All of Jesus’ Warnings and Encouragements in the Bible

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He provided us with timeless guidance for living a life of love, service, and spiritual impact.

Much of this spiritual wisdom is in the form of warnings, which expose the devil’s deceptions and the common pitfalls of our sinful nature.

But these warnings are also complemented by His many messages of encouragement and hope, helping us understand that in all the things He asks of us, He is also right there to help us see them through.

Jesus’ warnings and encouragements are found throughout the four accounts of the Gospel story. For quicker reference and study, here is a comprehensive list of all of them, as well as some information about their context and application for our lives today.

We’ll cover:

• Why does Jesus give warnings and encouragement?
• Jesus’ warnings and encouragements on the topics of:
  • Salvation
  • Christian living
  • Discipleship
  • Hardships
  • The end times

Let’s start with some background about why Jesus offers us warnings and encouragement in the first place.

Why does Jesus give warnings and encouragement?

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If you care about someone, it’s only natural to want to warn them about things that could hurt them. You also want to encourage them and remind them how much you care.

So as our Creator and Savior, it only makes sense that Jesus feels that way about every single one of us—and more so than we could ever imagine.

While He lived as a human among us, Jesus sure dealt with His share of opposition and hardships. He certainly understands how difficult and discouraging life can be in this sin-soaked world (Isaiah 53:3).

But He doesn’t want us to feel hopeless or overwhelmed. He wants to remind us how much He cares (infinitely) and that we don’t have to face everything alone. So He gave us the Holy Bible, filled with His words of encouragement and promise.

The word “warnings,” though, can give us mixed feelings.

Does it make you think of an old, grumpy school teacher wagging their finger at you, saying, “I’m warning you…”?

A warning might seem condescending or restrictive if we don’t see the full context, or if we don’t take the time to understand the love behind it.

When you think about what it really means to warn someone…it means you care.

If you see someone staring at their phone and they’re about to walk into a pole…you warn them! And if you can tell that someone you’re close to might be headed into a harmful or upsetting situation…you want to let them know so they can avoid it, or at least proceed with caution.

That’s the nature of Jesus’ warnings. To help us avoid harmful spiritual situations that we often don’t understand until we’re in the thick of it.

And we also study the context of His words of warning because many were given to specific people in specific circumstances—like when He warned the Pharisees not to ask Him for a “sign” of His divinity because they’d already ignored the Scriptural evidence of who He was (Matthew 12:39-42).

Then there are the messages of caution that show up in Jesus’ parables. Sometimes they involve rhetorical questions and aren’t meant to be literal (like in Matthew 7:3-5 and 9-11). That’s why we look for the principle and intention behind these statements.

However, the biggest part of understanding the full meaning of these warnings and encouragements is remembering Who’s giving them.

Christ Jesus has done everything in His power to save us without infringing upon our free will. He surrendered His life so we could be free from sin’s grasp (Romans 5:8; 2 Peter 3:9). Nothing is more important to Him than saving us from destruction and bringing us back into a loving relationship with Him.

With that in mind, let’s start exploring these words of Jesus about salvation.

On salvation

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When it comes to our eternal fate as individuals or humanity as a whole, few (if any) things are higher in priority. And as we often do with high-stakes matters, let’s look at warnings first.

Warnings

While our Savior and Lord Jesus offers us free salvation, He also knows that our sinful nature, in addition to the effort Satan puts into deceiving us, throws many obstacles in the way of sincerely accepting this gift. For this reason, many of His warnings are to clear up misconceptions that could lead us astray.

So here’s what He has to say to us:

Only He can save us

• We can only be saved through Jesus—not through our own efforts (John 14:6; Luke 10:22; John 10:9). There’s nothing we can do to earn salvation for ourselves. Because of our sinful nature, all we can do is accept the salvation Jesus offers us. Only His sinless life and sacrificial death can demonstrate this ultimate love and free us from the constraint of sin.

• Jesus wants to save us, but we have to willingly accept His offer (Matthew 22:8-14; John 5:20-23; John 8:24). Love can’t exist unless free will is part of the equation. So Jesus won’t ever force us to accept His salvation or force us to love Him. We each have to make this decision for ourselves, and this is an active decision, not a passive decision.

• Rejecting Jesus, or the defining traits of His character (love), means rejecting God completely (John 3:18; John 6:53; John 12:48). In Jesus’ time, there were lots of people who cared more about status and title than how they lived or regarded others. But Jesus demonstrated that accepting Him means accepting who He is, what He’s done for us, and how He treated others. So if we don’t listen to His words or if we ignore some of the key aspects of His character, like compassion, mercy, perseverance, peace, faithfulness, etc., then we are not really accepting Him.

• Refusing to acknowledge who Jesus is will also cut us off from His gift of salvation (Matthew 10:32-33; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Luke 12:8-9). Because accepting salvation is all about acknowledging what Jesus did for us and accepting His gift, anyone who willfully decides not to follow Jesus or will not acknowledge Him as their Savior would, logically, not be able to accept His salvation. And without His salvation, we remain subject to the ultimate consequence of sin—eternal death.

• There’s more to following Jesus than keeping the law for the law’s sake (Matthew 5:19-20; Matthew 15:2-9). Since the Pharisees and Sadducees kept trying to trap and oppose Jesus with their own laws, Jesus had to make something clear. Anyone who loves and respects God will naturally want to follow His guidance. Especially when it’s spelled out for us in the Bible. But picking apart His law to look for loopholes and technicalities reveals a completely different kind of motivation, and it isn’t love for God.

Recognize and avoid the destructiveness of sin:

• We have to be willing to make necessary changes in our lives (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; John 3:3,5). Jesus often called for people to repent. The word “repent” means to change our minds and actions to avoid repeating past mistakes.¹
  It involves an acknowledgment that God’s way is better than human ways—or that what we’ve previously been doing or thinking hasn’t been fruitful—and now we’re allowing Jesus to help us change for the better. He warns us not to forget about how repentance is part of accepting Him. But this concept is also empowering as we start to see how this frees us from things that used to hold us back.

• Speaking thoughtlessly can have eternal consequences (Matthew 12:36-37). Jesus explained to those around Him that habits generally reflect character. A good tree bears good fruit, a bad tree bears bad fruit, etc. He specifically pointed out how careless words or flippant attitudes not only hurt people and harm relationships, but they also reveal the true mindset of a person.

