Matthew 24: Understanding the End Times
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
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.
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?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
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.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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.
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:)
Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
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.
Behold, I have told you before.
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.
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.
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
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:
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.
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.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
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.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
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,
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24 is a pivotal chapter in understanding Jesus's teachings about the future, particularly the events leading up to His second coming. This chapter, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse, directly addresses the disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the signs of the end of the age. Let's explore the rich and complex layers of this chapter, providing both historical context and spiritual insights for today's readers. This commentary on Matthew 24 will give a verse-by-verse breakdown to help you better understand the chapter.
The Temple's Fate and the Disciples' Inquiry (Matthew 24:1-3)
The scene opens with Jesus leaving the temple, after powerfully denouncing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders (Matthew 23). As they walked, the disciples marveled at the temple's grandeur, its magnificent buildings constructed by Herod the Great (Matthew 24:1). Jesus' response was startling: "Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2). This prophecy, fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, served as the catalyst for the disciples' pressing questions.
Sitting on the Mount of Olives, with the temple in view, the disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). They linked the temple's destruction with Jesus's return and the culmination of history. Jesus's subsequent discourse addresses both the near-term destruction of the temple and the more distant events surrounding His second coming.
The Beginning of Sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8)
Jesus began by cautioning against deception: "Watch out that no one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4). He warned that many would come in His name, claiming to be the Messiah, and would lead many astray (Matthew 24:5). He also spoke of wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:6-7). However, He clarified that "all these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Matthew 24:8).
These events, while significant, do not signal the immediate end. Instead, they represent the initial stages of a period of intense tribulation, a time of global upheaval and suffering likened to the labor pains a woman experiences before childbirth. This period will be characterized by worldwide grief and agony.
Persecution and Apostasy (Matthew 24:9-14)
Jesus then foretold a time of severe persecution for His followers: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me" (Matthew 24:9). This persecution would be so intense that it would lead to betrayal, hatred, and a widespread turning away from the faith (Matthew 24:10). False prophets would arise and deceive many (Matthew 24:11), and lawlessness would increase, causing the love of many to grow cold (Matthew 24:12).
Despite these challenges, Jesus offered a word of hope: "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13). This endurance is not about earning salvation, but about persevering in faith through trials. Moreover, "this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). The global proclamation of the gospel is a crucial sign preceding the end.
The Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-22)
A key event marking the beginning of the "great tribulation" is the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). This refers to a sacrilegious act that defiles the temple. According to Daniel, the Antichrist "will make a firm covenant with many for one week” (Dan 9:27)—that is, for the seven-year tribulation period. He will be a world leader who will bring peace to the Middle East. The Jews will be permitted to rebuild their temple and once again offer sacrifices. However, “in the middle of the week” (at the midpoint of the tribulation), the Antichrist “will put a stop to sacrifice and offering” and set up “the abomination of desolation” in the temple (Dan 9:27).
Jesus urged those who witness this event to flee immediately, emphasizing the urgency and severity of the situation (Matthew 24:16-20). He described this time as a "great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will" (Matthew 24:21). He added that unless those days were cut short, no one would survive (Matthew 24:22), highlighting the devastating nature of this period.
The Coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:23-31)
Jesus warned against being deceived by false claims of His return: "If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it" (Matthew 24:23). He emphasized that His second coming would be unmistakable and universally visible: "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27).
This return will be accompanied by cosmic disturbances: "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken" (Matthew 24:29). Then, "the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). He will send his angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31).
The Parable of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35)
Jesus used the parable of the fig tree to illustrate the imminence of His return: "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near" (Matthew 24:32). Similarly, when people see the signs He described taking place, they can know that His return is near, right at the door (Matthew 24:33). These are the people Jesus spoke of when he referred to "this generation" (Matthew 24:34). They will see everything take place exactly as Jesus foretold. He affirmed the certainty of His words: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35).
The Unknown Day and Hour (Matthew 24:36-44)
Despite the signs, Jesus emphasized the unknowability of the exact timing of His return: "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). He compared the days leading up to His return to the days of Noah, when people were going about their normal lives, unaware of the impending judgment (Matthew 24:37-39).
Therefore, He exhorted His followers to be ready: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42). He likened this watchfulness to a homeowner guarding against a thief (Matthew 24:43-44), emphasizing the need for constant preparedness.
The Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (Matthew 24:45-51)
To illustrate the importance of faithful service, Jesus told the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants (Matthew 24:45-51). The faithful servant diligently carries out his master's instructions while he is away, while the unfaithful servant abuses his authority and neglects his duties. When the master returns, the faithful servant is rewarded, while the unfaithful servant is severely punished.
This parable underscores the need for believers to be actively engaged in serving Christ, living responsibly, and remaining faithful until His return. Jesus will expect to find you busy serving him so he can reward you for faithfulness.
