- Sightseeing and a prophecy (24:1-2). "Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, 'You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.'" This was fulfilled exactly as Jesus said. Josephus records how not only the temple, but all the buildings in Jerusalem except three towers were systematically torn down to the ground.
- The question (24:3). The disciples wanted to know when this judgment would happen, and they seem to confuse it with his parousia and the end of the age. That the destruction of Jerusalem is the main thing in their minds is clear from the context (Matt. 23:29-39, 24:1-2) and from the parallel passages in Mark and Luke, which do not refer to Jesus’ coming and the end of the age in their question. So Jesus first answers their main question, and then goes on to distinguish his second coming and the end of the age from the time of that generation.
- The timing and sign of when judgment on Jerusalem (“these things”) will take place (24:4-35). His basic answer is these things would happen within that generation and would be signaled by the abomination of desolation, but would not take place immediately - they would follow after a time of birth pains and trials.
- The parousia of Christ and the end of the age (24:36 to the end of chapter 25). He does not give the timing or a sign of his coming, only a call to wakefulness and faithfulness.
This period would be a rough time. In the previous chapter, he had told the scribes and Pharisees that he would send messengers to them whom they would persecute, bringing upon them this judgment. So for the apostles, this would be a time of tribulation, leading to their vindication.
Notice that Jesus begins his answer with a caution: “see” or “take heed.” He calls his disciples to watchfulness, patience, endurance, and evangelism. He still calls his disciples to the same things. His answer is more practical than the disciples’ question. Just as back then, his disciples are prone to be led astray by obsession and anxiety about the future, while neglecting their responsibilities.
Just as they were not signs of Jerusalem's desolation, so they are also not signs of the end of the age. They are present more or less in this age, although not with the same intensity in all times. Jesus is not prophesying that things will get worse and worse in history, or that no progress will be made by the church. But these difficulties will persist to some degree during this age. When you encounter them, you should handle them in accordance with the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples.
2. Jesus’ Instructions Regarding These Difficulties
See that no one leads you astray (24:4). There were revolutionary leaders who led the Jews into a foolish rebellion, teachers who taught various false doctrines, and teachers who twisted doctrine to support immorality. These kinds of dangers are still present today. There are radicals who lead people astray into revolutionary movements, destructive ideologies, and violence. There are teachers who profess Christ who lead people astray into error, into heresy, or into unprofitable obsessions. There are teachers who profess Christ who twist doctrine to attack the relevance or authority of God’s law, to support antinomianism, to support sexual immorality, gender confusion, egalitarianism, and the like. See that you are not led astray. Watch yourself.
See that you are not alarmed (24:6). When civil turmoil, natural disasters, apostasy, and trials happen, how do many people react? They get alarmed and they think, this must be the end! But Jesus said, these are not signs of the end - not the end of Jerusalem, and certainly not the end of the age. Do not be alarmed. Don’t panic. Don’t freeze in terror. Do not leave your post. There are times for tactical retreats. Jesus will give them a specific sign in verse 15 to indicate when they would need to get out of Jerusalem to save their lives. But tactical retreats are different than a rout or a surrender. He calls you to continue patiently, steadily, press on with your mission despite these various difficulties.
Endure to the end (24:13). "But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13). Be ready to encounter difficulty and run the race to the end. The Greek word for "endure," ὑπομένω, means "to maintain a belief or course of action in the face of opposition, stand one’s ground, hold out, endure." The noun form refers to "the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance."
Perseverance is a gift of God given to his elect. All who are chosen by God and who come to true faith in Christ will endure to the end (Rom. 8:28-30, Phil. 1:6, John 10:28-29). Nevertheless, it is also something which we do, using the means he has given. One mark of true faith is that it is a faith that endures.
One condition of salvation is perseverance in the faith. You must endurance to the end to be saved, and all who endure to the end will be saved. “…if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…” (Col. 1:23). “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).
Proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world (24:14). The disciples are interested in the timeline. Jesus answers them, but he also directs their attention to their mission. Amid these difficult times, "this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations..." (Matt. 24:14). While Jesus initially sent them to the lost sheep of Israel, he will send out his disciples to make the nations his disciples and gather them into the kingdom (Matt. 28:18-20).
Likewise, when you meet with trials, turmoil, disasters, apostasy, continue to make the gospel known to all. In fact, persecution, when it is received for righteousness’ sake, often provides opportunities to witness to Christ and make him known (Matt. 10, 1 Peter 3).
3. When Judgment Would Come upon Jerusalem
Jesus taught that the judgment would come upon Jerusalem when the gospel has been widely proclaimed in the world. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14). Despite all the hardships of that period, the gospel would go forth to the world. Natural disasters, false teachers, persecution, and apostasy cannot keep the gospel from spreading throughout the world.
First, notice it does not speak of the discipleship of the nations, but merely the proclamation of the gospel as a testimony. The gathering and discipleship of the nations would continue over a much longer time.