• Be careful not to think of sin as only actions. Sin is a destructive mindset (Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew 5:27-30). We normally think of sin as an action, but in reality, a sinful action is the result of sin. Sin starts when we harbor selfish ambition or ill intent—and it prevails if we refuse to address it. So even if it’s not always visible, sin can live inside us in the forms of bitterness, jealousy, fear, contempt, etc. And these do just as much harm in keeping us from having a relationship with God and loving the people around us.

Beware of temptation and deceit:

• No one should think themselves immune to sin. We must be wary of what internal or external things could contribute to temptation (Matthew 5:27-30; Mark 9:42-47). During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had just discussed examples of common sin traps, such as neglecting how our actions can affect others or thinking we’re sinless just because we don’t commit certain actions that are widely recognized as wrong. So He used some strong language toward those who long identified themselves as believers. He pointed out the need to be aware of what’s happening inside us and outside us, and what’s really at stake when we only examine others and never ourselves.

• Stay on the narrow path—comfort and ease can be deceptive (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:23-24). One of Satan’s common tricks is to make things look easy and comfortable to distract us from putting effort into what’s right. We need to be wary about the reasoning behind our decisions and priorities—are they motivated by what’s good and helpful, or by what’s convenient or popular?

• Remember who the Enemy is and why we can’t trust him (Matthew 7:15; 13:19; John 10:10; John 8:42-47). There’s a spiritual war going on behind the scenes (see Ephesians 6:12). Jesus wants to save us from death, while Satan’s goal is for us to give in to destruction. Satan cares nothing for humanity and is using us to cause God pain by leading us away from Him.

Beware of what happens when we continually ignore God’s influence:

• Continual rejection of the Holy Spirit means choosing to cut off God’s forgiveness and salvation (Luke 12:8-10; Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29)²
  The Holy Spirit is our guide God has given us (John 14:16-17). It’s how we stay connected to Him. His presence and influence help us grow, and we learn to discern right from wrong in more profound, subtle ways (John 16:13). But if we push away His influence in favor of other agendas that don’t align with God’s character, we’re pushing away our very connection to Him. We’d be smothering our relationship with the One who is the very source of love, forgiveness, and salvation. And since the Holy Spirit respects our free will, He won’t force His way back in (see also Revelation 3:20).

• Don’t ask for “signs” or “proof” about things that are already explained in Scripture (Matthew 12:39-42; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:29). Jesus called out the Pharisees for demanding signs of His Messiahship. This was disrespectful because the Pharisees claimed to know God’s Word. Yet they refused to recognize that He was standing before them, even though prophecy foretold this and He’d already said and done many things to confirm these prophecies. It’s almost like a spouse or a cherished friend approaching you and asking you to “prove” your devotion to them, acting as if the love and friendship you’ve given them so far isn’t evidence enough.

• Rejecting someone sent in God’s name is the same as rejecting God (Luke 10:13-16). Jesus issued this warning to the towns that refused to listen to those He sent to minister there. God does everything He can to reach us, but it’s our choice whether we take His words seriously and give faith a try. If we’re unwilling to do this, it’s the same as rejection.

• We must be willing to embrace a childlike faith and not focus on making ourselves look better/holier (Matthew 18:2-3; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17). After Jesus’ disciples asked Him about “who is greatest” in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus told His disciples that unless they “humble themselves” and “become like little children,” they wouldn’t even see that kingdom. He was warning them against becoming prideful in their faith by drawing attention to a child’s willingness to yield to authority and depend upon those who care for them. Similarly, we’re called to embrace a childlike view of God as our heavenly Father and lean completely on Him (instead of our own efforts or reputation) to save and guide us.

• We have to recognize the traps of materialism (Matthew 19:23-24; Mark 10:23-25; Luke 18:24-25). There’s nothing wrong with having money or wanting material things. But Jesus needed to address how easy it is to start trusting in wealth or power to make us happy or keep us safe. When that happens, we start making decisions that are more about benefiting ourselves than aligning with God’s loving will. And we’ve seen examples of this throughout the Bible and throughout history, rarely without some sort of loss or downfall. Instead, Jesus asks us to trust in His power and His love, which is what ultimately saves us.

How we view and treat others is a measure of our faith

• We can only be forgiven if we’re willing to forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:32-35; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:32-38; Matthew 5:7). Wanting something for ourselves while being unwilling to allow the same for others is a double standard—and it reveals a significant need for growth in our faith. In order to mature spiritually and to fully accept God’s forgiveness, we have to be willing to extend this blessing to others as well.

• Don’t judge someone’s spiritual value or condition—you will be judged as you judge others (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37-38; John 7:24). It’s so, so easy to look at another person’s situation and think we know exactly what they should do. But no person can fully know anyone else’s full story. That’s why any attempt to judge others will always be futile and flawed—and it infringes upon a role that belongs to God alone. Only He knows the big picture, beginning to end, and only He can know the true condition of our hearts (see also 1 Samuel 16:6-13). So whenever we draw spiritual conclusions about others, we’re ultimately inviting that same judgment on ourselves.

• Live by the sword, die by the sword (Matthew 26:52). When Peter wanted to violently defend Jesus during His betrayal and arrest, it’s hard not to identify with him. It feels like we’re supposed to stand up and fight when things aren’t right! But Jesus pointed out to Peter that this isn’t how He fights. And it isn’t how anything truly valuable is won. In the end, operating on force and fear only brings more of those very things into our lives.

Encouragement

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Even amid the many warnings about what could get in the way of our relationship with Him, we don’t have to worry whether Jesus wants to save us, or whether He’ll work with us in whatever ways we’re willing to.

He’s already died for us—He’s on our side.

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32, CSB, emphasis added).

Throughout history, some have promoted a picture of God as a grumpy (even almost snobbish) deity who’s watching us from heaven with disdain, looking for an excuse to deny us salvation.

Ick. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

So let’s look at these next several Bible verses that reveal the true heart of God toward humanity.

Jesus tells us:

He is able to save us:

• Jesus can and will forgive our sins (Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24; John 3:15-16; John 6:47,54; John 11:26). We don’t have to feel hopeless or try to earn salvation on our own. Instead, we can look to the Son of God, our Savior and Messiah, to free us from the ultimate pain and consequences of sin.

• When we accept Jesus’ gift, nothing can take us away from Him (John 10:28). It’s by our own free will that we can accept salvation from Jesus. We have no need to worry about anything taking that away from us, even though Satan will throw whatever he can at us to stand in our way. But there’s no temptation, fear, or deception Jesus can’t help us overcome.

