But many people are not satisfied with that general knowledge, they prefer …show more content…
It is important to understand the context of a passage. I heard it said that "Any passage taken out of context is a pretext for disaster". Without a proper understanding of not only the biblical context but also of the cultural context, we leave our self 's open to misunderstanding and error. The context for Matthew chapter 24 is obviously the entire book leading up to, including, and going through to the end of the Gospel itself. And as vital as it is to read and understand chapter 24 in that larger context we must limit ourselves for the moment to just a chapter. Leading up to the Olivet discourse is a series of events found in chapter 23. In the opening verses of that chapter we have Jesus pronouncing woes upon the scribes and Pharisees. These men are putting others under extreme burdens with all their additions to the law of God. They dress up like they are holy and honorable men but it is all for show. They are hypocrites and false guides. They made converts but these converts end up twice as much children of hell. These hypocrites are said to have cleaned the outside of the cup but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence. They are really whitewashed tombs. These men are dead. Are they dead physically? Of course not, they are dead spiritually and their teachings and easy of life bring death to