Offended, Betrayed and Hated - Matthew 24:10

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus, “sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse ten of his book Matthew writes how Jesus shared His disciples how many would be, “offended … shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” where we read:

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

The verse reads, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and then” which means “and at that time and moment” “shall many be offended” or “will great and large groups of people be impeded, trip, fall, cause to distrust and desert ones whom they ought to trust and obey”, “and shall betray one another” which means “and will give and deliver over to the custody of to be judged and condemned each other reciprocally”. Matthew shared how Jesus said large groups of people would be impeded in their trust and will deliver one another over to their opposition.

The verse continues, “... and shall hate one another.” Matthew added Jesus' words, “and shall hate” or “and the large groups of people will detest and pursue with hatred” “one another” which means “each of the other people in their large group”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the large groups of other people will also “detest” each other.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the followers of Jesus and their ways will “offend” many people, and there will be those among their groups shall not only give over and deliver each other to their opposition, but will also “detest” each other as well. God does not want this to be, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to “save” people from these sins. Although the present and future look bleak for those who follow Jesus, let all who read these words be reminded there is God's promise of “everlasting life” to every person who yields their life to Him.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus warns, “many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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