He longs to save us

• It doesn’t matter who we are, where we are, or what we’ve done. We’re invited to come to Him exactly as we are (Matthew 9:12-13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31; Luke 19:10). No amount of “righteous behavior” will save us or make God love us more. And there’s nothing we’re supposed to do or become before we can readily accept Jesus as our Savior. Though we are sinners, God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us to save us. It doesn’t matter if we feel too sinful to come to Jesus, all that matters to Him is that we come to Him.

• Jesus pursues us with the goal of delivering us from sin’s enslavement (John 8:34-36). Jesus wants more than to just take away our pain or discomfort. He wants to free us from the heart of the issue—sin. The freedom we will experience when sin is done away with will be like nothing we’ve ever felt before. Love will drive us, rather than fear.

• Jesus wants us to be able to experience uninhibited joy, which salvation through Him brings (John 10:10; 15:11; 16:20-22; Luke 10:20). Jesus doesn’t only want us to avoid destruction. He wants us to be able to thrive. He died a sacrificial death for each of us so that we might “have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10, CSB).

• Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be lost (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7, 8-10). He loves every single human being with exactly the same infinite, unconditional love. And though He wants to save every one of us, He would have died on the Cross even if only one person could be saved.

  In other words, you matter. More than you could ever imagine.

On Christian living

Jesus had plenty of helpful things to say about how we should go about our lives and how we should treat other people we come in contact with. He was also clear about the natural consequences of disregarding the value of each moment, task, or interaction.

Warnings

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Jesus’ warnings on Christian living help us understand the difference between what is good, helpful, and enriching to do…and what is either immediately or ultimately harmful.

He wants to help us avoid the difficulties that arise when sin’s influence (i.e., selfishness, hate, envy, greed, etc.) takes the lead. But He also wants us to know that even when we fail, He’s still right there, refusing to give up on us.

Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect on our own. Along with His guidance and support, He also leaves us with wisdom to help us grow, and these are Christian ideals we can aim toward.

Jesus tells us:

Our actions can’t save us, but the way we choose to live still matters

• A follower in name but not practice…isn’t really a follower at all (Matthew 7:20-21; Luke 6:46). Faith is all about being genuine, and what we believe affects our habitual actions. Think about it—if someone claims to believe something, it has an effect on their actions. If someone believes a book will interest them, they’ll read it. If they believe a certain dish at a restaurant will be affordable, delicious, and nutritious, they’ll order it. So claiming to love and believe in God but refusing to reflect His character is essentially the same as not believing at all.

• Those who love God will make His Law their ideal (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:17-19; Luke 10:25-28; Luke 18:18-20; John 8:51; John 14:21,23-24; John 15:10). God’s commandments exist for a reason—they help us understand God’s will as they show us how to love Him and love others. Though we may struggle to keep the commandments, God calls us to make them our ideal because they’re the same laws we’ll be living by in heaven. (And if you really think about it…wouldn’t we prefer to live in a world where everyone loves God, and no one steals, covets, hates, etc.?)

• If we won’t build our lives on the love and principles of Jesus, we’re setting ourselves up for defeat (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49; John 14:15,23-24). The world promises much, but delivers little. Jesus is the only One who can save us from sin and Satan. That’s why we’re called to build our faith, life, and outlook on Jesus, rather than fleeting human-made things of this world.

• Focusing on our status and reputation fuels pride, and leads to hypocrisy and destruction (Matthew 6:1-7,16-18; 23:1-4, 13-33; Mark 8:15; 12:38-40; Luke 11:37-52; 12:1-3; 20:45-47). God knows people’s hearts. Doing “righteous acts” might wow some people, but it means nothing to God if those acts are insincere or done without love.

• We can’t hide anything from God, so we can’t avoid accountability (Luke 8:17; Luke 12:3). No sin is ever truly a secret. God sees our intentions and actions, even if no one else does. (If anything, any effort to hide sin only indicates a deeper problem, and one that only God can help with.)

• God expects more from those who know the truth (Luke 8:18; Luke 12:47-48; Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 19:26). Just as we expect more from kids the older they are, God expects more from those who, well, should know better. For example, if we think of someone who knows us, and they say or do something that they know bothers us, that frustrates us significantly more than if a mere acquaintance did the same thing. Because that person reasonably “should know better.”

  We see this reflected in the way Jesus’ most direct rebukes were given to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. As teachers of the Law, they had no excuse not to live by it or to know the purpose and intent behind it. Yet they were frequently contradicting and manipulating it for their own purposes.

• We have to be ready to change and grow (Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22; Luke 5:36-39). Accepting Jesus as our Savior also means that we align with His principles and character, which can often be contrary to the self-centered world around us. So it’s only reasonable to expect growth and change. Jesus’ parable about new and old cloth and wineskins provided an illustration of what happens when we become rigid or resist growth.

Rely on Jesus (instead of ourselves)

• Jesus is the source of our spiritual growth. Apart from Him we are aimless (John 15:5-6). Jesus describes Himself as “the vine,” the life-giving part of a plant. We are the “branches,” so we can extend that life and vigor outwardly. But Jesus followed this illustration with a caution: If we forget where spiritual strength and power come from, it’s just like breaking a branch off the vine. It’ll soon wither.

• Even if we’re “feeding” ourselves with all the right information, what ultimately matters is what we do with it (Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:14-23). While the religious leaders of Jesus’ time were so focused on ceremonial purity and outward rituals, the true condition of their spiritual health showed through their words and actions, which completely lacked love—the very essence of God Himself (1 John 4:16). Our actions do matter, because they will ultimately reveal our true priorities. So Jesus urges us not to fixate on external things that could make people “unclean,” but to focus on how we are representing His character through our actions.

• Be mindful when taking oaths or making promises. We can rarely control what happens in life—only God can (Matthew 5:33-37). It was common in Jesus’ day for people to make big, grand oaths to demonstrate devotion, power, or status.

  It’s easy to want to promise the world to people we care about. And it’s also easy to start thinking we have a sense of control over the blessings in our lives. But when we put all our gusto into big gestures and powerful words, we often end up promising more than we can deliver. So God instructs us to simply and sincerely say “yes” or “no”…and mean it! We should be level-headed and commit ourselves to keeping our word in all cases. Even in the small things.

