WENT OUT FROM THE TEMPLE (εξελθων απο του ιερου). All the discourses since Matthew 21:23 have been in the temple courts (ιερον, the sacred enclosure). But now Jesus leaves it for good after the powerful denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in chapter 23. His public teaching is over. It was a... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER (λιθος επ λιθον). Stone upon stone. A startling prediction showing that the gloomy current of the thoughts of Jesus were not changed by their words of admiration for the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SAT (καθημενου). Genitive absolute. Picture of Jesus sitting on the Mount of Olives looking down on Jerusalem and the temple which he had just left. After the climb up the mountain four of the disciples (Peter, James, John, Andrew) come to Jesus with the problem raised by his solemn words. T... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAD YOU ASTRAY (υμας πλανηση). This warning runs all through the discourse. It is amazing how successful deceivers have been through the ages with their eschatological programs. The word in the passive appears in Matthew 18:12 when the one sheep wanders astray. Here it is the active voice with t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN MY NAME (επ τω ονοματ μου). They will arrogate to themselves false claims of Messiahship in (on the basis of) the name of Christ himself. Josephus (_Wars_ VI, 54) gives there false Christs as one of the reasons for the explosion against Rome that led to the city's destruction. Each new hero wa... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THAT YE BE NOT TROUBLED (ορατε μη θροεισθε). Asyndeton here with these two imperatives as Mark 8:15 ορατε βλεπετε (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 949). Look out for the wars and rumours of wars, but do not be scared out of your wits by them. Θροεω means to cry aloud, to scream, and in the passive t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BEGINNING OF TRAVAIL (αρχη οδινων). The word means birth-pangs and the Jews used the very phrase for the sufferings of the Messiah which were to come before the coming of the Messiah (Book of Jubilees, 23:18; Apoc. of Baruch 27-29). But the word occurs with no idea of birth as the pains of de... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL BE HATED (εσεσθε μισουμενο). Periphrastic future passive to emphasize the continuous process of the linear action. For tribulation (θλιψιν see Matthew 13:21), a word common in the Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypse for the oppression (pressure) that the Christians received.FOR MY NAME'S SAKE... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE PROPHETS (ψευδοπροφητα). Jesus had warned against them in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:15). They are still coming.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL WAX COLD (ψυγησετα). Second future passive indicative from ψυχω. To breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold, "spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous wind" (Vincent).THE LOVE OF MANY (η αγαπη των πολλων). Love of the brotherhood gives way to mutual hatred and suspicion... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE PREACHED (κερυχθησετα). Heralded in all the inhabited world. Εν ολη τη οικουμενη supply γη. It is not here said that all will be saved nor must this language be given too literal and detailed an application to every individual.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (το βδελυγμα της ερεμωσεως). An allusion to Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11. Antiochus Epiphanes erected an altar to Zeus on the altar of Jehovah (1Macc. 1:54,59; 6:7; 2Macc. 6:1-5). The desolation in the mind of Jesus is apparently the Roman army (Luke 21:20)... [ Continue Reading ]
FLEE UNTO THE MOUNTAINS (φευγετωσαν εις τα ορη). The mountains east of the Jordan. Eusebius (_H.E._ iii,5,3) says that the Christians actually fled to Pella at the foot of the mountains about seventeen miles south of the Sea of Galilee. They remembered the warning of Jesus and fled for safety.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE HOUSETOP (επ του δωματος). They could escape from roof to roof and so escape, "the road of the roofs," as the rabbis called it. There was need for haste.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIELD (εν τω αγρω). The peasant worked in his time and left his mantle at home then as now.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WINTER NOR ON A SABBATH (χειμωνος, genitive of time, μηδε σαββατω, locative of time). In winter because of the rough weather. On a sabbath because some would hesitate to make such a journey on the sabbath. Josephus in his _Wars_ gives the best illustration of the horrors foretold by Jesus in v... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD BEEN SHORTENED (εκολοβωθησαν). From κολοβος, lopped, mutilated, as the hands, the feet. It is a second-class condition, determined as unfulfilled. It is a prophetic figure, the future regarded as past.FOR THE ELECT'S SAKE (δια τους εκλεκτους). See Matthew 22:14 for another use of this phras... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, HERE IS THE CHRIST, OR HERE (ιδου ωδε ο Χριστος η ωδε). The false prophets (Matthew 24:11) create the trouble and now false Christs (ψευδο-Χριστο, verse Matthew 24:24) offer a way out of these troubles. The deluded victims raise the cries of "Lo, here," when these false Messiahs arise with th... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS (σημεια μεγαλα κα τερατα). Two of the three words so often used in the N.T. about the works (εργα) of Jesus, the other being δυναμεις (powers). They often occur together of the same work (John 4:48; Acts 2:22; Acts 4:30; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4). Τερας is a wonder... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WILDERNESS (εν τη ερημω). Like Simon son of Gioras (Josephus, _War_, IV,9,5,&7).IN THE INNER CHAMBERS (εν τοις ταμειοις). Like John of Giscala (Josephus, _War_, V,6,1). False Messiahs act the role of the Great Unseen and Unknown.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SEEN (φαινετα). Visible in contrast to the invisibility of the false Messiahs. Cf. Revelation 1:7. Like a flash of lightning.... [ Continue Reading ]
CARCASE (πτωμα). As in Matthew 14:12, the corpse. Originally a fallen body from πιπτω, to fall, like Latin _cadaver_ from _cado_, to fall. The proverb here as in Luke 17:37, is like that in Job 39:30; Proverbs 30:17.EAGLES (αετο). Perhaps the griffon vulture, larger than the eagle, which (Arist... [ Continue Reading ]
IMMEDIATELY (ευθεως). This word, common in Mark's Gospel as ευθυς, gives trouble if one stresses the time element. The problem is how much time intervenes between "the tribulation of those days" and the vivid symbolism of verse Matthew 24:29. The use of εν ταχε in Revelation 1:1 should make one p... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN (το σημειον του υιου του ανθρωπου εν ουρανω). Many theories have been suggested like the cross in the sky, etc. Bruce sees a reference to Daniel 7:13 "one like the Son of man" and holds that Christ himself is the sign in question (the genitive of apposition). T... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET (μετα σαλπιγγος φωνης μεγαλης). Some MSS. omit (φωνης) "sound." The trumpet was the signal employed to call the hosts of Israel to march as to war and is common in prophetic imagery (Isaiah 27:13). Cf. the seventh angel (Revelation 11:15). Clearly "the coming of th... [ Continue Reading ]
PUTTETH FORTH ITS LEAVES (τα φυλλα εκφυη). Present active subjunctive according to Westcott and Hort. If accented εκφυη (last syllable), it is second aorist passive subjunctive (Erasmus).... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS GENERATION (η γενεα αυτη). The problem is whether Jesus is here referring to the destruction of Jerusalem or to the second coming and end of the world. If to the destruction of Jerusalem, there was a literal fulfilment. In the Old Testament a generation was reckoned as forty years. This is t... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT EVEN THE SON (ουδε ο υιος). Probably genuine, though absent in some ancient MSS. The idea is really involved in the words "but the Father only" (ε μη ο πατηρ μονος). It is equally clear that in this verse Jesus has in mind the time of his second coming. He had plainly stated in verse Matthew 2... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAYS OF NOAH (α ημερα του Νωε). Jesus had used this same imagery before to the Pharisees (Luke 17:26-30). In Noah's day there was plenty of warning, but utter unpreparedness. Most people are either indifferent about the second coming or have fanciful schemes or programs about it. Few are real... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE EATING (ησαν τρωγοντες). Periphrastic imperfect. The verb means to chew raw vegetables or fruits like nuts or almonds.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE MILL (εν τω μυλω). So Westcott and Hort and not μυλων (millhouse) Textus Receptus. The millstone and then hand-mill which was turned by two women (αληθουσα) as in Exodus 11:5. This verb is a late form for αλεω. There was a handle near the edge of the upper stone.... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCH THEREFORE (γρηγωρειτε ουν). A late present imperative from the second perfect εγρηγορα from εγειρω. Keep awake, be on the watch "therefore" because of the uncertainty of the time of the second coming. Jesus gives a half dozen parables to enforce the point of this exhortation (the Porter, th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHAT WATCH (ποια φυλακη). As in Matthew 14:25 (four watches of the night).BROKEN THROUGH (διορυχθηνα). Digged through the tile roof or under the floor (dirt in the poorer houses).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE THINK NOT (η ου δοκειτε ωρα). It is useless to set the day and hour for Christ's coming. It is folly to neglect it. This figure of the thief will be used also by Paul concerning the unexpectedness of Christ's second coming (1 Thessalonians 5:2). See also Matthew 24:50 for the unexpectedne... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LORD TARRIETH (χρονιζε μου ο κυριος). That is the temptation and to give way to indulge in fleshly appetites or to pride of superior intellect. Within a generation scoffers will be asking where is the promise of the coming of Christ (2 Peter 3:4). They will forget that God's clock is not like... [ Continue Reading ]