Matthew 24 (WEB)

Matthew 24:1–14

The temple's fall and the beginning of troubles

Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.”

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

As the disciples admire the temple buildings, Jesus predicts that not one stone will be left on another. On the Mount of Olives they ask when this will happen and what will signal his coming and the end of the age. He warns of false messiahs, wars, famines and earthquakes, of persecution and falling away, and says the end will come only after the good news has been preached to all nations.

What does this mean?

'The end of the world' (KJV) is more exactly 'the end of the age'. 'Coming' translates parousia, a word for the arrival of a ruler, which became the standard Christian term for Christ's return. 'Sorrows' (KJV) or 'birth pains' (WEB) was a Jewish image for the sufferings expected before the new age.

Historical context

Herod's temple, with its massive white stonework and gold decoration, was famed across the Roman world. In AD 70, after a Jewish revolt, Roman forces under Titus destroyed it; it has never been rebuilt.

Why does it matter?

Chapters 24–25 form the last of Matthew's five discourses. Christians have long differed on how much of it refers to the events of AD 70 and how much to a future end.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 24:15–28

The desolating sacrilege and false messiahs

“When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a Sabbath, for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.

“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

“Behold, I have told you beforehand.

“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather together.

Jesus tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains when they see 'the abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place, without stopping to collect belongings, because the distress will be unparalleled. He warns them not to believe claims that the Messiah is here or there, since his coming will be as unmistakable as lightning.

Scripture connection · Reference

Matthew 24:15 refers to Daniel 11:31 · Daniel 12:11

“Forces from him will profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and will take away the continual burnt offering. Then they will set up the abomination that makes desolate.
Daniel 11:31 · WEB
“From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
Daniel 12:11 · WEB

Historians usually connect Daniel's phrase with the desecration of the Jerusalem temple in 167 BC. Jesus applies it to a coming crisis; interpretations of its fulfilment differ.

What does this mean?

'Abomination of desolation' means a detestable thing that defiles the sanctuary. 'Let the reader understand' is an aside to whoever reads the text aloud or privately. 'Elect' (KJV) means God's chosen people. 'Eagles' (KJV) and 'vultures' (WEB) translate one Greek word that can mean either.

Historical context

Flat roofs were reached by outside stairs, so one could flee without going indoors. Winter rains made roads and rivers hard to cross, and Sabbath travel was restricted. The church historian Eusebius records that Jerusalem's Christians fled to Pella, east of the Jordan, before the city fell, though some scholars doubt the report. Josephus describes several would-be prophets and deliverers in these years who led followers into the wilderness.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 24:29–35

The coming of the Son of Man

“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

“Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

After those days of distress, Jesus says, the sun and moon will darken, stars will fall and the heavens shake; the sign of the Son of Man will appear, and all peoples will see him coming on the clouds with power and glory, sending his angels to gather his chosen ones. As fig leaves announce summer, these signs show he is near. This generation will not pass away until all these things happen.

What does this mean?

Darkened sun and falling stars are traditional prophetic images for God's intervention in history, used of the fall of Babylon and other powers (Isaiah 13:10; 34:4). 'Coming on the clouds' echoes Daniel 7:13.

Why does it matter?

Verse 34, about 'this generation', is one of the most debated sayings in the Gospels. Some interpreters refer it to the events of AD 70, some to the generation that sees the final signs, some to the Jewish people or humanity in general; others conclude that Jesus or the early church expected the end within a lifetime.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 24:36–44

No one knows the day or hour

“But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.

Jesus says no one knows the day or hour of his coming, not even the angels, but only the Father. It will come suddenly, as the flood came on people going about ordinary life in Noah's day: one person will be taken and another left. So his followers must stay alert, like a householder who would have kept watch had he known when a thief was coming.

What does this mean?

'Watch' means stay awake and alert. A 'watch' of the night (verse 43) is one of its divisions.

Historical context

Many modern translations add 'nor the Son', found in some early manuscripts and in Mark 13:32; the KJV and WEB do not have it here.

Why does it matter?

'One taken, one left' is read in different ways: popular modern teaching about a 'rapture' sees those taken as rescued, while many interpreters note that in the flood comparison those 'taken' are swept away in judgment. The passage stresses readiness rather than prediction, and many Christian traditions have discouraged setting dates for the end.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 24:45–51

The faithful and the wicked servant

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

Jesus describes a servant put in charge of his master's household. If he is found doing his job when the master returns, he will be promoted; if he decides the master is delayed and begins beating his fellow servants and drinking, the master will return unexpectedly and punish him severely.

What does this mean?

'Cut him asunder' (KJV) or 'cut him in pieces' (WEB) is a severe punishment, possibly meant figuratively for being cut off. 'Weeping and gnashing of teeth' is Matthew's recurring image for final exclusion.

Historical context

Wealthy households were often run by a trusted slave or steward who managed other slaves and supplies while the owner was away.

Why does it matter?

This is the first of four parables (24:45–25:46) about how to live while waiting for the Son of Man, each involving a delay and a reckoning. Many scholars think the theme of delay addresses readers who wondered why his return had not yet come.

Editorial notes, not scripture.