Second, the word for “world” is not the normal word for world (cosmos), but oikoumenē, the inhabited or civilized world. It can refer to the Roman Empire, as in Luke 2:1, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” See how it is used in Acts 11:28, “…Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).” A fully global reach is not necessarily intended by Matthew 24:14.
Third, consider how Scripture itself speaks of the spread of the gospel before A.D. 70. “Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing…” (Col. 1:5-6). “…the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven…” (Col. 1:23). “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world” (Rom. 1:8). The gospel is the mystery which “has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations…” (Rom. 16:26).
Conclusion
When you meet with the difficulties described in this passage, remember that Jesus has taught you how to handle them. They are not signs of the end. They are not a sign that your work is futile. Rather, they are trials, through which the gospel comes forth as strong as ever, along with those who have stood by it faithfully. So when you meet with these trials, see that no one leads you astray, see that you are not alarmed, endure to the end, and proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world.
In looking at verses 4-14, I want to focus on (1) Jesus’ description of the difficulties that would come before the judgment on Jerusalem, (2) his instructions regarding those difficulties, and (3) his description of when the judgment would come.
1. The Period Before Jerusalem's Desolation
False Christs (24:5). These were common in the 1st century and were often leaders of armed revolution. Acts 5:36-37 refers to a few earlier false Christs, and Acts 21:38 describes one in Paul’s day. Josephus recounts quite a few of these imposters, such as a Samaritan who claimed to be Moses reincarnate in AD 36 and gathered an armed following but was executed with his closest followers by Pilate; or how in AD 45 a man named Theudas claimed to be a prophet who would split the Jordan but was he was killed with his followers by the governor. These figures increased in number and violence as Judea moved towards their revolt in 66.
Wars and rumors of wars (24:6-7). In AD 37 there was war between Herod the tetrarch and Aretas the Arab. In 39 the Jews took up arms to oppose Caligula’s statue being placed in the temple. For several decades there were wars in Britain. From the 30s to the 60s there was fighting among the Armenians, Parthians, and Romans, which involved the Jews. In Judea there was increasing unrest and outbreaks of violence and then the revolt in 66.
Natural disasters (24:7). There were famines in those decades. Most notable was the major famine in the days of Claudius (see Acts 11:28-30). There were also earthquakes, some recorded in Scripture (Matt. 27:54, 28:2, Acts 16:26) and several earthquakes recounted in other historical accounts (e.g. Asia Minor in A.D. 61, Jerusalem in A.D. 67).
Persecution of Christians (24:9). Persecution throughout this period is described in the book of Acts. Imperial persecution broke out against Christians under Nero in AD 64.
Apostasy and betrayal (24:10). This experienced and expected by the Christians of the apostolic age (Matt. 10, 1 John 2, 2 Tim. 4, etc.).
False prophets (24:11). Nearly every book of the NT warns of false prophets/teachers. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
Increase of lawlessness, causing love to grow cold (24:12). We find this described in places like 2 Timothy 3 and Revelation 2. "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first" (Rev. 2:4).
All these things would happen first, but they would not indicate the arrival of the end. They were not signs of the destruction of the temple and judgment on Jerusalem. "All these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Matt. 24:8).
1. The Period Before Jerusalem's Desolation
False Christs (24:5). These were common in the 1st century and were often leaders of armed revolution. Acts 5:36-37 refers to a few earlier false Christs, and Acts 21:38 describes one in Paul’s day. Josephus recounts quite a few of these imposters, such as a Samaritan who claimed to be Moses reincarnate in AD 36 and gathered an armed following but was executed with his closest followers by Pilate; or how in AD 45 a man named Theudas claimed to be a prophet who would split the Jordan but was he was killed with his followers by the governor. These figures increased in number and violence as Judea moved towards their revolt in 66.
Wars and rumors of wars (24:6-7). In AD 37 there was war between Herod the tetrarch and Aretas the Arab. In 39 the Jews took up arms to oppose Caligula’s statue being placed in the temple. For several decades there were wars in Britain. From the 30s to the 60s there was fighting among the Armenians, Parthians, and Romans, which involved the Jews. In Judea there was increasing unrest and outbreaks of violence and then the revolt in 66.
Natural disasters (24:7). There were famines in those decades. Most notable was the major famine in the days of Claudius (see Acts 11:28-30). There were also earthquakes, some recorded in Scripture (Matt. 27:54, 28:2, Acts 16:26) and several earthquakes recounted in other historical accounts (e.g. Asia Minor in A.D. 61, Jerusalem in A.D. 67).
Persecution of Christians (24:9). Persecution throughout this period is described in the book of Acts. Imperial persecution broke out against Christians under Nero in AD 64.
Apostasy and betrayal (24:10). This experienced and expected by the Christians of the apostolic age (Matt. 10, 1 John 2, 2 Tim. 4, etc.).
