Mathew 22 to 25 to whom? Change

Who are these chapters spoken to by Jesus? I have previously stated Israel; on the basis of the statement that Israel is God’s elect and Mathew is “for the Jews”. This idea also agrees with most analysis.

Insert 4/26/2012:

I must state I did not read all posts on 4/25, including the one regarding ekklesia. I wrote this that evening. I post it now because the Holy Spirit may be moving and I will “get out of the way” :).

The word ecclesia also is related to the word elect in Greek and clearly references the church. Furthermore, the literal meaning of the two words which compose the word “ekklesia” are “called from” or “called out of”. This is virtually a form of rapture. One could argue that the church is, by definition, those “raptured”.

Uncomfortable; that’s how I feel with the company this puts me in at fivedoves. Some who extend the “rapture” date and Millennial Kingdom establishment as far as possible imo. That, I do not agree with.

Another support for this understanding is the strongest I know. This is what started my reconsideration. Jesus plainly told His disciples at the start of His public ministry that He spoke in parables specifically so the audience would not understand. He called this “The mystery of God”

Otherwise, He explained, many would believe and receive the Holy Spirit. This would have interfered with the salvation of the gentiles. The disciples were given to understand.

So here’s the problem. Mathew 24 and 25 are spoken in parables. Therefore, the Israelites were not given to understand, but the church-founders were. See what I mean? This indicates Ch’s 24 and 25 may well be for the church.

Jesus spoke plainly to those He healed. To the Pharisees He directly spoke plainly, or in riddles, but not parables. To the various women He spoke plainly. If He had spoken plainly to the Israelites about the time of wrath and the end of the age none would have understood because it was very different from what they expected. So, the most direct conclusion is that He meant these chapters for the church.

I still don’t “like” this way of looking at things, but I cannot avoid it. Support either way is appreciated.