1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Overview of Matthew Chapter 24
Matthew Chapter 24 is a significant passage in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about the end times and the signs of His second coming. This chapter is often referred to as the Olivet Discourse, as it takes place on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus addresses His disciples’ questions regarding the destruction of the Temple and the signs of the end of the age.
Key Themes
- Prophecy of the Temple’s Destruction: Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly structures.
- Signs of the End Times: Jesus outlines various signs that will precede His return, including wars, famines, and natural disasters.
- The Call for Vigilance: The chapter emphasizes the necessity for believers to remain watchful and prepared for Christ’s return.
- The Parable of the Fig Tree: Jesus uses the fig tree as a metaphor for recognizing the signs of the times.
- The Unknown Hour: Jesus stresses that no one knows the exact time of His return, urging readiness at all times.
Detailed Analysis
Verses 1-2: The Foretelling of Destruction
In these opening verses, Jesus and His disciples leave the Temple, and the disciples point out its grandeur. Jesus responds by predicting that not one stone will be left upon another, indicating the impending destruction of the Temple, which occurred in 70 AD. This statement shocks the disciples, as the Temple was central to Jewish worship and identity.
Verses 3-14: Signs of the End of the Age
- Deception: Jesus warns of false messiahs who will lead many astray.
- Wars and Rumors of Wars: He mentions that conflicts will be prevalent, but these are not the end.
- Natural Disasters: Earthquakes and famines are listed as signs that will occur.
- Persecution: Believers will face tribulation, and many will fall away from the faith.
- Spread of the Gospel: The good news will be preached to all nations before the end comes.
Verses 15-28: The Abomination of Desolation
Jesus refers to the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by the prophet Daniel, indicating a significant event that will signal the need for urgency among believers. He instructs those in Judea to flee to the mountains, highlighting the severity of the impending tribulation. This section emphasizes the importance of heeding prophetic warnings and the need for immediate action in times of crisis.
Verses 29-31: The Coming of the Son of Man
After the tribulation, cosmic signs will occur, and the Son of Man will appear in heaven. This marks the second coming of Christ, where He will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth. This passage reinforces the hope of redemption and the ultimate victory of Christ over evil.
Verses 32-35: The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Jesus uses the fig tree to illustrate that just as one can discern the change of seasons, so too can one recognize the signs of His return. This metaphor serves to encourage believers to be observant and aware of the spiritual climate around them.
Verses 36-44: The Unknown Day and Hour
Jesus emphasizes that no one knows the exact time of His return, not even the angels in heaven. This section calls for constant vigilance and preparedness, as the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden and unexpected, likening it to the days of Noah.
Verses 45-51: The Faithful and Wise Servant
In concluding the chapter, Jesus presents a parable about a faithful servant who is wise and diligent in his duties. The contrast is drawn with a wicked servant who becomes complacent. This parable serves as a warning about the consequences of unfaithfulness and the importance of being ready for the Master’s return.
Theological Implications
- Eschatology: This chapter is foundational for Christian eschatology, providing insights into the end times and the return of Christ.
- Christian Responsibility: Believers are called to live in a state of readiness and faithfulness, reflecting their commitment to Christ.
- Hope and Assurance: Despite the warnings of tribulation, there is a promise of hope and ultimate restoration for believers.
Conclusion
Matthew Chapter 24 serves as a critical teaching on the end times, highlighting the importance of vigilance, preparation, and faithfulness in the life of a believer. It challenges readers to remain alert to the signs of the times while holding onto the hope of Christ’s return and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
