Matthew 24:1-25
The Destruction of the Temple
1 Now ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
as Jesus was going out of the temple courts and walking away, his disciples came to show him the temple buildings. ▼▼sn The Jerusalem temple was widely admired around the world. See Josephus, Ant. 15.11 [15.380-425]; J. W. 5.5 [5.184-227] and Tacitus, History 5.8, who called it “immensely opulent.” Josephus compared it to a beautiful snowcapped mountain.
2And he said to them, ▼▼tn Grk “answering, he said to them.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokritheis) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
“Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, ▼▼tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
not one stone will be left on another. ▼▼sn With the statement not one stone will be left on another Jesus predicted the total destruction of the temple, something that did occur in a.d. 70.
All will be torn down!” ▼▼tn Grk “not one stone will be left here on a stone which will not be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 As ▼▼tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things ▼▼sn Because the phrase these things is plural, more than the temple’s destruction is in view. The question may presuppose that such a catastrophe signals the end.
happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered them, ▼▼tn Grk “answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.
“Watch out ▼▼tn Or “Be on guard.”
that no one misleads you. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ ▼▼tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
▼ and they will mislead many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. ▼▼tn Grk “it is not yet the end.”
7For nation will rise up in arms ▼▼tn For the translation “rise up in arms” see L&N 55.2.
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes ▼▼tc Most witnesses (C Γ Δ Θ 0102 ƒ1,13 700 1241 1424 Maj) have “and plagues” (καὶ λοιμοί, kai loimoi) between “famines” (λιμοί, limoi) and “earthquakes” (σεισμοί, seismoi), while others have “plagues and famines and earthquakes” (L W 33 lat). The similarities between λιμοί and λοιμοί could explain how καὶ λοιμοί might have accidentally dropped out, but since the Lukan parallel (Luke 21:11) has both terms (and W lat have the order λοιμοὶ καὶ λιμοί there too, as they do in Matthew), it seems more likely that scribes added the phrase here. The shorter reading does not enjoy overwhelming support ([א] B D 892 sa, and other Greek and versional witnesses), but it is nevertheless significant; coupled with the internal evidence it should be given preference.
in various places. ▼ 8All ▼▼tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
these things are the beginning of birth pains. Persecution of Disciples
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations ▼▼tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “nations” or “Gentiles”).
because of my name. ▼ 10Then many will be led into sin, ▼▼tn Or “many will fall away.” This could also refer to apostasy.
and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will appear and deceive ▼▼tn Or “and lead many astray.”
many, 12and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the person who endures to the end will be saved. ▼▼sn But the person who endures to the end will be saved. Jesus was not claiming here that salvation is by works. He was simply arguing that genuine faith evidences itself in persistence through even the worst of trials.
14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, ▼▼tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “nations” or “Gentiles”).
and then the end will come. The Abomination of Desolation
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation ▼▼sn The reference to the abomination of desolation is an allusion to Dan 9:27. Though some have seen the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy in the actions of Antiochus IV (or a representative of his) in 167 b.c., the words of Jesus seem to indicate that Antiochus was not the final fulfillment, but that there was (from Jesus’ perspective) still another fulfillment yet to come. Some argue that this was realized in a.d. 70, while others claim that it refers specifically to Antichrist and will not be fully realized until the period of the great tribulation at the end of the age (cf. Mark 13:14, 19, 24; Rev 3:10).
—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), ▼▼sn This parenthetical comment is generally regarded as a command by the author made directly to the readers, not as part of Jesus’ original speech. For this reason the statement is not placed within quotation marks.
16“then those in Judea must flee ▼ to the mountains. 17The one on the roof ▼▼sn On the roof. Most of the roofs in the NT were flat roofs made of pounded dirt, sometimes mixed with lime or stones, supported by heavy wooden beams. They generally had an easy means of access, either a sturdy wooden ladder or stone stairway, sometimes on the outside of the house.
must not come down ▼▼sn The swiftness and devastation of the judgment will require a swift escape. There will be no time to come down from the roof and pick up anything from inside one’s home.
to take anything out of his house, 18and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19Woe ▼▼tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 20Pray ▼▼tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21For then there will be great suffering ▼▼tn Traditionally, “great tribulation.”
unlike anything that has happened ▼▼sn Suffering unlike anything that has happened. Some refer this event to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. While the events of a.d. 70 may reflect somewhat the comments Jesus makes here, the reference to the scope and severity of this judgment strongly suggest that much more is in view. Most likely Jesus is referring to the great end-time judgment on Jerusalem in the great tribulation.
from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ ▼▼tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
▼ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. 24For false messiahs ▼▼tn Or “false christs”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25Remember, ▼▼tn Or “Pay attention!” Grk “Behold.”
I have told you ahead of time.
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