why read books writen by men with oppinions, read the BIBLE IT IS GODS HOLY WORD, THROU THE HOLY SPIRIT HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS. Br Colin God bless you.
I grew up in a denomination where people loved saying that. They were simply ignorant (or too lazy to study), and that's why they frequently misunderstood what the Bible said.
Reading the gospels without a thorough understanding of the Roman empire, is like trying to understand the history of World War II without Germany's ruling party.
Reading Matthew 24:1-2 without knowledge of what happened 40 years later, doesn't give you the full impact. And it may relate to why Jesus wept as well.
God gave you a brain. He expects you to use it, rather than waiting on thoughts to pop into your head, which as Paul noted, may not always be trusted.