Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

His Word is Forever. This chapter of Matthew deals with the coming tribulations (vss. 3-31) and how to watch for the signs of Yeshua’s return (31-51). It has been taken out of context in many ways, but the truth of the matter is, He spoke of different tribulations, not just The Tribulation.

“So when you see ‘the abomination of desolation,’ which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains …” (vss. 15-16, TLV)

It’s interesting to note that Matthew added “(let the reader understand)” to vs. 16.  By the time the apostle wrote this Gospel, the Temple had not yet been destroyed. Based on various scholars, the Gospel could have been written as much as ten years before or around the destruction. The Roman Titus decimated Jerusalem in 70 AD, and according to the ancient historian Josephus, over one million Jewish people were killed. One wonders who fled “to the mountains.”

As with the prophets of old, Jesus prophesied of what was to come in the near future and far future. There were specifics His Father allowed Jesus to know, but the timing of Yeshua’s return was kept secret — even from Yeshua.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, except the Father. (Mark 13:31-32, TLV)

It is believed by some scholars that the book of Mark was the first Gospel written. Matthew’s Gospel also includes:

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven nor the Son*, except the Father alone (vs. 36, TLV)

Most likely, this is why many of Yeshua’s apostles and followers assumed that He would return soon. For surely, all the persecution and killing, especially the destruction of the Temple were the precursors to the end. How many times in history did followers of the Messiah believe: “Jesus is coming soon”? Probably every generation, because some catastrophic event happened or humanity hit a new level of depravity.

But what if that wasn’t Yeshua’s point?

Today’s verse clearly states that heaven and earth would pass away, but His words would never pass away. What if the point was that everything He taught, what He died for, what He returned to heaven to perform was the point? Would His followers continue in the faith? Continue with the same fervor as though He would return in a few seconds, weeks, or months, rather than millenniums?

So you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (vs. 44, TLV)

Yeshua’s point was to be ready. To not hold so tightly to our earthly life, possessions, and desires, but to hold tightly to His word. As we discussed yesterday, that includes all Scriptures, not just the “red lettered words” of the Gospels.

As He had modeled a life fulfilling the Torah (the Law), we are to live as the grateful redeemed, receive the Father’s Law into our hearts (Jeremiah 31:32), and obey Yeshua’s message to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

However, these days the ease of complacency is a bit concerning to me — I feel shame when I hold the “things” of this world too tightly. So many in the world are in the same position.

But there are those who live in tribulation every day. They are martyred for their faith. No doubt they pray for the Son’s return to be soon as their families are murdered. This is sobering and should remind us that we are accountable to the grace and mercy we know here, and remember these blessings could be taken away at any moment. To not hold lightly to the privileges we can take for granted, but hold tightly to His word.

Shabbat shalom.

*Not all the manuscripts for the Gospel of Matthew include “nor the Son.”