Be wary of deceptions and distractions

• We can’t serve two masters… (Matthew 6:19-21, 24; Luke 16:13). It can be strangely easy to think we can do this. But no one can follow two paths at the same time. If we claim to love Jesus, we can’t only follow the Bible some of the time, while other times letting greed or pride guide us. It just doesn’t work. One will always be lowered in priority to accommodate the other. But in this warning about serving God or wealth, at least one of these “masters” actually loves us and wants the best for us. So the recommended choice is clear.

• Finger-pointing often backfires. We must be willing to acknowledge our own shortcomings before we’re fit to offer counsel to others (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). The devil has made it so enticing to criticize others. It feels powerful…while still making it feel like we’re doing good by calling out the shortcomings we see. But in reality, it’s just feeding our pride while diminishing our capacity to love. That’s why Jesus warns us about forgetting that we’re all in the same boat. Truly helping one another requires humility.

• We shouldn’t hoard wealth or trust in our own abundances, because it’s all temporary. Instead, we should use what we have to benefit those around us (Luke 12:18-21, 19-21; Luke 16:9-12; Matthew 25:14-30). Hoarding leads to waste more often than it leads to security or happiness. Life is short, and things can always change. So the best way we can live is by being generous with what we’re given, seeking to benefit others instead of chasing worldly perceptions of power, security, or trying to “get ahead.”

• Complacency makes us easier targets. But prayerful awareness is the best medicine for temptation and deception (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46). Jesus warned His disciples to stay alert—to “watch and pray”—because we’re more vulnerable to temptation and deception when our spiritual guard is down. Even the best of intentions can’t carry us. But being alert, with a willful dependence on God, allows spiritual strength to compensate for our human weakness.

• Spiritual procrastination has a cost (John 12:35-36). Be careful not to let an opportunity to accept or grow in God’s truth pass you by. While God is patient with all of us, that doesn’t mean that continuing to “walk in darkness” won’t have natural consequences. If we come across the chance to learn more or grow our faith, it’s in our best interest to act.

• Do good for the sake of doing good, rather than thinking about what you can get out of it (Matthew 5:46-47; Luke 6:32-35). Real love gives without demanding (or even expecting) anything in return. Jesus had just finished teaching about how we should love our enemies, and this is part of how we do that. It’s a heart-check and a motivation-check. We should do good to everyone and treat everyone with dignity, regardless of their relationship to us.

• Your spiritual perspective matters more than you might think (Matthew 6:22-23; Luke 11:34-36). Jesus warns us that the lens through which we see the world can determine the condition of our whole lives. A God-centered, love-framed outlook lights our way, showing us a bigger, deeper, more meaningful picture. But if our “eye” is shortsighted or focused on temporal, earthly things, it will eventually sap the life out of us.

• Be observant, so we can avoid being drawn in by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Let people’s “fruits” (habits) define them (Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-45). It’s so, so easy to get taken in by charismatic, smart, dynamic people who display great knowledge and big promises. Their “sheep clothing” can make it seem like they’re everything we respect, value, and agree with. But instead of getting carried away by their hype, flattery, or success, take time to just watch. Get to know people slowly, carefully, and sincerely. Time will tell if a person (or their ideology) is worthy of our loyalty. And more often than not, a person’s true nature can be seen in how they treat others (especially when they think no one’s looking).

• Whether in leaders, followers, or in ourselves, be wary of spiritual blindness or shortsightedness—even while doing the “right” things (Matthew 15:13-14; Matthew 16:12; Luke 6:39-40). Without intention, prayer, and the willingness to pursue and maintain a sincere relationship with God, our routines, traditions, or rituals can become distractions instead of beacons that point toward our loving Savior.

Never neglect to love others

• We reject Christ when we reject the needs of others (Matthew 25:41-46). If we claim to follow Jesus, it wouldn’t make sense for us to ignore His all-encompassing command to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus explained here that ultimately, the way we regard the “least of these” reveals if we truly follow Him or not (see also 1 John 4:8).

• If you have the opportunity to make things right with someone, don’t waste it (Luke 12:58-59). Jesus tells a short parable about someone taking the time to settle a legal issue before they’re called by the judge, who could sentence them to prison. But rather than this being a “legal” lesson, it’s also about human nature. If we don’t make an effort to right our wrongs to others, the consequences are only likely to get worse with every opportunity we pass up.

• Be wary of causing others to stumble—especially those who are impressionable, new to the faith, or in need of guidance (Matthew 18:6-9; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:1-3). Even among Jesus’ disciples, status or power was valued above everything else. They cared more about their own importance than about reflecting Jesus’ character to those they deemed less significant. So Jesus had to point out that as believers, we’re called to protect and nurture the faith of those who look to us for guidance or example. We’re called to be inclusive, not exclusive. And if we refuse to do this, He firmly expressed just how contrary that is to His will.

• Jesus held men accountable for unjustly divorcing their wives, warning of the damage it had been doing (Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:8-9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18). Confronting an ancient practice described in Deuteronomy 24:1-5, Jesus meant to remind everyone that one who dishonors a marriage commitment (except in the case of betrayal/unfaithfulness) also dishonors themselves before God.

Encouragement

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Jesus doesn’t expect us to grow on our own. He knows that we will always be struggling against our sinful nature, so He made sure to let us know that He’s always there for us.

So, just as He gives us salvation, He also empowers us to live new, Christ-like lives through the guidance of His Holy Spirit. And if we fall, His hand is always reaching out toward us in forgiveness.

His strength makes up for our weakness

• Anything is possible with God (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27; Mark 9:23). When we’re confronted with difficult, depressing, confusing, unthinkable, or even impossible circumstances, God promises that His power can get us through anything when we rely on Him.

• We can be a shining example for Christ (Matthew 5:14-16; Mark 4:21-22; Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33). Sin makes us feel shameful, inadequate, useless, etc. But Jesus flips that upside down. No matter who we are or were, He has given every single human being the honor of being His representatives on earth. Each of us can be a unique “light of the world” to those around us, just by reflecting His character.

• Even if our faith feels small, new, or unpracticed, God can do powerful things through us. All He needs is our willingness (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21; Luke 17:6). Jesus used an example of a tiny mustard seed to help us understand that it’s not about the “size” of our faith, it’s Who we have faith in.

• By staying connected to Jesus we’ll be able to bear the “fruit” of His character (John 15:5). Jesus used the vine and branches metaphor to help us visualize how our goodness, righteousness, and gifts come from Him. So when we lowly little branches stay connected to our life-giving vine, we give Him permission to work through us (see also Galatians 5:22-23).

