Matthew 24 - Part 19

In our investigation of Matthew 24, we have arrived at the last few words in verse 12, which states:  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Love [agape:26] Of Many [polys:G4183] Shall Wax Cold [psucho:G5594]

These three Greek words only surface together in this verse, so we will have to investigate them individually. This same word for love is used in John 15:9-10, As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue [meno:G3306] ye in my love. [agape:G26] {10} If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide [meno:G3306] in my love; [agape:G26] even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide [meno:G3306] in his love. [agape:G26]  An elect child of God will keep God's commands - not to obtain salvation - but as a result of salvation, as God works in him ...to will and to do of [his] good pleasure, according to Philippians 2:13. We also read in John 13:35, By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love [agape:G26] one to another.  So because God has allowed iniquity or sin to abound in the world during the Great Tribulation in particular, the love of many so called Christians will wane; in other words they will not be obedient to God's commands. This is why the Lord Jesus stressed the critical importance of continuing in His Word, as John 8:31 admonishes, in which the same word continue (or abide) as in John 15:9-10 appears: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue [meno:G3306]  in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

Shall Wax Cold [psucho:G5594]

The expression shall wax cold is only used in this verse. However we do find it in another compound Greek word, anapsucho, composed of the preposition ana- and this word, psucho in 2 Timothy 1:16, The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he [anapsucho:G404] oft refreshed [anapsucho:G404] me, and was not ashamed of my chain: In this passage Onesiphorus was ministering to the Apostle Paul, and in so doing putting John 13:35 into practice. This brings us to verse 13 which states: But he that shall endure  [hupomeno:G5278] unto the end, the same shall be saved.

He That Shall Endure [hupomeno:G5278]

The expression, he that shall endure, is quite significant in its implications for each of God's elect. Moreover, it is also a compound word, containing the main word, meno (G3306) as was just discussed; hupo- is another preposition denoting by. In other words, "by enduring" or "by continuing."  The following references illustrate how God has chosen to employ this term:

1 Corinthians 13:7 is the conclusion of a lengthy definition of Biblical love: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth [hupomeno:G5278] all things.

James 1:12 maintains: Blessed [is] the man that endureth [hupomeno:G5278] temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Similarly, James 5:11 declares: Behold, we count them happy which endure. [hupomeno:G5278] Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

We must also bear in mind that the Lord Jesus is the One who causes His sheep to endure, even as we read in the benediction found in verses 24-25 of the book of Jude: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, {25} To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Lord willing, in our next newsletter we will continue looking at Matthew 24:13.
‍Prayer And Praise

• Your continued prayers for our daughter Maria are very much appreciated.

• We have begun video broadcasting our programming on Sundays. You now have the option to select video or audio on our website, or you may watch the video on our YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/c/BibleMinistriesInternational

• We have also added a live call-in feature to our Sunday Question and Answer Program (4:30 PM PDT - 7 PM PDT). You may post questions on YouTube as well as in our Facebook group, as we are also live streaming both the Bible Study as well as the Q & A in our Facebook group. The number to call is: (605) 472-5520. When prompted, the access code is: 615301#. BMI is willing to extend our Sunday Q & A programming even longer, provided that there are enough participants.

‍

‍

‍