耶穌時代富麗堂皇的希律宮殿是相當著名的，眾門徒對它的恢宏壯麗印象十分深刻，但也對耶穌預言終有一天要坍成瓦礫而驚詫不已！於是從他們心中很自然的升起許多疑問：什麼時候，什麼情況會發生這種毀滅──耶穌於是抓住時機教導他們比耶路撒冷毀滅更重要的事，祂指示他們，祂第二次再來的情形，以及再臨之前的明顯徵兆。

        有人說的好：「一個人四十天不進食，七天沒有水，幾分鐘沒有空氣，都還勉強可以活下去，但他不能一秒鐘沒有希望！」
        沒有一種藥像「希望」那樣有效──期盼明天比今天更好！對基督徒而言，「希望」不是閒散的夢，而是未來因基督的應許而充滿期盼。「我……必再來」（約14：3），同時你每天要提醒，鼓勵自己：你的等候不是徒然的！耶穌回答門徒時，提出幾點原則幫助他們──也適用於你──等候祂再來。
        1.不要被迷惑（太24：4）。假基督會增多，但毫無疑問的是耶穌要再來的徵兆（太24：27-13）。
        2.日子未定（太24：36）。只有上帝自己才知道那一天會發生這樁大事。
        3.要成為時間和機會的好管家（24：14，45，46）。上帝要你勤栽種，而不是東張西望，浪費時間！
        在這個月的行事曆上，選一個還沒到的日子，並加上這行備忘錄：「現在比過去離那個日子更近了，我是否比以前做了更多的預備？」

        有新有舊
        馬太福音二十章到二十三章，至少從舊約引用了十一處經文。馬太總共引述了七十四節舊約經文──比新約任何一卷書都多！

「希望」是「完全相信」的另一種說法。

English

        Prominent in Jesus' day was the magnificent temple of Herod. The disciples, duly impressed with its immense splendor, are stunned by Jesus' words that it will one day lie in rubble. This naturally raises questions in their minds regarding how and when such destruction should occur—an occasion which Jesus seizes upon to teach them about events even more significant than the conquest of Jerusalem. He goes on to instruct them about His second coming to earth and the unmistakable signs preceding it.

        It has been well said, "A person can live forty days without food, seven days without water, and a few minutes without air; but he cannot live one second without hope."
        There is no medicine like hope—the expectation that tomorrow will be better than today. And for the Christian, that hope is no idle dream. Your future can brim with expectation because of Jesus' promise, "I will come again" (John 14:3). But in the meantime, you need the daily reminder and encouragement that your waiting is not in vain. In Jesus' response to His disciples' questions, He offers several principles to help them—and you— pass the time until His return:
        1. Don't get sidetracked (24:4). False "christs" will abound, but there will be no doubt when Jesus returns (24:27-31).
        2. Don't become a date-setter (24:36). Only God Himself knows when that great event will happen.
        3. Do be a wise steward of your time and opportunities (24:14, 45-46). God wants you to sow seed, not scan the horizon!
        On your appointment calendar, pick a later date in die month of October and add this memo line: "It's later than it's ever been before. Am I more prepared than I've ever been before?"

        Something Old, Something New
        Chapters 20-23 employ at least 11 quotations from the Old Testament. All together, Matthew contains about 74 such quotations and allusions—more than any other New Testament book.

"Hope" is Biblical shorthand for "unconditional certainty."