He speaks of the vineyard workers who rejected the various servants sent to collect fruit. And when the Son was sent, they killed him. He then speaks of the stone which the builders REJECTED. But others would accept Him.
Chapter 22 continues this thought. Keep in mind that every reference to rejection points back to His rejection in Jerusalem. 22 begins with the marriage supper, and those bidden to come refuse. So others are chosen.
He then speaks about giving to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's, which Jerusalem simply refused to do when they rejected Jesus.
Chapter 23 really bears down on the people. Then things really get interesting.
Matthew 23:31-33 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?They would FILL UP what their FATHERS STARTED in persecuting ancient prophets of God.
Matthew 23:34-35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.Like a cup that was first filled with innocent blood when Abel died, those Hebrews to whom Jesus spoke, those very people, would FILL THE CUP UP , and upon THEM would come the wrath of God. And then He says:
Matthew 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.Then we see a reference back to JERUSALEM again, for rejecting Him.
Matthew 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.The chat continues in Matthew 24. The issue is still His rejection and a constant comparison between those who reject Him and those who accept Him. Straight through into Matthew 25, the issue is the same. Some reject and some accept. Jerusalem was in for it! They rejected Him.
And compare these references with the issu eiof rejection versus acceptance that was all through chapters 21-23 so far.
Mathew 23- THOSE WHO REJECT HIM: HE WOULD HAVE GATHERED JERUSALEM TOGETHER: Matthew 23:37.
Matthew 23- THOSE WHO REJECT HIM: All this would come upon THAT generation: Matthew 23:36
Matthew 24- THOSE WHO ACCEPT HIM: HE GATHERS HIS ELECT TOGETHER: Matthew 24:31
Matthew 24- THOSE WHO ACCEPT HIM: All this would come upon THAT generation: Matthew 24:34.
And Matthew 25 goes back to those rejecting Him and those accepting Him with parables of virgns and the talents and finally the SHEEP AND THE GOATS.
All of that context speaks of the destruction upon Jerusalem because they rejected Him in Matthew 21. Matthew 24 is not about anything different than chapters 21 to 23. The reference to the END OF THE WORLD in Matthew 24:3 is from the greek term AION. AION does not mean PLANET EARTH, but rather the "AGE." The end of what age, then? The "age" of temple in Jerusalem, and anything to do with LAW . The CROSS ended the Law, but Jerusalem rejected Jesus. He gave them ONE GENERATION to repent, in grace, but their refusal would bring His wrath! 70 AD was that fulfilment of ALL the things in Chapter 24. ALL.
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.ALL means ALL, including the destruction of the temple in Matthew 24:2.