins came attempting to gain entry.  I believe that when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, that those who rejected Him in this world will be crying out for entrance into His kingdom.  Verse twelve says, But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  The Bridegroom told those who were not prepared, or we should say those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord before His return that He did not know them.  The only way into heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus, and when we have that He knows us personally.  Verse thirteen concludes, Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.  We are told to watch, or be ready, for the return of Christ, because we do not know when it will occur.  Our challenge is to be doing what God calls us to do until Christ returns.

Matthew 24:36 says, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  Jesus again states that only the heavenly Father knows the time of the second coming.  We don't need to attempt to determine the date, and we certainly don't need to follow anyone who claims to know the date.  There have been many books written about what it will be like immediately after the second coming for those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord, but I don't believe that we as followers of Christ should be concerned with that too much.  Verse thirty-seven states, But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  Jesus said that at the time of the second coming, the world will be as it was in the days of Noah.  People will be continuing to live their normal lives.  Verse thirty-eight says, For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  Jesus says that even as Noah was building the ark, people ignored his warning of the coming flood.  Life continued to be lived as it always had.  People who do not accept Christ will continue to live their lives normally up until the day Christ returns, not believing the warning signs that His return is near.  Verse thirty-nine says, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  Jesus said that those who did not believe Noah died in their unbelief when the floods came.  In the same way many, many people will die in their unbelief when Christ returns, having refused to believe in Him or the signs of His return.  Verse forty states, Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  This is where some books speculate on what happens to the one who is left, but I believe that their fate is already sealed, just as is the fate of the believer.  I don't believe this means that half of the people will be saved, even though the example uses two people.  Verse forty-one adds, Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  As with the example of the men, the two women will be going about their normal lives, and one will be taken and the other left.  We cannot turn this into a statement about the roles of men and women in the world, but must simply see it as a statement that both men and women were going about their normal lives.   Verse forty-two declares, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  Jesus tells us to simply watch, I believe in faith in Him.  We cannot know the time of the return of Jesus, and neither should we be concerned about it.  Even as followers of Christ, we are to continue living our lives in the here and now, only making certain that we live by faith.  Verse forty-three says, But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Jesus said that if the home owner knew when the thief was coming, he would have been ready and avoided having his house broken up.  We need to be ready at any time for the second coming of Christ.  Verse forty-four declares, Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  As just stated, Jesus tells us to always be ready for the second coming.  Jesus adds that when we least expect it, He will return.  I not sure what that says about those who are certain that Jesus' return is imminent.  We are told that He will return when least expected, so we cannot be concerned about the date of His return.  Verse forty-five asks, Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?   I believe that this question implies that those who are doing what God calls them to do, and who are not simply sitting back awaiting the return of their master, are the faithful and wise servants.  Verse forty-six declares, Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  God will bless those who continue to do what He calls them to do, until Christ returns or this life ends. Verse forty-seven states, Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. Jesus tells us that the servant who is found faithful in working for his lord shall be placed in charge of all his goods.  I believe that this basically means that when we are faithful to God that He will entrust us with a greater role in sharing the gospel, all for His glory.  Verse forty-eight says, But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;  These next few verses speak of the evil servant.  The actions of this servant begin in his thoughts.  The first thought is that his lord isn't coming soon. Verse forty-nine says, And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;  Then, the servant's thoughts lead to evil actions.  Evil actions are always the result of evil thoughts, and the more that we are convinced that we will never be held accountable for our evil actions, the more likely we are to commit them.  Verse fifty declares, The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,  Jesus tells us that the servant's lord will return when the servant least expects it.  Jesus did not say that the lord might possibly some day return, but that he would return.  He would return when least expected.  We can be certain of the return of Christ, no longer how long He lingers.  We can also be certain that we will not know the day when Christ will return.  Verse fifty then warns, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  The unfaithful servant will be punished, as will all hypocrites.  When Christ returns, there will indeed be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who do not accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and I believe especially for those who hypothetically profess to accept Him.  When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, all that we do should be done for His glory and not for our own reward or benefit materially.

