The Gospel of Matthew
Chapters 24 & 25: Overview
The discourse begins in 24,3 as we have seen, when Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives. As with the Sermon on the Mount (5,1) so once again we find Jesus is sitting and teaching on a mountain.
In verse 4, the disciples ask Jesus two quesions: when? and what?
The first part of the discourse ends with verse 14 and the reference to the coming of the end.
We can read 24,1-14 as Jesus' answer to "what?"
The second part begins in verse 15 with its opening word "when". 24,15-31 can be read therefore as Jesus' answer to that question.
This is followed by the lesson of the fig tree and the solemn conclusion from Jesus beginning "Amen I say to you" (24,32-36). This ends the first half of the chapter.
It is this image of the fig tree which is the last section Matthew and Mark (Mk 13,28-31) have in common. Both evangelists conclude with the same saying (24,36 = Mk 13,32)
From 24,37 Matthew goes his own way while Mark brings his discourse to a close with an exhortation (Mk 13,33-37). Matthew instead continues the discourse with a series of parables, beginning with the days of Noah (24,37).
The last verse in the two Gospels which is more or less the same is 24,42 = Mk 13,35: "Stay Awake".
Parables and final scene: 24,37-25,46
From 24,37, Matthew presents a series of parables which continue into chapter 25:
- 24,37-44: Three short parables.
- 24,45-51: Parable of the slave.
- 25,1-13: Parable of the ten virgins
- 25,14-30: Parable of the talents
- 25,31-46: Grand Finale - the coming of the Son of Man
As we read, we will need to seek how all this hangs together, the overall unity of this final discourse.
Reading chapter 24
From what we have seen, We can read chapter 24 in three pages:
24,3-14: "What?"
24,15-36: "When?" followed by the lesson of the fig tee
24,37-51: Three short parables (24,37-44) followed by the first story parable (24,45-51).
There would be a good case for reading the story of the slave at the end of the chapter along with the stories of the following chapter. We can discuss this further when we take our overview of chapter 25.
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