God notices our good works when no one else does, and is eager to bless us when He returns

• When we welcome and include others, it’s like welcoming and serving Jesus Himself (Matthew 10:40-42). When we seize opportunities to be hospitable and kind— even when we can only do small things like offer water to someone who’s thirsty—we’re doing the very will of God. He asks us to help take care of those who are working in service to Him, and by doing so, we are also part of that same mission.

• Groups or systems motivated by worldly ambitions do not value humility and inclusion, but Jesus reinforces the spiritual value of humbling ourselves (Matthew 18:4-5; Luke 9:48). The disciples had just asked Jesus about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So He warned them about vain aspirations of greatness—but then He drew their attention to the innocence and wonder of a child. He explained how humbling themselves connects them with the greatness of God’s power and character.

• When we serve those who can’t repay us, God “repays” us instead (Luke 14:12-14). After telling parables to help His followers understand what true humility and kindness really look like, Jesus shared a scenario of hosting a big meal. But instead of inviting friends or family who would just return the favor, He said to invite those who would be unable to repay the good deed. He was helping us recognize kindness in action, while also reassuring us that God notices, saying that we “will be blessed…for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (verse 14, CSB).

• We “are blessed” if we follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership (John 13:14-17). Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, which surprised them because that very act was considered the duty of a lowly servant. But Jesus asked them directly, as He also asks us, to follow His example in doing this. And in that same sentence, He also assures us that taking on this spirit of a servant also includes His blessings.

On discipleship

Warnings

Hardships are inevitable, no matter which path we choose. And Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that following Him could cause division or put us in challenging situations that involve tough choices of loyalty. It’s not meant to be a road to fame, prestige, ease, wealth, etc. In actuality, His ways often clash with the ways of the world.

And it makes sense. The character of Jesus leads us to walk in selflessness, humility, and patience while the ways of the world tend to become corrupted by pride, greed, fear, etc.

So Jesus tells us:

At times, following Jesus causes conflict, difficulty, or even danger

• Discipleship has a cost (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62). After a scribe declared to Jesus, “I’ll follow you wherever you go,” He wanted to make sure this man fully understood what he was boldly proclaiming.

  Anything of significant value costs something, whether that’s money, effort, commitment, priority, etc. It might sound like Jesus was saying we need to give up our homes, families, or livelihoods to follow Him. But He used those examples to make a much deeper point.

  Talk is cheap. It’s easy to declare our devotion in a powerful moment. But while Jesus’ invitation is freely given to all, it’s also something to take seriously—not something to pridefully announce before bothering to learn what it entails. Just like you don’t ask someone to marry you after only one date. So it’s like Jesus was saying, “Hey, I’d rather hear this from you once you really know what it means to follow Me.”

• Take up your cross—discipleship is a commitment to take seriously (Matthew 10:38-39; Matthew 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-37; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27; John 12:25). In a time rife with spiritual hypocrisy, Jesus warned His followers that choosing Him is far more than a verbal profession. “Take up your cross” means genuine commitment. Jesus didn’t gloss over that aligning with Him means letting go of the need for comfort, control, and sometimes, self-preservation. But in return, we can find what we need through Him (Matthew 16:25).

• Following Jesus may put us at odds with the ways of the world (John 15:20; Matthew 10:22; Luke 21:17; Matthew 24:9; John 16:2-3). God’s ways, which operate on love, selflessness, and trust, will certainly contrast with the self-serving, greedy, proud, fear-driven ways of the world. In some situations, when we don’t side with the world, the world starts to view us as enemies.
  • This may even result in division among loved ones (Luke 12:49-53; Matthew 10:21-22, 34-38; Luke 9:59-62; Luke 14:26). Jesus has no desire to cause conflict between family or friends, but He is honest about the cost of being loyal to Him. As we grow in faith, sometimes it can expose some deeper differences or incompatibilities within families, friend groups, or other tight-knit communities.

• Prioritize faith over fear (Luke 12:4-5; Matthew 10:28). Jesus had just finished talking to His disciples about religious hypocrisy. He followed this by pointing out that whatever humans might threaten to do, they can’t do a thing to our saving relationship with God (see also John 10:28). So He warns us to hold onto our faith in Him, instead of letting ourselves be overtaken by fear of other humans.

• Be wary of confusing earthly comfort or wealth with divine favor (Luke 6:24-26). These verses are part of a continued theme in Jesus’ teachings—His “woes” toward many of Israel’s religious leaders. They set themselves up as spiritually authoritative, but instead of serving and caring for others, they prioritized their own ease and satisfaction. This diluted their spirituality and caused them to become complacent.

Knowing Christ also requires growing in Christ.

• A meaningful relationship with God starts with a humble, committed mindset (Matthew 13:18-22; Mark 4:14-18; Luke 8:11-14). Jesus told the Parable of the Sower to illustrate the different ways we can respond to His message or influence, depending on our spiritual state of mind. Without a willing effort to know God—as opposed to just hearing information without internalizing it—we’re more easily influenced by all the other ideas and demands life throws at us.

• We need to keep an open mind and stay willing to learn, or we’ll miss out on important spiritual truths (Matthew 13:11-15; Mark 4:24-25; Luke 8:8,18). Jesus doesn’t force beliefs onto us. He appeals to our natural processes of thinking and learning, which require our willingness to put time and effort into it. This is one reason He often spoke in parables. It wasn’t about making ideas difficult or cryptic, but so they could be profoundly understood by anyone sincerely searching for truth.

• If we don’t make a point to reflect Christ’s character, we risk misrepresenting Him to others (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34-35). When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we’re also accepting His character as our example. And when we identify ourselves as Christians, each of us becomes a walking representation of Christianity. So as “ambassadors for Christ” (see 2 Corinthians 5:16-21), we’re not just learning about God. We’re also allowing others to learn about God through us. And, as emphasized in Mark 9:50, a big part of this involves an effort to be “at peace with one another” (CSB).

Our value comes from God, not our own efforts. Ignoring this will lead us down the wrong path.

• Those who exalt themselves will be humbled (Matthew 23:8-12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14). Jesus spent quite a bit of effort warning people about religious hypocrisy. He pointed out that though we have teachers, pastors, and other religious leaders we look to, that doesn’t change the fact that we are all still merely students learning from “one Instructor, the Messiah” (Matthew 23:10, CSB). If we chase spiritual authority or power, we’ll eventually be put back in our place (see also Proverbs 16:18).