Matthew 24:26 says, Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  Jesus is still speaking of those who claim to see Jesus anywhere, and warning people, especially those who follow Him, to not be deceived.  Verse twenty-seven the declares, For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  Jesus tells us that when He returns, after His death, burial and resurrection, that it will be seen world wide, from east to west, and will be as visible as a lightening flash.  There will be no doubt that it is Christ Who is returning.  Verse twenty-eight says, For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the gospel going to the world.  Just as the eagles gather where there is a carcus, so will the gospel go to where there are people to receive it.  We know that some of these verses referred to the coming persecution of the early disciples, but also refer to the time immediately before the return of Christ.  In verse twenty-nine Jesus says, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  This verse definitely refers to the second coming of Christ.  There has not been a time in history when these things occurred, but there is coming a day when they will.  Verse thirty states, And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   In that day, the whole world will see the Son of man, Jesus Christ Himself, returning in power and with great glory.  This is a reference to the second coming of Christ.  Verse thirty-one says, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Jesus tells us that at the day of His second coming that the angels will gather those who follow Him from all over the world.  I believe that this will happen in an instant.  Verse thirty-two says, Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  Jesus is still talking about the time of the second coming.  He tells us just as the branch of the fig tree putting on leaves is a sign that summer is near, so are the things that He had listed a sign that His return is closer.  Verse thirty-three declares, So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Again, Jesus tells us that when we see all these signs that His return is near, even at the door. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  As Matthew Henry says, this referred to the beginning of the persecution of the believers, and not to seeing the second coming of Christ during that generation.  In verse thirty-five Jesus declares, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  All these centuries later, God's word is just as true and certain as it was when Jesus spoke it.  The time of the second coming of Christ draws closer each day.  We are simply to rest assured in that knowledge and not attempt to determine the day that it will happen.

Matthew 24:15 says, When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  Jesus now begins to discuss the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in more particular terms.  Jesus said that if they had read the prophecies of Daniel that they would understand what He was talking about.  Matthew Henry points out that in order to understand the Bible, we must study the Bible.  God's word will always lead us to a better understanding of who we are and Who He is.  Verse sixteen states, Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  Jesus did not tell those who saw this abomination in the temple to stand and fight, but to flee into the mountains.  This does not mean that we are always to flee from trouble, but that at times God may lead us away from certain situations.  The key is to rely on God for guidance.  Verse seventeen states, Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  Jesus said that during this time of persecution that the people needed to forget about material things and simply follow God's instruction.  We cannot allow material things to keep us from everlasting life.  If we value the things of this world more than our relationship to Christ, then something is wrong.  Verse eighteen adds, Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  Jesus said that there was to be an urgency to their escape from this abomination.  I believe that we can likewise say that we are to urgently flee from false teachings.  We need a sense of urgency in proclaiming the gospel as well.  Verse nineteen adds, And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  Jesus adds a particular warning to expectant and new mothers.  This was not a warning against having children, but was simply a statement that it would be hard on those who were expecting or had young babies.  Verse twenty says, But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  Jesus said pray about having to flee.  It would be worse some times than others.  We often use an expression like, "I just pray," when we really don't pray about something, but I believe that Jesus was serious about praying about the situation.  Verse twenty-one says, For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  We know that the early Christians experienced great tribulation, but we also know the their is coming a greater tribulation before the return of Christ.  Jesus tells us that we should be prepared for this, and the first step in that preparation is prayer, or seeking God's will for our lives.  I wonder how prepared Christians, especially those in America, are for tribulation because of their faith today.  Verse twenty-two says, And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.  Jesus said that unless the times of tribulation were shortened that no flesh would be saved.  This was speaking of a physical saving, since Jesus also said that for the elect's, those who accepted His salvation provided for them, that the days of tribulation would be shortened.  In verse twenty-three Jesus warns, Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  We are not to fall for anyone claiming to have seen Christ physically that we are to not believe it.  When Christ does return, the whole world will know it.  Verse twenty-four continues, For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Jesus warns us that there will be many false Christs and prophets.  Anytime someone says that we must go through them to find salvation, they have in effect declared themself to be the Christ, or Savior.  We have been warned not to believe them.  We have no need for a go-between to get us to Christ, and once we accept Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us to help us keep Him as Lord.  Verse twenty-five states, Behold, I have told you before.  This was nothing new that Jesus was telling the disciples, and it certainly should be nothing new to us today.  We must be committed to following Christ, not just when things are going well, but especially during times of persecution.