14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise(A) I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

15 “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous(B) Branch(C) sprout from David’s line;(D)
    he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved(E)
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.(F)
This is the name by which it[a] will be called:(G)
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 33:16 Or he

A Fresh and True Shoot from the David-Tree

14-18 “‘Watch for this: The time is coming’—God’s Decree—‘when I will keep the promise I made to the families of Israel and Judah. When that time comes, I will make a fresh and true shoot sprout from the David-Tree. He will run this country honestly and fairly. He will set things right. That’s when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety. The motto for the city will be, “God Has Set Things Right for Us.” God has made it clear that there will always be a descendant of David ruling the people of Israel and that there will always be Levitical priests on hand to offer burnt offerings, present grain offerings, and carry on the sacrificial worship in my honor.’”

* * *

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The Davidic Kingdom

14 ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good word and promise which I have made regarding the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He (the Messiah) shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.(A) 16 In those days Judah will be saved and [the people of] Jerusalem will live in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the Lord Our Righteousness (Justice).’

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14 (A)‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that (B)I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:

15 ‘In those days and at that time
I will cause to grow up to David
A (C)Branch of righteousness;
He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
16 In those days Judah will be saved,
And Jerusalem will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which she will be called:

[a]THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 33:16 Heb. YHWH Tsidkenu; cf. Jer. 23:5, 6

How can we thank God enough for you(A) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?(B) 10 Night and day we pray(C) most earnestly that we may see you again(D) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father(E) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other(F) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless(G) and holy in the presence of our God and Father(H) when our Lord Jesus comes(I) with all his holy ones.(J)

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9-10 What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy we experience before him because of you? We do what we can, praying away, night and day, asking for the bonus of seeing your faces again and doing what we can to help when your faith falters.

11-13 May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.

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For what [adequate] thanks can we offer to God for you in return for all the joy and delight we have before our God on your account? 10 We continue to pray night and day most earnestly that we may see you face to face, and may complete whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and Jesus our Lord guide our steps to you [by removing the obstacles that stand in our way]. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may strengthen and establish your hearts without blame in holiness in the sight of our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His [a]saints (God’s people).

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 All born-again believers (saints) have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, made holy and set apart for God’s purpose.

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face (A)and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, (B)direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and (C)abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish (D)your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

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25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.(A) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(B) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(C) coming in a cloud(D) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(E)

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(F) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(G) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(H)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(I) and that day will close on you suddenly(J) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(K) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

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25-26 “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

27-28 “And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!”

29-33 He told them a story. “Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God’s kingdom is about here. Don’t brush this off: I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

34-36 “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.”

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The Return of Christ

25 “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves,(A) 26 people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory.(B) 28 Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”

Parable of the Fig Tree

29 Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;(C) 30 as soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is near. 31 So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near. 32 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until [a]everything takes place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

34 “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. 36 But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:32 I.e. the establishment of God’s kingdom.

The Coming of the Son of Man(A)

25 (B)“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, (C)for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man (D)coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because (E)your redemption draws near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree(F)

29 (G)Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 (H)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My (I)words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching(J)

34 “But (K)take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with [a]carousing, drunkenness, and (L)cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For (M)it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 (N)Watch therefore, and (O)pray always that you may [b]be counted (P)worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and (Q)to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:34 dissipation
  2. Luke 21:36 NU have strength to