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
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.
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?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
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.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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.
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:)
Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
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.
Behold, I have told you before.
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.
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.
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
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:
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.
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.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
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.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
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,
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24 is a pivotal chapter in understanding Jesus's teachings about the future, particularly the events leading up to His second coming. This chapter, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse, directly addresses the disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the signs of the end of the age. Let's explore the rich and complex layers of this chapter, providing both historical context and spiritual insights for today's readers. This commentary on Matthew 24 will give a verse-by-verse breakdown to help you better understand the chapter.
The Temple's Fate and the Disciples' Inquiry (Matthew 24:1-3)
The scene opens with Jesus leaving the temple, after powerfully denouncing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders (Matthew 23). As they walked, the disciples marveled at the temple's grandeur, its magnificent buildings constructed by Herod the Great (Matthew 24:1). Jesus' response was startling: "Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2). This prophecy, fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, served as the catalyst for the disciples' pressing questions.
Sitting on the Mount of Olives, with the temple in view, the disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). They linked the temple's destruction with Jesus's return and the culmination of history. Jesus's subsequent discourse addresses both the near-term destruction of the temple and the more distant events surrounding His second coming.
The Beginning of Sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8)
Jesus began by cautioning against deception: "Watch out that no one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4). He warned that many would come in His name, claiming to be the Messiah, and would lead many astray (Matthew 24:5). He also spoke of wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:6-7). However, He clarified that "all these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Matthew 24:8).
These events, while significant, do not signal the immediate end. Instead, they represent the initial stages of a period of intense tribulation, a time of global upheaval and suffering likened to the labor pains a woman experiences before childbirth. This period will be characterized by worldwide grief and agony.
Persecution and Apostasy (Matthew 24:9-14)
Jesus then foretold a time of severe persecution for His followers: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me" (Matthew 24:9). This persecution would be so intense that it would lead to betrayal, hatred, and a widespread turning away from the faith (Matthew 24:10). False prophets would arise and deceive many (Matthew 24:11), and lawlessness would increase, causing the love of many to grow cold (Matthew 24:12).
Despite these challenges, Jesus offered a word of hope: "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13). This endurance is not about earning salvation, but about persevering in faith through trials. Moreover, "this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). The global proclamation of the gospel is a crucial sign preceding the end.
The Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-22)
A key event marking the beginning of the "great tribulation" is the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). This refers to a sacrilegious act that defiles the temple. According to Daniel, the Antichrist "will make a firm covenant with many for one week” (Dan 9:27)—that is, for the seven-year tribulation period. He will be a world leader who will bring peace to the Middle East. The Jews will be permitted to rebuild their temple and once again offer sacrifices. However, “in the middle of the week” (at the midpoint of the tribulation), the Antichrist “will put a stop to sacrifice and offering” and set up “the abomination of desolation” in the temple (Dan 9:27).
Jesus urged those who witness this event to flee immediately, emphasizing the urgency and severity of the situation (Matthew 24:16-20). He described this time as a "great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will" (Matthew 24:21). He added that unless those days were cut short, no one would survive (Matthew 24:22), highlighting the devastating nature of this period.
The Coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:23-31)
Jesus warned against being deceived by false claims of His return: "If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it" (Matthew 24:23). He emphasized that His second coming would be unmistakable and universally visible: "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27).
This return will be accompanied by cosmic disturbances: "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken" (Matthew 24:29). Then, "the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). He will send his angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31).
The Parable of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35)
Jesus used the parable of the fig tree to illustrate the imminence of His return: "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near" (Matthew 24:32). Similarly, when people see the signs He described taking place, they can know that His return is near, right at the door (Matthew 24:33). These are the people Jesus spoke of when he referred to "this generation" (Matthew 24:34). They will see everything take place exactly as Jesus foretold. He affirmed the certainty of His words: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35).
The Unknown Day and Hour (Matthew 24:36-44)
Despite the signs, Jesus emphasized the unknowability of the exact timing of His return: "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). He compared the days leading up to His return to the days of Noah, when people were going about their normal lives, unaware of the impending judgment (Matthew 24:37-39).
Therefore, He exhorted His followers to be ready: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42). He likened this watchfulness to a homeowner guarding against a thief (Matthew 24:43-44), emphasizing the need for constant preparedness.
The Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (Matthew 24:45-51)
To illustrate the importance of faithful service, Jesus told the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants (Matthew 24:45-51). The faithful servant diligently carries out his master's instructions while he is away, while the unfaithful servant abuses his authority and neglects his duties. When the master returns, the faithful servant is rewarded, while the unfaithful servant is severely punished.
This parable underscores the need for believers to be actively engaged in serving Christ, living responsibly, and remaining faithful until His return. Jesus will expect to find you busy serving him so he can reward you for faithfulness.