• Our joy isn’t meant to be dependent upon spiritual success, but grounded in our salvation and identity in Jesus (Luke 10:20). Jesus recently declared how “the harvest is abundant, but the workers are few” (verse 2, CSB). So He sent out over 70 new disciples to connect with people in other areas who were spiritually searching, but had not yet heard the Gospel message.

  And they were successful! They returned “with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name’” (verse 17, CSB). But, perhaps unexpectedly, Jesus responded with caution instead of immediate celebration.

  While it’s wonderful (and encouraged!) to celebrate spiritual “wins,” we also should be aware of an easy slip-up our human nature is prone to: basing our joy and spiritual value on ministry success. Instead, He pointed out we can find all the joy we need in the miracle of our own salvation.

• Don’t presume that salvation is based on status, heritage, or association. Sincere faith and willingness are what matter (Matthew 8:10-13; Matthew 21:43). Jesus issued this warning in two different instances: after a Roman centurion showed deeper faith than many long-time believers in Israel, and after He called out the presumption and hypocrisy of many religious leaders in the parable about wicked tenant farmers.

God asks us to share the Gospel in considerate ways. We shouldn’t fixate on results.

• We’re not asked to keep persisting when the Gospel is rejected. God doesn’t force acceptance, and neither should we (Matthew 7:6; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:10-11). Jesus taught His disciples to be discerning about the messages they share…and if a town won’t listen to them, they can simply move on.

  Yes, Jesus does encourage perseverance and patience. But not in the face of outright rejection (which is different than doubt, confusion, or simply needing time). God, who created us with free will, has no desire to force anyone’s beliefs. So when we aim to reflect Him to others, let’s remember that it’s not our job to make people accept what we present. God asks for a faithful witness, not for results.

  In other words, if we refuse to move on from those who aren’t receptive to us, it’s time to reevaluate if we’re doing God’s will, or if we’ve turned it into a pet project. And if the latter is the case, we’re wasting time and effort—and possibly misrepresenting God’s character.

Encouragement

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Jesus’ warnings and encouragement about discipleship go hand in hand. He sends us out, each on our unique path. But He knows it won’t be easy. That’s why He also promises to work with us, in us, and through us—which is ultimately what allows us to reach others and grow in our relationship with Him.

We don’t ever have to be worried or afraid. He provides what’s needed.

• It’s not about our skills or abilities. It’s about what He can do through us when we trust Him (Mark 16:17-18; John 14:11-14). Our human nature is often fearful. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine actually facing some of the things Jesus warns His followers about. But He offers us comfort in His power, assuring us that even when a situation demands “great works,” He will supply the means to make those happen.

• We don’t face spiritual opposition on our own (Luke 10:19). Jesus had just sent out over 70 new disciples to continue spreading the Gospel. Upon their successful return, He gave them cautionary wisdom along with an important, encouraging message: Even if we experience resistance on a spiritual level, we are under His authority and protection. We have no need to fear Satan’s power.

• The Holy Spirit is freely offered to us (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7, 13). Jesus told His followers that they would receive the “Counselor,” the “Spirit of truth,” who would be with them forever. And as the ultimate counselor, He promises to provide whatever wisdom, guidance, and support is needed.

• The Holy Spirit’s timing is perfect. He will give us the words we need when we need them (Matthew 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12). We humans are notorious for putting our foot in our mouth. So it’s natural to be afraid that when it really counts, we might say something wrong, weird, awkward, or just plain ineffective. Sometimes we overthink our words and fruitlessly rehearse imaginary conversations in our heads.

  Well, maybe Jesus had that in mind when He said, “don’t worry beforehand what you will say (Mark 13:11, CSB). Then He promises that “the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said” (Luke 12:12, CSB).

• Nurturing community is part of our calling, and God is present in our unified, prayerful efforts (Matthew 18:19-20). First off, to be clear, this doesn’t mean that God isn’t with us if we have to fly solo or we don’t really have a community. Jesus offered this encouragement while identifying important, often-overlooked principles of a healthy faith community. So He promises that when we make sincere, united efforts to worship and serve Him, He is right there with us.

• If our faith is met with hostility, it’s not a sign of personal failure. While this may not sound all that encouraging at first, Jesus was making an important point to His disciples in the Upper Room. It was meant to strengthen them while helping them understand what to expect.

  And, when we do experience rejection or opposition, we can know that He understands this better than anyone else in the world (see Hebrews 2:18; 4:15-16; Isaiah 53:1-9).

Following Him reshapes our lives and the lives of others

• Jesus offers all of us a meaningful, spiritually-honorable calling (Matthew 4:19). When Jesus calls us, He invites us into a life of purpose, influence, and sometimes adventure. He can even draw others closer to Him through us.

• We become “good soil” when we willingly respond to His call (Matthew 13:23). There’s a difference between simply reading or hearing about God, and receiving His Word with intention. It’s our willingness that matters, regardless of who we are or what we can do.

• When we follow Jesus, He gives us His “light” (truth/wisdom) (John 8:12, 31-32; John 12:46). When we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we start to see things more clearly. From a big-picture perspective. We could think of it like walking around a dark room after a bunch of kids had a Lego war…but now we have a flashlight. We start to see the hidden obstacles that might have hurt us or tripped us up before.

• What Jesus offers us is far more valuable and life-giving than anything else (Matthew 16:25; John 4:14; John 5:21). Following Jesus isn’t easy, and there will be sacrifices. But anything the world offers us will end up fading or disappointing us. What Jesus gives us is everlasting and perfect.

Even if other humans don’t recognize your worth, God sees you.

• Sometimes spiritual successes look like failure in the world’s eyes (John 12:23-26). This might also sound less than encouraging at first, but it’s a call to look at the big picture. Jesus was telling His disciples why He had to die. And even though that would feel like a loss to them, it would actually achieve victory over sin’s final consequence.

  So when we follow God, even when things look grim, we can know that we’re walking with Jesus. And the honor we’ll receive from God far surpasses any type of honor the world could give us.

• …but the humble will be exalted (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; Matthew 5:11-12; Luke 6:22). We’ve seen several warnings about pride, greed, and fixating on being seen as great and important. But there’s also a significant encouragement right after those warnings. Yes, those who make themselves great will end up humbled. But those who remain humble are considered honorable in God’s sight. And even when the world persecutes us, nothing can compare to what God has in store for those who love Him (see 1 Corinthians 2:8-10).

