15 When G3752 ye therefore G3767 shall see G1492 the abomination G946 of desolation, G2050 spoken of G4483 by G1223 Daniel G1158 the prophet, G4396 stand G2476 G2476 in G1722 the holy G40 place, G5117 (whoso readeth, G314 let him understand:) G3539
And he shall confirm H1396 the covenant H1285 with many H7227 for one H259 week: H7620 and in the midst H2677 of the week H7620 he shall cause the sacrifice H2077 and the oblation H4503 to cease, H7673 and for the overspreading H3671 of abominations H8251 he shall make it desolate, H8074 even until the consummation, H3617 and that determined H2782 shall be poured H5413 upon the desolate. H8074
And from the time H6256 that the daily H8548 sacrifice shall be taken away, H5493 and the abomination H8251 that maketh desolate H8074 set up, H5414 there shall be a thousand H505 two hundred H3967 and ninety H8673 days. H3117
But G1161 when G3752 ye shall see G1492 the abomination G946 of desolation, G2050 spoken G4483 of by G5259 Daniel G1158 the prophet, G4396 standing G2476 G2476 where G3699 it ought G1163 not, G3756 (let him that readeth G314 understand,) G3539 then G5119 let them G5343 that be in G1722 Judaea G2449 flee G5343 to G1519 the mountains: G3735
Know H3045 therefore and understand, H7919 that from the going forth H4161 of the commandment H1697 to restore H7725 and to build H1129 Jerusalem H3389 unto the Messiah H4899 the Prince H5057 shall be seven H7651 weeks, H7620 and threescore H8346 and two H8147 weeks: H7620 the street H7339 shall be built H1129 again, H7725 and the wall, H2742 even in troublous H6695 times. H6256
Blessed G3107 is he that readeth, G314 and G2532 they that hear G191 the words G3056 of this prophecy, G4394 and G2532 keep G5083 those things which are written G1125 therein: G1722 G846 for G1063 the time G2540 is at hand. G1451
At the beginning H8462 of thy supplications H8469 the commandment H1697 came forth, H3318 and I am come H935 to shew H5046 thee; for thou art greatly beloved: H2532 therefore understand H995 the matter, H1697 and consider H995 the vision. H4758
Then said H559 he unto me, Fear H3372 not, Daniel: H1840 for from the first H7223 day H3117 that thou didst set H5414 thine heart H3820 to understand, H995 and to chasten H6031 thyself before H6440 thy God, H430 thy words H1697 were heard, H8085 and I am come H935 for thy words. H1697 But the prince H8269 of the kingdom H4438 of Persia H6539 withstood H5975 me one H259 and twenty H6242 days: H3117 but, lo, Michael, H4317 one H259 of the chief H7223 princes, H8269 came H935 to help H5826 me; and I remained H3498 there with H681 the kings H4428 of Persia. H6539 Now I am come H935 to make thee understand H995 what shall befall H7136 thy people H5971 in the latter H319 days: H3117 for yet the vision H2377 is for many days. H3117
For G3754 the days G2250 shall come G2240 upon G1909 thee, G4571 that G2532 thine G4675 enemies G2190 shall cast G4016 a trench G5482 about G4016 thee, G4671 and G2532 compass G4033 thee G4571 round, G4033 and G2532 keep G4912 thee G4571 in G4912 on every side, G3840
And the man H376 said H1696 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 behold H7200 with thine eyes, H5869 and hear H8085 with thine ears, H241 and set H7760 thine heart H3820 upon all that I shall shew H7200 thee; for to the intent H4616 that I might shew H7200 them unto thee art thou brought H935 hither: declare H5046 all that thou seest H7200 to the house H1004 of Israel. H3478
Crying out, G2896 Men G435 of Israel, G2475 help: G997 This G3778 is G2076 the man, G444 that teacheth G1321 all G3956 men every where G3837 against G2596 the people, G2992 and G2532 the law, G3551 and G2532 this G5126 place: G5117 and G5037 further G2089 brought G1521 Greeks G1672 also G2532 into G1519 the temple, G2411 and G2532 hath polluted G2840 this G5127 holy G40 place. G5117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 24
Commentary on Matthew 24 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 24
Christ's preaching was mostly practical; but, in this chapter, we have a prophetical discourse, a prediction of things to come; such however as had a practical tendency, and was intended, not to gratify the curiosity of his disciples, but to guide their consciences and conversations, and it is therefore concluded with a practical application. The church has always had particular prophecies, besides general promises, both for direction and for encouragement to believers; but it is observable, Christ preached this prophetical sermon in the close of his ministry, as the Apocalypse is the last book of the New Testament, and the prophetical books of the Old Testament are placed last, to intimate to us, that we must be well grounded in plain truths and duties, and those must first be well digested, before we dive into those things that are dark and difficult; many run themselves into confusion by beginning their Bible at the wrong end. Now, in this chapter, we have,
Mat 24:1-3
Here is,
Christ, instead of reversing the decree, ratifies it; Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be left one stone upon another.
