SUMMARY
Jesus addresses his disciples who are concerned about the “what” and the “when” of the end of the age with instructions about living in the midst of waiting for the coming of the kingdom. He calls them to hopeful watchfulness and obedient compassion.
ANALYSIS
In this fifth and final major discourse of Jesus, Matthew follows Mark’s model (Mark 13) by placing the disciples’ questions about the end time just before the narrative of Jesus’ passion and death, but with major additions and adaptations. The result is to soften the more apocalyptic tones of Mark with material that focuses more on what it means to live obediently and expectantly in the meantime as a community waiting for Jesus’ return. Once again, the familiar formulaic conclusion, “When Jesus had finished saying these things,” marks the end of the discourse and the immediate transition to the narrative of the passionPassion is the theological term used to describe Jesus' suffering prior to and including his crucifixion. The Passion Narrative (the portions of the Gospels that tell of the Last Supper, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus) are often read in church during Holy Week. (26:1).
