John Wesley

Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

“For behold the kingdom of God is within or among you - Look not for it in distant times or remote places: it is now in the midst of you: it is come: it is present in the soul of every true believer: it is…”

Remember Lot’s wife!

“Remember Lot's wife - And escape with all speed, without ever looking behind you. The sense of this and the following verses is, Yet as great as the danger will be, do not seek to save your life by violating your conscience: if you do…”

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

“He spake a parable to them - This and the following parable warn us against two fatal extremes, with regard to prayer: the former against faintness and weariness, the latter against self confidence.”

Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?

“And shall not God - The most just Judge, vindicate his own elect - Preserve the Christians from all their adversaries, and in particular save them out of the general destruction, and avenge them of the Jews?”

I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

“Yet when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith upon earth - Yet notwithstanding all the instances both of his long suffering and of his justice, whenever he shall remarkably appear, against their enemies in this age or in after ages, how few…”

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

“He spake this parable - Not to hypocrites; the Pharisee here mentioned was no hypocrite, no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely trusted in himself that he was righteous, and accordingly told God so, in the prayer which none but God heard.”

I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

“I fast twice in the week - So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday. I give tithes of all that I possess - Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes, and another tenth in alms, the sum…”

But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven.

“The publican standing afar off - From the holy of holies, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven - Touched with shame, which is more ingenuous than fear.”

On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

“Our saviour knew his heart, and presently put him upon a trial which laid it open to the ruler himself. And to cure his love of the world, which could not in him be cured otherwise, Christ commanded him to sell all that he had.”

But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

“They understood none of these things - The literal meaning they could not but understand. But as they could not reconcile this to their preconceived opinion of the Messiah, they were utterly at a loss in what parabolical or figurative sense to take what he…”

While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently.

“They thought the kingdom of God - A glorious temporal kingdom, would immediately appear.”

So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.

“He went into a far country to receive a kingdom - Christ went to heaven, to receive his sovereign power as wan, even all authority in heaven and earth.”

“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”

“If these should hold their peace, the stones, which lie before you, would cry out - That is, God would raise up some still more unlikely instruments to declare his praise.”

As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,

“And gifts - Which persons delivered from imminent dangers had, in accomplishment of their vows, hung on the walls and pillars. The marble of the temple was so white, that it appeared like a mountain of snow at a distance.”

Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

“I am the Christ; and the time is near - When I will deliver you from all your enemies. They are the words of the seducers.”

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.

“Let them that are in the midst of it - Where Jerusalem stands (that is, they that are in Jerusalem) depart out of it, before their retreat is cut off by the uniting of the forces near the city, and let not them that are…”

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations.

“So terribly was this prophecy fulfilled! And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the Gentiles - That is, inhabited. The land was sold, and no Jew suffered even to come within sight of Jerusalem.”

Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

“Behold the fig tree and all the trees - Christ spake this in the spring, just before the passover; when all the trees were budding on the Mount of Olives, where they then were.”

So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

“The kingdom of God is nigh - The destruction of the Jewish city, temple, and religion, to make way for the advancement of my kingdom.”

But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

“Then surely there is reason to warn even strong Christians against the very grossest sins. Neither are we wise, if we think ourselves out of the reach of any sin: and so that day - Of judgment or of death, come upon you, even you…”

So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Watch ye therefore - This is the general conclusion of all that precedes. That ye may be counted worthy - This word sometimes signifies an honour conferred on a person, as when the apostles are said to be counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ…”

Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

“Now by day - In the day time, he was teaching in the temple - This shows how our Lord employed his time after coming to Jerusalem: but it is not said, he was this day in the temple, and next morning the people came.”

And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

“And he took bread - Namely, some time after, when supper was ended, wherein they had eaten the paschal lamb.”

In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

“This cup is the New Testament - Here is an undeniable figure, whereby the cup is put for the wine in the cup.”

Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.

“The hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table - It is evident Christ spake these words before he instituted the Lord's Supper: for all the other evangelists mention the sop, immediately after receiving which he went out: John xiii, 30.”