On the hardships of life

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Jesus had a lot to say about the challenges and difficulties of being a disciple. But during His earthly ministry, He didn’t talk much at all about the hardships of everyday life.

Perhaps most people didn’t need much warning that this life would always be a struggle, and that we’d frequently have to deal with unpredictability, chaos, injustice, temptation, and more. In fact, lots of places in the Old Testament have plenty to say about that.

What Jesus did offer us, however, was a wealth of encouragement to help us cope with the messiness of life.

Encouragement

Jesus took several opportunities to provide us with comfort and inspiration for when we’re suffering, afraid, overwhelmed, grieving, weary, etc.

He sees what we’re going through

• God can handle any and all of our prayers, and He will see us through our struggles (Luke 18:7-8). As part of the parable of the “persistent widow,” God helps us understand that He welcomes our prayers and invites us to keep praying and keep calling on His name, encouraging us not to give up. If an unjust judge would eventually grant justice to a persistent widow, how much more will Jesus, who already loves us beyond measure, supply us with what we need.

• When we accept Jesus, He will not leave us (Matthew 28:20). As part of the Great Commission, Jesus declares that He will be with each one of us “always, to the end of the age” (CSB). This is also the closing sentence for the Gospel according to Matthew. He clearly wants us to remember this comforting promise.

• God cares about each one of us, uniquely and personally, from the greatest detail to the smallest (Luke 12:6-7; Matthew 10:30-31). Each of us is a child of God, created to be unique from any other living creature on earth. And as the perfect parent, He knows us through and through, even the number of hairs on our heads.

He is always present with us and sustains us

• We don’t need to worry! Jesus invites us to trust in His guidance and provision (Matthew 6:8,25-34; John 6:35; Luke 12:22-31). Worrying is one of the things we humans do best, unfortunately. But God sees each of our lives from a greater perspective, and He knows exactly how to care for us. When we put our complete trust in Him, we slowly release ourselves from the kind of anxious self-reliance that is rampant throughout the world.

• Jesus gives us profound rest that the world cannot (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus offers relief and peace when we’re exhausted and overwhelmed. Not by removing all our burdens, but by being present with us and helping us carry them.

• We can pray with faith to a loving Father who wants to give us good things (Mark 11:24; Matthew 7:7-11; Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 11:9-10,13; John 15:16; John 16:23-24). Multiple times, Jesus encouraged His followers to pray freely and honestly, believing that God will hear, understand, and answer. This doesn’t mean to treat prayer as a list of wishes or demands, but as a sincere conversation with our Creator God, who is already invested in us and wants to do great things through us.

• Even when chaos surrounds us, we can have peace through His power (John 14:27; John 16:33). Jesus is stronger than Satan and stronger than anything on earth. So He is our refuge in the face of trouble. Not in the absense of it. Knowing this, our peace and joy don’t have to be affected by what’s going on around us.

• We’re invited to leave fear behind (Matthew 17:7; Mark 5:36; Mark 6:50). Satan sows fear and confusion, which run rampant throughout the world. But Jesus encourages us to trust in Him so we don’t have to be afraid.

  Whenever His disciples experienced something new, sudden, or unexplainable, one of the first things Jesus would say is, “don’t be afraid.” He cares about our well-being and wants us to live with assurance, faith, and peace, free from fear.

He wants to give us good things

• Jesus promises that whatever we surrender for His sake will ultimately be restored “a hundred times more” in His Kingdom (Matthew 19:28-29; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30). Jesus knew that many of His disciples (as well as many other followers at the time) had sacrificed a lot to be traveling with Him. So He let them know that their sacrifices hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  While discipleship can involve significant difficulty or loss, Jesus assures us that what God has in store for us far outweighs anything given up on earth.

• Jesus wants to bring us spiritual comfort when we’re discouraged (Matthew 5:3-6; Luke 6:20-21). As part of the Beatitudes, Jesus made a point to reach out to the “poor in spirit”—those who are discouraged, grieving, or deeply disappointed by the ways of the world so they “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6, CSB). We better understand the heart of God when we recognize and feel how wrong everything is right now. But He is eager to bring restoration to our tired souls. We can think of it like Jesus saying, “I will one day make everything right—and I’ll help you hold on until then.”

• Those who sincerely long for God will experience His embrace (Matthew 5:8). God sees our hearts, so we don’t need to worry about being misunderstood or misjudged. When we long for everything that love is, we’re longing for God’s character. And He will reveal Himself to us.

• Jesus affirms those who pursue peace, which reflects His character (Matthew 5:9). While following God can result in conflict or difficulty with other humans, His will is ultimately to create harmony and cooperation, not competition or division. We stand out from the world when we prioritize making peace with one another, seeking to build bridges rather than letting anger or fear ruin relationships.

On the end times

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Warnings

Several prophecies throughout the Bible help us understand where the world is ultimately headed. And Jesus made sure to provide helpful instruction for living in the end times, or the period of earth’s history that precedes His Second Coming.

Avoid deception and distractions:

• Watch out for deception and false prophets (Matthew 24:4-5,11, 23-24; Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:8). Satan will be trying every last trick in his book to confuse and mislead us, in order to weaken our loyalty to Jesus alone. We need to always be ready to compare anything we hear with Scripture.

• No one can predict the date of Jesus’ Second Coming (so beware of those who say they can) (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32). Jesus told His disciples that not even the angels know when the Second Coming will happen. No one is able to see from God’s all-encompassing perspective, so we shouldn’t trust any caims to know the day of Jesus’ return.

• People will try to impersonate Christ or claim that He has already returned (Matthew 24:26; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 17:23-24; 21:8). Jesus warned specifically that “false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13:21-22, CSB). It can be easy to think that surely we’d be able to tell if someone was impersonating Jesus or falsely claiming to speak for Him. But Jesus included that these deceptions would even target “the elect,” so they will be extremely convincing and elaborate.

  That’s why it’s always important to know what the Bible actually says about these things. Because according to Scripture, we can’t “miss” the Second Coming. Everyone alive will witness it (see Revelation 1:17), since it will be “as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky” (Luke 17:24, CSB).

• It’s so easy to get lulled into numbness or complacency. We need to keep our minds sharp (Luke 21:34; Luke 17:26-30). Our senses can become dulled from life’s constant activity, whether it’s in the form of tedium, incessant demands, or fixations on social, political, or professional aspirations. But the real danger isn’t in the chaos, noise, or open rebellion. It’s the complacency that comes from living as though what’s happening right now is all there is. That’s there’s nothing higher, bigger, and better beyond all the “stuff” we’re surrounded by.