False prophets (24:11). Nearly every book of the NT warns of false prophets/teachers. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
Increase of lawlessness, causing love to grow cold (24:12). We find this described in places like 2 Timothy 3 and Revelation 2. "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first" (Rev. 2:4).
All these things would happen first, but they would not indicate the arrival of the end. They were not signs of the destruction of the temple and judgment on Jerusalem. "All these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Matt. 24:8).
Just as they were not signs of Jerusalem's desolation, so they are also not signs of the end of the age. They are present more or less in this age, although not with the same intensity in all times. Jesus is not prophesying that things will get worse and worse in history, or that no progress will be made by the church. But these difficulties will persist to some degree during this age. When you encounter them, you should handle them in accordance with the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples.
2. Jesus’ Instructions Regarding These Difficulties
See that no one leads you astray (24:4). There were revolutionary leaders who led the Jews into a foolish rebellion, teachers who taught various false doctrines, and teachers who twisted doctrine to support immorality. These kinds of dangers are still present today. There are radicals who lead people astray into revolutionary movements, destructive ideologies, and violence. There are teachers who profess Christ who lead people astray into error, into heresy, or into unprofitable obsessions. There are teachers who profess Christ who twist doctrine to attack the relevance or authority of God’s law, to support antinomianism, to support sexual immorality, gender confusion, egalitarianism, and the like. See that you are not led astray. Watch yourself.
See that you are not alarmed (24:6). When civil turmoil, natural disasters, apostasy, and trials happen, how do many people react? They get alarmed and they think, this must be the end! But Jesus said, these are not signs of the end - not the end of Jerusalem, and certainly not the end of the age. Do not be alarmed. Don’t panic. Don’t freeze in terror. Do not leave your post. There are times for tactical retreats. Jesus will give them a specific sign in verse 15 to indicate when they would need to get out of Jerusalem to save their lives. But tactical retreats are different than a rout or a surrender. He calls you to continue patiently, steadily, press on with your mission despite these various difficulties.
Endure to the end (24:13). "But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13). Be ready to encounter difficulty and run the race to the end. The Greek word for "endure," ὑπομένω, means "to maintain a belief or course of action in the face of opposition, stand one’s ground, hold out, endure." The noun form refers to "the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance."
Perseverance is a gift of God given to his elect. All who are chosen by God and who come to true faith in Christ will endure to the end (Rom. 8:28-30, Phil. 1:6, John 10:28-29). Nevertheless, it is also something which we do, using the means he has given. One mark of true faith is that it is a faith that endures.
One condition of salvation is perseverance in the faith. You must endurance to the end to be saved, and all who endure to the end will be saved. “…if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…” (Col. 1:23). “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).
Proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world (24:14). The disciples are interested in the timeline. Jesus answers them, but he also directs their attention to their mission. Amid these difficult times, "this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations..." (Matt. 24:14). While Jesus initially sent them to the lost sheep of Israel, he will send out his disciples to make the nations his disciples and gather them into the kingdom (Matt. 28:18-20).
Likewise, when you meet with trials, turmoil, disasters, apostasy, continue to make the gospel known to all. In fact, persecution, when it is received for righteousness’ sake, often provides opportunities to witness to Christ and make him known (Matt. 10, 1 Peter 3).
3. When Judgment Would Come upon Jerusalem
Jesus taught that the judgment would come upon Jerusalem when the gospel has been widely proclaimed in the world. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14). Despite all the hardships of that period, the gospel would go forth to the world. Natural disasters, false teachers, persecution, and apostasy cannot keep the gospel from spreading throughout the world.
Judgment would fall upon Jerusalem once this testimony had been given. This testimony would be given to the scattered Jews and to the Gentiles, to call them to salvation, to lay a foundation for the new covenant temple, to show the nations why Jerusalem would be judged. Was the gospel proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations by A.D. 70? Yes.
First, notice it does not speak of the discipleship of the nations, but merely the proclamation of the gospel as a testimony. The gathering and discipleship of the nations would continue over a much longer time.
Second, the word for “world” is not the normal word for world (cosmos), but oikoumenē, the inhabited or civilized world. It can refer to the Roman Empire, as in Luke 2:1, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” See how it is used in Acts 11:28, “…Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).” A fully global reach is not necessarily intended by Matthew 24:14.
Third, consider how Scripture itself speaks of the spread of the gospel before A.D. 70. “Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing…” (Col. 1:5-6). “…the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven…” (Col. 1:23). “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world” (Rom. 1:8). The gospel is the mystery which “has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations…” (Rom. 16:26).
Conclusion
When you meet with the difficulties described in this passage, remember that Jesus has taught you how to handle them. They are not signs of the end. They are not a sign that your work is futile. Rather, they are trials, through which the gospel comes forth as strong as ever, along with those who have stood by it faithfully. So when you meet with these trials, see that no one leads you astray, see that you are not alarmed, endure to the end, and proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world.
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