Bible Commentaries
Matthew 24

Verse 1

went out, &c. Thus marking this (see Mark 13:1 ) as the second of the two prophecies: the former (Luke 21:0 ) being spoken "in the Temple". See App-155 .

from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

the temple = the Temple courts, the sacred enclosure. See note on Matthew 23:35 .

the buildings, &c. These consisted of the courts, halls, colonnades, towers, and "wings". In Luke 21:0 "some" spake of its adornment with goodly stones and gifts.

Verse 2

See = Behold, look on. App-133 . Not the same word as in verses: Matthew 24:6 , Matthew 24:15 , Matthew 24:30 , Matthew 6:33 .

verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

shall not = shall by no means. Very emphatic, because certain. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

shall not. All the texts omit the "me", and read simply " ou " as in the first clause.

Verse 3

privately = apart. Luke 21:0 was spoken publicly.

coming = presence. Greek. parousia. This is the first of twenty-four occurrences of this important word (Matthew 24:3 , Matthew 24:27 , Matthew 24:37 , Matthew 24:39 ; 1 Corinthians 15:23 ; 1 Corinthians 16:17 . 2Co 7:6 , 2 Corinthians 7:7 ; 2 Corinthians 10:10 . Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:26 ; Philippians 2:12 . 1Th 2:19 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ; 1Th 5:23 . 2 Thessalonians 2:1 , 2Th 2:8 , 2 Thessalonians 2:9 . James 5:7 , James 5:8 ; 2 Peter 1:16 ; 2Pe 3:4 , 2 Peter 3:12 ; 1 John 2:28 ). The Papyri show that "from the Ptolemaic period down to the second century A.D. the word is traced in the East as a technical expression for the arrival or the visit of the king or the emperor", also of other persons in authority, or of troops. (See Deissmann's Light, &c, pp. 372-8, 441-5). It is not therefore a N. T word, as some have supposed.

the end of the world. See App-129 .

the end = the sunteleia. Sunteleia = meeting together of all that marks the consummation of the age; not telos = the actual end, verses: Matthew 24:6 , Matthew 24:13 , Matthew 24:14 .

world. See App-129 .

Verse 4

Take heed. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

no man = not ( me. App-105 .) any one.

deceive = lead astray.

Verse 5

in = upon: trading upon. Greek. epi.

Christ = the Messiah. App-98 .

Verse 6

shall hear = will be about to hear.

see. Greek. horao. App-133 . Not the same word as in verses: Matthew 24:2 , Matthew 24:15 , Matthew 24:30 .

must = it is necessary [for them to].

come to pass = arise (as in Matthew 24:34 ).

the end. Greek. telos. Not the same as in Matthew 24:3 . This marks the beginning, not the end. The "many Christs" would be the very first sign. See note on 1 John 2:18 .

Verse 7

For nation, &c. See App-117 . Quoted from Isaiah 19:2 .

famines, and pestilences. Figure of speech Paronomasia . Greek. limoi kai loimoi. Eng. dearths and deaths, in divers = Greek. kata = in [different] places.

Verse 8

the = a.

sorrows = birth-pangs.

Verse 9

to be afflicted = unto tribulation.

to = unto. Greek. eis.

of = by.

for = on account of. Greek. dia.

Verse 10

be offended = stumble. See App-117 . Quoted from Isaiah 8:15 .

shall betray = will deliver up, as in Matthew 24:9 .

Verse 12

because = on account of. Greek. dia, as in Matthew 24:9 .

iniquity = lawlessness.

abound = be multiplied. Compare Acts 6:1 , Acts 6:7 ; Acts 7:17 ; Acts 9:31 .

many = the many.

wax = grow. Anglo-Saxon weaxen, to grow.

wax cold. Greek. psuchomai.

Verse 13

shall endure = shall have endured.

the end. Greek. telos , the actual end. Not the sunteleia (Matthew 24:3 ), but the same as in Matthew 24:6 and Matthew 24:14 .

saved = delivered (1 Thessalonians 1:10 ).

Verse 14

gospel of the kingdom. See App-140 .

of = concerning. Genitive of Relation. App-17 .

preached = proclaimed. App-121 .

world = the (then) habitable world. Greek. oikoumene. See App-129 . The civilized as distinct from barbarian. Not the same word as in either Matthew 24:3 and Matthew 24:21 .

for = to, or with a view to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

nations = the nations.

Verse 15

the abomination, &c. Reference to Daniel 12:11 . See App-117 ., and notes on Daniel 9:27 ; Daniel 9:11 , Dan 9:31 ; Daniel 12:11 . Used as the equivalent for a special idol. Deuteronomy 7:26 . 1 Kings 11:7 . 2 Kings 23:13 . Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:4 .

of. Genitive of Cause, that which brings on God's desolating judgments.

by = by means of, or through. Greek. dia.

the holy place. See note on "pinnacle", Matthew 4:5 .

understands = observe attentively.

Verse 16

into = upon. Greek. epi. LTr. WH read " e i s ". App-104 .

Verse 17

anything. All the texts read "the things".

Verse 20

be = happen.

on. Greek. en . App-103 .

Verse 21

shall be, &c. See App-117 . Quoted from Daniel 12:1 .

was not = has not arisen, or happened; same as "fulfilled", Matthew 24:34 .

since = from, as in Matthew 24:1 .

the beginning. See note on John 8:44 .

world. Greek. kosmos App-129 .

nor ever = ou me. App-105 ; i.e. shall by no means happen.

