1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 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.
3 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?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 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.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 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.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 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.
15 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:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 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.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 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.
27 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.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 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:
30 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.
31 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.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 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,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 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.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 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,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The 24th chapter of the book of Matthew in the King James Version (KJV) Holy Bible primarily focuses on the discourse of Jesus Christ regarding the end times and his second coming - a conversation that unfolds on the Mount of Olives. This chapter, often referred to as the “Olivet Discourse”, is a pivotal text for understanding Christian eschatology and is a profound source of insight into the prophetic teachings of Jesus. The main themes encompassed within this chapter include prophecy, destruction, false prophets, tribulation, and the Parousia (the second coming of Christ).
The chapter begins with Jesus leaving the temple, and his disciples come forward to show him the buildings of the temple. Jesus responds to their admiration with a prophetic statement, stating that not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down (Matthew 24:2). This prophecy pertains to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which happened in AD 70 by Roman forces. In Christian eschatology, this event is often viewed as a precursor to the end times.
As Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives, his disciples privately ask him about the signs of his coming and of the end of the world. Jesus responds by outlining several signs that will precede these events. He first warns them about being led astray by false Christs and false prophets who will perform great signs and wonders, attempting to deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:4-5, 24). This theme of spiritual deception is a recurring one throughout the New Testament, emphasizing the need for discernment and steadfast faith in the face of misleading influences.
Jesus then describes an array of calamities that will mark the end times: wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, and an increase in lawlessness, causing the love of many to grow cold (Matthew 24:6-12). These signs serve as a warning, preparing believers for the trials and tribulations they may face in the last days.
In his discourse, Jesus refers to the "abomination of desolation" prophesied by Daniel (Matthew 24:15). This term is often interpreted as a sacrilegious object or act that brings about the desolation or destruction of a holy place, specifically the Temple in Jerusalem. This prediction is believed to have been fulfilled during the Siege of Jerusalem in AD 70, when the Roman army desecrated and destroyed the Second Temple.
Jesus also speaks of a period of "great tribulation" such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be (Matthew 24:21). This passage is commonly associated with the concept of the Tribulation in Christian eschatology, a time of intense suffering and persecution before the second coming of Christ.
The latter part of Matthew 24 depicts the glorious return of Jesus Christ. He describes this event as being unmistakable, like lightning that comes from the east and shines as far as the west (Matthew 24:27). He also speaks of the celestial signs that will accompany his return: the darkening of the sun and moon, the falling of the stars, and the powers of the heavens being shaken (Matthew 24:29). Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).
Jesus emphasizes the sudden and unexpected nature of his return, comparing it to the days of Noah when people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the flood came and swept them all away (Matthew 24:37-39). He urges his followers to stay awake, for they do not know on what day their Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42).
The chapter concludes with a series of parables that underscore the importance of readiness and faithfulness in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. The parable of the fig tree teaches that just as one knows that summer is near when a fig tree's branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, so too will the signs indicate the nearness of the end times (Matthew 24:32-33).
The parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants contrasts the rewards of diligence and the penalties of negligence in the Lord's service (Matthew 24:45-51). The faithful servant who does his master's will is blessed, while the wicked servant who mistreats others and lives carelessly is severely punished. These parables serve to illustrate the necessity of vigilance, faithfulness, and righteous living as believers await the return of Christ.
Matthew Chapter 24 stands as a vital chapter in the New Testament, providing a detailed prophetic picture of the end times and the second coming of Christ. Its themes of prophecy, destruction, false prophets, tribulation, and the Parousia resonate deeply with contemporary Christian eschatological thought. The chapter serves as a stern warning to believers about the spiritual deception and tribulation that will mark the end times, while also offering hope through the promise of Christ's triumphant return.
The teachings of Jesus in this chapter highlight the importance of watchfulness, discernment, and faithfulness in the life of a believer. They underscore the need for a strong and unwavering faith, capable of withstanding trials and tribulations, and resistant to the deceptive influences of false prophets. Moreover, the parables at the end of the chapter serve as moral and spiritual guides, teaching believers about the rewards of faithfulness and the consequences of negligence.
Ultimately, Matthew Chapter 24 is a testament to the sovereign power of God, the inevitability of His divine plan, and the hope that lies in the second coming of Christ. Despite the trials and tribulations that may come, believers are assured of the ultimate victory of Christ and the fulfillment of His promises. This assurance, coupled with the teachings on vigilance and faithfulness, makes Matthew Chapter 24 a vital resource for spiritual edification and growth in the Christian faith.
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