MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:1 The Delay, Return, and Judgment of the
Messiah. These two chapters are often called the “Olivet
Discourse” because Jesus “sat on the Mount of Olives” when he
spoke these words (Matthew 24:3). It is the fifth of Jesus’ five
major teachings recorded in Matthew. Jesus is sp... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:2 Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled in A.D.
70 when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.
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MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:3 The disciples ask two questions: (1)
WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE, and (2) WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR
COMING AND OF THE END OF THE AGE? Jesus’ answer apparently combines
the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming. The near event
(the destruction of Jerusalem) is... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:8 BIRTH PAINS indicates that there will
be a time of suffering prior to the messianic age (compare Romans
8:22). Prophets used the metaphor of birth pains to describe terrible
suffering in general (see Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 42:14; Jeremiah 30:5) as
well as specific suffering... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:13 END. Either the end of the
persecution, when the Son of Man returns (see Matthew 10:23), or the
end of one’s life. WILL BE SAVED. Not from physical death (see
Matthew 24:21) but from divine wrath and human persecution. Saved
persons will experience the full blessing and... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:15 Daniel 9:27 tells of the ABOMINATION
OF DESOLATION. Several times in Jewish history, it was thought that
this prophecy was being fulfilled. But Jesus clarifies that the
complete fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy will be found in (1) the
destruction of the temple in A.D.... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:16 FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS. During the
Jewish revolt (A.D. 67), Jesus’ warning was fulfilled when
Christians fled to the mountains of Pella.
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MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:22 IF THOSE DAYS HAD NOT BEEN CUT SHORT,
NO HUMAN BEING WOULD BE SAVED. Some suggest this means that, if
God’s wrath against sin were to continue unchecked, no one would
survive the destruction. Others see a reference to a cutting short of
either the seventieth “seven” (we... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:28 WHEREVER THE CORPSE IS, THERE THE
VULTURES WILL GATHER. Just as people from far away can see vultures
circling high in the air, Christ’s return in judgment will be
visible and inescapable. The vultures may suggest the widespread death
that will accompany Christ’s return... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:29 SUN... MOON... STARS... POWERS. Some
consider this to be entirely literal language (as in Exodus 10:21 and
Matthew 27:45). Others take it as a mixture of literal and poetic
language. Still others take it as entirely poetic, representing
political judgment on nations and... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:30 SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN. Some suggest
that this is a kind of heavenly banner that will open in the heavens
as Christ returns in “power and great glory.” Others understand it
to be the arrival of the Son of Man himself (see Matthew 16:27;
Matthew 26:64). MOURN. Either a s... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:31 In both Jewish and Christian writings
(Isaiah 18:3; Isaiah 27:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians
4:16), a TRUMPET CALL is associated with the Messiah’s arrival.
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MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:34 THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY
UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE. Several interpretations have been
offered as to what “this generation” refers to: (1) the disciples
who were alive when Jesus was speaking, with “all these things”
referring to the beginning but not t... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:35 MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY. Jesus’
teaching has divine authority and permanence. It is greater even than
HEAVEN AND EARTH.
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MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:36 NO ONE KNOWS, NOT EVEN... THE SON, BUT
THE FATHER ONLY. In his life on earth, Jesus learned things as other
human beings learn them (see Luke 2:52; Hebrews 5:8). Yet Jesus was
also fully God. As God, he could know things that only God knows (see
John 16:30; John 21:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:40 TAKEN... LEFT. The description may
indicate that one is taken away to final judgment (see v. Matthew
24:39) while the other remains to experience salvation at Christ’s
return. Or possibly the one who is taken is among the elect that the
Son of Man will “gather... from t... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:42 STAY AWAKE. On readiness for
Christ’s return, see 1 Thessalonians 5:1; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:2.
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MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 24:48 DELAYED. The behavior of the WICKED
SERVANT shows that he is a false disciple (see Galatians 5:19) and
deserves judgment.
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