Verse 22

shortened = curtailed. See App-90 .

Verse 23

if . . . &c. The condition is hypothetical. App-118 .

Christ = the Messiah. App-98 .

Verse 24

shew = give.

insomuch that = so as to, &c.

if it were possible. The condition involves no doubt as to its being impossible. See App-118 .

Verse 26

secret chambers. See note on Matthew 6:6 . Greek. tameion. Occurs only there, here, and Luke 12:3 , Luke 12:24 .

Verse 27

as = just as.

out of = frorn. Greek. apo .

also. All the texts omit "also".

the coming = the parousia, or presence. See note on Matthew 24:3 .

the Son of man. See App-98 .

Verse 28

carcase. Greek. ptoma.

eagles = vultures.

gathered together. See Job 39:30 , which shows the true interpretation.

Verse 29

Immediately after. No room therefore for a Millennium before His coming. It must follow it.

after. Greek. meta. App-104 .

shall the sun, &c. App-117 . Quoted from Isaiah 13:10 ; Isaiah 34:4 .

heaven = the heaven (Singular.) See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

the powers, &c. See Isaiah 13:10 , Isaiah 13:11 ; Isaiah 34:4 . Probably referring to the evil "principalities and powers" of Ephesians 1:21 ; 2 Chronicles 1:16; 2 Chronicles 1:16 ; Colossians 2:10 , Colossians 2:15 .

the heavens. Plural See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 30

appear = shine forth. Greek. phaino. App-106 .

the sign. As asked in Matthew 24:3 .

then shall, &c. Quoted from Zechariah 12:12 .

earth = land. Greek. ge. App-129 .

they shall see. Greek. opsomai. App-133 .

in = [seated] upon. Greek. epi.

with. Greek. meta. Quoted from Daniel 7:13 .

with power and great glory = with power, yea, with great and glorious power. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .

Verse 31

a great sound of a trumpet. Greek "a trumpet and a great sound" = a trumpet, yea, a great sounding trumpet. Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ); not two things, but one.

they shall gather, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 30:4 . See 1 Thessalonians 4:16 , 1 Thessalonians 4:17 .

His elect. Who "received the Word". Act 2:41 . 1 Thessalonians 2:13 .

from = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

heaven = heavens. Plural See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . The same word as in verses: Matthew 24:33 , Matthew 24:39 , Matthew 24:43 ("know").

Verse 33

likewise ye = ye also.

it is near = He is near

Verse 34

This generation. See note on Matthew 11:16 .

not = by no means. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

till. Here with Greek " an ", and the Subjunctive Mood, marking the uncertainty, which was conditional on the repentance of the nation. Note the four "tills" (Matthew 10:23 ; Matthew 16:28 ; Matthew 23:39 ; Matthew 24:34 ), and compare what is certain with what is uncertain.

be fulfilled = may have begun to arise, or take place: referring specially to the first "sign" in Matthew 24:4 , in response to the first question in Matthew 24:3 ; not the same word as in Luke 21:24 , but the same as in Matthew 24:32 .

Verse 35

words. Plural of logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 36

of = concerning. Greek. p eri. App-104 . knoweth = has any intuitive knowledge. Greek. oida. The same word as in verses: Matthew 24:42 , Matthew 24:43 ("known"); not the same as in verses: Matthew 24:32 , Matthew 24:33 , Matthew 24:39 , Matthew 24:43 ("known").

Father. App-98 .

only = alone. Not the Lord as "the Son of man", though surely as "the Son of God".

Verse 37

shall = will.

also the coming = the parousia (or presence) also.

the coming = the parousia. See note on Matthew 24:3 .

Verse 38

Noe = Noah.

into. Greek. eis . App-104 .

Verse 39

until. Reference to Pentateuch (Gen 7-11).

Verse 40

the one shall be taken, &c. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 , 1 Thessalonians 4:16 refers to this, for it is the same parousia.

shall = is. So in Matthew 24:41 .

taken = taken to one's side, in peace and for blessing, as in Matthew 1:20 , Matthew 1:24 ; Matthew 17:1 .Luke 9:10 ; Luke 18:31 ; John 14:3 ("receive").

left. For judgment; as in Matthew 13:30 ("let"); Matthew 15:14 ("let alone"); Matthew 19:27 , Matthew 19:29 ("forsaken"); Matthew 23:38 ; Matthew 26:56 , &c.

Verse 41

women. Grinding was and is woman's work in the East, and is done in the morning.

at = in. Greek. en . App-104 .

the mill. Greek. mulon. Occurs only here.

Verse 42

Watch. As in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ("wake").

Verse 43

goodman of the house = master of the house.

would come = is coming.

Verse 44

Therefore = on this account. Greek. dia touto. App-104 .Matthew 24:2 .

be = become.

Verse 45

over = at the head of Greek. epi .

meat = their food. "Meat" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for all kinds of food ( App-6 ).

Verse 46

Blessed = Happy. As in Matthew 5:3 .

Verse 47

over = in charge of. Greek. epi .

goods = substance, or property.

Verse 48

But and if = But if. As in Matthew 24:23 .

evil. Greek. kakos. App-128 .

his coming = to come.

Verse 50

aware of = knoweth, as in Matthew 24:32 , Matthew 24:33 , Matthew 24:39 .

Verse 51

weeping and gnashing. See note on Matthew 8:12 .