Bible Commentaries
Matthew 24

Verse 1

departed

Jesus leaves that which He abandons to judgment. (See Scofield " :-") in light of Matthew 11:21; Matthew 11:22 Cf., Revelation 18:4.

Verse 3

Tell us

The beginning of the Olivet Discourse

Matthew 24:0 with Luke 21:20-24 answers the threefold question. The order is as follows: "when shall these things be?"--i.e. destruction of the temple and city. Answer: Luke 21:20-24.

Second and third questions: "And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Answer: Matthew 24:4-33.

Verses 4 to 14 have a double interpretation: They give

(1) the character of the age--wars, international conflicts, famines, pestilences, persecutions, and false Christs (cf) Daniel 9:26.

This is not the description of a converted world.

(2) But the same answer (Matthew 24:4-14) applies in a specific way to the end of the age, viz. Daniel's seventieth week. Daniel 9:24-27. (See Scofield "Daniel 9:24-27.9.27- :") .

All that has characterized the age gathers into awful intensity at the end. Verse 14 has specific reference to the proclamation of the good news that the kingdom is again "at hand" by the Jewish remnant Isaiah 1:9; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 14:7. (See Scofield "Revelation 14:7- :") .

Verse 15 gives the sign of the abomination, (See Scofield "Revelation 14:7- :") , the "man of sin," or "Beast" 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:11; Revelation 13:4-7.

This introduces the great tribulation Psalms 2:5. (See Scofield "Psalms 2:5- :") , which runs its awful course of three and a half years, culminating in the battle of See Scofield "Psalms 2:5- :" at which time Christ becomes the smiting Stone of Daniel 2:34.

The detail of this period (Matthew 24:15-28) is:

(1) The abomination in the holy place (Matthew 24:15);

(2) the warning (Matthew 24:16-20) to believing Jews who will then be in Jerusalem;

(3) the great tribulation, with renewed warning as to false Christs (Matthew 24:21-26);

(4) the sudden smiting of the Gentile world-power (Matthew 24:27; Matthew 24:28);

(5) the glorious appearing of the Lord, visible to all nations, and the regathering of Israel (Matthew 24:29-31);

(6) the sign of the fig-tree (Matthew 24:32; Matthew 24:33);

(7) warnings, applicable to this present age over which these events are ever impending (Matthew 24:34-51). Philemon 1:4; Philemon 4:5.

Careful study of Daniel 2:7, Daniel 2:9, and Revelation 13:0 will make the interpretation clear. See, also, "Remnant" (Isaiah 1:9; Romans 11:5).

Verse 12

iniquity

i.e. lawlessness, sin. (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 14

kingdom

world

kingdom (See Scofield " :-") .

world oikoumene = inhabited earth.

(See Scofield " :-")

Verse 16

Then let them which

Cf. Luke 21:20-24. The passage in Luke refers in express terms to a destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled by Titus, A.D. 70; the passage in Matthew to a future crisis in Jerusalem after the manifestation of the abomination. See "Beast" ; Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20 and "Armageddon" ; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:17.

As the circumstances in both cases will be similar, so are the warnings. In the former case Jerusalem was destroyed; in the latter it will be delivered by divine interposition.

Verse 27

Son of man

Also Matthew 24:37; Matthew 24:39; Matthew 24:44. (See Scofield "Matthew 24:44- :") .

Verse 31

angels

(See Scofield " :-")

Verse 34

This generation

(Greek - ἀγενεαλόγητος ," the primary definition of which is, "race, kind, family, stock, breed)." (So all lexicons.) That the word is used in this sense because none of "these things," i.e. the world-wide preaching of the kingdom, the great tribulation, the return of the Lord in visible glory, and the regathering of the elect, occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 70. The promise is, therefore, that the generation--nation, or family of Israel-- will be preserved unto "these things"; a promise wonderfully fulfilled to this day.

Verse 36

angels

(See Scofield " :-")

Verse 37

Marg

Son of man (See Scofield " :-")

Verse 39

Son of man

(See Scofield " :-")

Verse 44

Son of man

(See Scofield " :-")

Verse 45

faithful

See, Luke 12:42-46; 1 Corinthians 4:2. It is faithfulness, not ability, in the Lord's service that is first approved by Him.