Matthew24

Jesus prophesies the complete destruction of the Temple, prompting His disciples to inquire about the signs of His coming and the end of the world. He warns of widespread deception, wars, famines, and severe persecution, which are the "beginning of sorrows." Jesus describes His sudden, glorious return following a period of great tribulation and urges His followers to remain watchful and ready, as the precise time is unknown.

Prophecy of the Temple's Destruction

Yeshua 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?”

Signs of the Beginning of Sorrows

Yeshua answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ 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, the same 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.

The Great Tribulation and False Christs

“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 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 oppression, 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 Messiah,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.

For there will arise false messiahs, and false prophets, 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; ‘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 be the coming of the Son of Man.

For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.

The Coming of the Son of Man

But immediately after the oppression 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 shofar, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

“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 it 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.

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 be the coming of the Son of Man.

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 be the coming of the Son of Man.

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left;

two women 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.

Parable of the Faithful 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. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

Study Notes for Matthew 24

Verse 1

This discourse, known as the Olivet Discourse, takes place on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus answers questions about the future. The disciples proudly showed off the magnificent Herodian Temple complex, which had been under construction for decades.

Verse 2

Jesus’ prophecy of total destruction was fulfilled literally in AD 70 when the Roman army, under General Titus, besieged Jerusalem and dismantled the Temple stone by stone.

Verse 3

The disciples asked three distinct, but related, questions: (1) When will the temple fall? (2) What is the sign of your coming (*parousia*)? (3) What is the sign of the end of the age? Jesus blends the answers, treating the destruction of Jerusalem as a type or foreshadowing of the final judgment.

Verse 8

The Greek word for 'sorrows' (*ōdin*) literally means 'birth pains.' These events—wars, famines, and earthquakes—are painful precursors that signal the inevitable arrival of the new age, but they are not the end itself.

Verse 9

Jesus warns that persecution and martyrdom are inherent parts of the mission, occurring throughout the church age until the end.

Verse 14

The worldwide proclamation of the Gospel is presented here as a necessary prerequisite and a final sign before the end of the age comes. This emphasizes the mission mandate of the church.

Verse 15

The 'abomination of desolation' is a clear reference to Daniel (9:27). In the immediate historical context, this likely refers to the desecration of the Temple area by the Roman armies in AD 70, signaling the time for Judean Christians to flee.

Verse 20

Fleeing in winter would be difficult due to weather, and fleeing on the Sabbath would violate Jewish law, potentially causing conflict or preventing them from traveling far outside their city.

Verse 21

While this language is often used to describe the ultimate final judgment, in its immediate context, it describes the unprecedented horror and suffering inflicted upon Jerusalem during the Roman siege (AD 66–70).

Verse 24

The warning against false Christs is intensified, noting they will use 'great signs and wonders' to deceive even the most devoted believers, underscoring the necessity of spiritual discernment.

Verse 27

The true coming of the Son of Man will not be secret or localized; it will be sudden, unmistakable, and visible to everyone, like a flash of lightning across the sky.

Verse 28

This proverb means that judgment (the carcass) will inevitably draw the instruments of judgment (the eagles/vultures). This may allude metaphorically to divine judgment or literally to the Roman military standards, which featured the eagle.

Verse 29

The phrase 'immediately after' links the cosmic signs to the preceding tribulation. This uses traditional apocalyptic imagery (Isaiah 13:10) to describe the dramatic, world-altering nature of Christ’s return.

Verse 30

The 'sign of the Son of man' is Christ himself appearing in glory. His arrival will cause the 'tribes of the earth' (often interpreted as non-believers) to mourn in recognition of the judgment that is upon them.

Verse 32

The fig tree parable is an analogy instructing the disciples to recognize the signs of the times. Just as spring follows the budding of the tree, the end will follow the fulfillment of these prophecies.

Verse 34

This is one of the most debated verses. It likely refers to the generation living in AD 70 who witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem (vv. 4–22).

Verse 36

This verse establishes the absolute divine prerogative over the timing of the end, emphasizing that the timing is hidden even from the Son, underscoring the mystery of the Godhead and the finality of the Father's plan.

Verse 37

The comparison to Noah’s day highlights that the world will be engaged in normal, mundane activities, completely oblivious to the impending divine judgment.

Verse 40

This illustrates the sudden, selective nature of judgment and separation at the time of Christ's coming. The focus is on the unexpected nature of the division.

Verse 42

The practical command resulting from the unknown timing is 'Watch.' Vigilance involves sustained spiritual readiness and faithful living.

Verse 45

This parable shifts the focus from timing to preparedness and responsibility. The faithful servant is one who diligently carries out his duties (serving the household) while awaiting the master's return.

Verse 48

The 'evil servant' is characterized by a lack of faith and presumption rooted in the master’s delay. This delay leads to moral laxity and abuse of authority.

Verse 51

The severe punishment emphasizes that unfaithfulness in service will result in the same judgment reserved for hypocrites, characterized by eternal suffering ('weeping and gnashing of teeth').

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Matthew24

Prophecy of the Temple's Destruction

Signs of the Beginning of Sorrows

The Great Tribulation and False Christs

The Coming of the Son of Man

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

No One Knows the Day or Hour

Parable of the Faithful Servant

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