  So what we really need to watch out for is when life becomes so full, busy, urgent, comfortable, loud, or all-consuming that we stop watching, thinking, reflecting, praying, etc. That’s why daily devotion or prayer time is so essential.

Times will get even tougher

• As history unfolds, we’ll see a growing amount of conflict, tragedy, unrest, strange phenomena, and alarmism—yet Jesus tells us not to fear (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7-8, 24-25; Luke 21:9-11, 25). These are the passages where Jesus talks about the “beginning of birth pains” that signal the nearness of His return (Mark 13:8, CSB). He acknowledges the intensity of these events, but not as a cause for panic. He’s cautioning us to avoid what’s sometimes called “apocalyptic hysteria,” and His repeated instruction is unmistakable: do not be alarmed.

  These events, no matter how awful, do not mean that God has lost control. “…The end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6, CSB). We could think of this like a pilot warning the plane’s passengers of upcoming turbulence before landing. Jesus is preparing us for what’s ahead, asking us to stay alert and grounded, not letting fear get the best of us.

• Staying faithful to Jesus could lead to persecution or betrayal, even from authorities or those close to us (Mark 13:9,12-13; Luke 21:12, 16; Matthew 24:9). Jesus had already warned His disciples that following Him could cause conflict or division. But here, Jesus is warning that history progresses, persecution is likely to become more systemic.

  The purpose here isn’t to be fear-inducing, but to prepare us so we can endure these hard times without being surprised or afraid. And we can remember that Jesus has already promised that the Holy Spirit will sustain us through these experiences.

• We can expect chaos, along with a growing sense of coldness and indifference in the world (Matthew 24:12). Even as the world attempts to bring more order and control, there will be increasing unrest and distrust. We’ll also see the sad toll that will take on people. “Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold” (CSB).

• There will be sudden times of crisis that will require spiritual discernment and committed obedience (Luke 21:20-21; Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-18). Jesus warned His followers that when we witness unmistakable signs of spiritual reckoning, there’s no room for hesitation or waffling between choices. It’s time to act on our decision to either side with Jesus or not.

  This might sound intimidating, but we can remember that Jesus also assured us that we won’t be navigating these crucial moments alone. We have the guidance of His Holy Spirit (Mark 13:11; Luke 21:14-15; John 14:26).

• There will be a period of distress like no other time in history (Matthew 24:21-22; Mark 13:19-20). Jesus spoke about a time of great difficulty that would precede His return. But He also emphasized that it won’t go on indefinitely. It will be “cut short” (Matthew 24:22, CSB) for the sake of those who follow Him.

Watch and be ready

• We should always be alert and ready, because we can’t predict when Jesus will return (Matthew 25:13; Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 12:40; Luke 21:36; Mark 13:33-37). The repetition alone can clue us in that Jesus wanted us to remember this and understand its importance. He wants us to resist complacency—to stay aware, alert, and ready to meet Him. But being “ready” isn’t like a switch we flip on at the last minute. Our readiness come from an active, sincere relationship with Him.

Encouragement

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Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus says multiple times that we don’t have to be afraid.³

But even while knowing that God wins in the end, discussing the end times can still make us feel scared or uneasy. So Jesus made sure to provide us with the encouragement we need to prepare for and endure the troubling times ahead, reminding us that He is with us through it all.

• There will be turmoil all over the world, but it’s only temporary. Jesus’ promises are forever (Luke 21:33). Even when everything is going wrong around us, that doesn’t stop God’s plan from going right. There’s nothing the world can do to thwart what God has in store for us.

• There will be no way to “miss” Jesus’ return, even amid the chaos. And it will be beautiful (Matthew 24:30-31; Luke 21:28). Jesus will appear openly, powerfully, and triumphantly to “all the peoples of the earth. … from one end of the sky to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31, CSB). At the same time, His angels will be gathering all believers together (see also Daniel 7:13-14; Isaiah 25:8-9; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7).

• Times are hard, but Jesus promises the kind of peace and joy upon His return that cannot and will not ever be taken away (John 16:22). Jesus acknowledged the sadness and hardship that His followers were feeling when facing physical separation from Him. But He assured them (and all of us) that His return will turn grief and stress into

• Everyone will have a chance to hear the Gospel message before Jesus returns (Matthew 24:14). Even in the most difficult of times, the Gospel will spread through the faithful witness of believers. The whole world will hear the truth.

• When faced with tough choices or situations that demand a defense of faith, we can remember that we’ve already been promised the Holy Spirit’s guidance (Luke 21:12-15; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). Jesus was emphatic that we won’t have to face these types of things alone. The Holy Spirit is active within us. He will give us strength and discernment, and He will guide our testimony.

• Jesus has prepared a beautiful new life for us (John 14:1-7). Jesus knew His disciples were anxious about going on without Him. So He spoke straight to their hearts, assuring them of the wonderful things that await them at His return.

  Though tough times are ahead, He’s been preparing for our future with Him, which will be greater than anything we could imagine. And knowing Him is the path to this future (verse 6).

• The dead will be raised to life through Jesus (John 5:28-29; 11:25). Even death can’t separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. Those who want to be with Him will be resurrected and restored at His return.

No matter what, we always have Jesus

One commonality of all of Jesus’ statements of warning and encouragement is that while hardship is an unavoidable reality, His constant presence in our lives is also a reality. Unless we want Him to leave us, He won’t.

We can take great comfort in knowing that Jesus doesn’t want us to be caught by surprise or feel unprepared for what’s ahead. But alongside all His warnings, He also makes sure we know how much He cares for us, that He never leaves us, and that we can trust in His future—no matter what happens in this broken world.

Many of Jesus’ statements of warning and comfort have to do with teaching us more about the “Kingdom of Heaven.”

1. Entry for “metanoeō,” Strong’s G3340. [↵]
2. Nichol, F.D. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary And Bible Students’ Source Book Volume 5, Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1956. pp.395-396. [↵]
3. Matthew 1:20; 8:26; 10:26, 28, 31; 14:27; 17:7; 24:6; 28:5, 10; Mark 4:40; 5:36; 6:50; 13:7; Luke 1:13, 30; 2:10; 5:10; 8:50; 12:4, 7, 32; John 6:20; 12:15; 14:27; 16:33. [↵]

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