But Christ, in his answer, though he does not expressly rectify the mistakes of his disciples (that must be done by the pouring out of the Spirit), yet looks further than their question, and instructs his church, not only concerning the great events of that age, the destruction of Jerusalem, but concerning his second coming at the end of time, which here he insensibly slides into a discourse of, and of that it is plain he speaks in the next chapter, which is a continuation of this sermon.
Mat 24:4-31
The disciples had asked concerning the times, When shall these things be? Christ gives them no answer to that, after what number of days and years his prediction should be accomplished, for it is not for us to know the times (Acts 1:7); but they had asked, What shall be the sign? That question he answers fully, for we are concerned to understand the signs of the times, ch. 16:3. Now the prophecy primarily respects the events near at hand-the destruction of Jerusalem, the period of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but as the prophecies of the Old Testament, which have an immediate reference to the affairs of the Jews and the revolutions of their state, under the figure of them do certainly look further, to the gospel church and the kingdom of the Messiah, and are so expounded in the New Testament, and such expressions are found in those predictions as are peculiar thereto and not applicable otherwise; so this prophecy, under the type of Jerusalem's destruction, looks as far forward as the general judgment; and, as is usual in prophecies, some passages are most applicable to the type, and others to the antitype; and toward the close, as usual, it points more particularly to the latter. It is observable, that what Christ here saith to his disciples tends more to engage their caution than to satisfy their curiosity; more to prepare them for the events that should happen than to give them a distinct idea of the events themselves. This is that good understanding of the time which we should all covet, thence to infer what Israel ought to do: and so this prophecy is of standing lasting use to the church, and will be so to the end of time; for the thing that hath been, is that which shall be (Eccl. 1:5, 6, 7, 9), and the series, connection, and presages, of events, are much the same still that they were then; so that upon the prophecy of this chapter, pointing at that event, moral prognostications may be made, and such constructions of the signs of the times as the wise man's heart will know how to improve.
Three times in this discourse he mentions the appearing of false prophets, which was,
Now concerning these deceivers, observe here,
Here is,
We must not be troubled, for two reasons.
This gives a melancholy prospect of the times, that there shall be such a great decay of love; but,
Reference being here had to a prophecy, which is commonly dark and obscure, Christ inserts this memorandum, "Whoso readeth, let him understand; whoso readeth the prophecy of Daniel, let him understand that it is to have its accomplishment now shortly in the desolations of Jerusalem.' Note, Those that read the scriptures, should labour to understand the scriptures, else their reading is to little purpose; we cannot use that which we do not understand. See Jn. 5:39; Acts 8:30. The angel that delivered this prophecy to Daniel, stirred him up to know and understand, Dan. 9:25. And we must not despair of understanding even dark prophecies; the great New-Testament prophecy is called a revelation, not a secret. Now things revealed belong to us, and therefore must be humbly and diligently searched into. Or, Let him understand, not only the scriptures which speak of those things, but by the scriptures let him understand the times, 1 Chr. 12:32. Let him observe, and take notice; so some read it; let him be assured, that, notwithstanding the vain hopes with which the deluded people feed themselves, the abominable armies will make desolate.
But here is one word of comfort in the midst of all this terror-that for the elects' sake these days shall be shortened, not made shorter than what God had determined (for that which is determined, shall be poured upon the desolate, Dan. 9:27), but shorter than what he might have decreed, if he had dealt with them according to their sins; shorter than what the enemy designed, who would have cut all off, if God who made use of them to serve his own purpose, had not set bounds to their wrath; shorter than one who judged by human probabilities would have imagined. Note,
Now here are two things intimated concerning it.
The only objection against this, is, that it is said to be immediately after the tribulation of those days; but as to that,
Now concerning Christ's second coming, it is here foretold,
Mat 24:32-51
We have here the practical application of the foregoing prediction; in general, we must expect and prepare for the events here foretold.
Now touching the events foretold here, which we are to expect,
It will be a surprising day, and a separating day.
Now this here is applicable,
The application of this, concerning the old world, we have in these words; So shall the coming of the Son of man be; that is,
When ruin came upon Jerusalem, a distinction was made by Divine Providence, according to that which had been before made by divine grace; for all the Christians among them were saved from perishing in that calamity, by the special care of Heaven. If two were at work in the field together, and one of them was a Christian, he was taken into a place of shelter, and had his life given him for a prey, while the other was left to the sword of the enemy. Nay, if but two women were grinding at the mill, if one of them belonged to Christ, though but a woman, a poor woman, a servant, she was taken to a place of safety, and the other abandoned. Thus the meek of the earth are hid in the day of the Lord's anger (Zep. 2:3), either in heaven, or under heaven. Note, Distinguishing preservations, in times of general destruction, are special tokens of God's favour, and ought so to be acknowledged. If we are safe when thousands fall on our right hand and our left, are not consumed when others are consumed round about us, so that we are as brands plucked out of the fire, we have reason to say, It is of the Lord's mercies, and it is a great mercy.