31 And G2532 he shall send G649 his G846 angels G32 with G3326 a great G3173 sound G5456 of a trumpet, G4536 and G2532 they shall gather together G1996 his G846 elect G1588 from G1537 the four G5064 winds, G417 from G575 one end G206 of heaven G3772 to G2193 the other. G206 G846
For G3754 the Lord G2962 himself G846 shall descend G2597 from G575 heaven G3772 with G1722 a shout, G2752 with G1722 the voice G5456 of the archangel, G743 and G2532 with G1722 the trump G4536 of God: G2316 and G2532 the dead G3498 in G1722 Christ G5547 shall rise G450 first: G4412
In G1722 a moment, G823 in G1722 the twinkling G4493 of an eye, G3788 at G1722 the last G2078 trump: G4536 for G1063 the trumpet shall sound, G4537 and G2532 the dead G3498 shall be raised G1453 incorruptible, G862 and G2532 we G2249 shall be changed. G236
And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that the great H1419 trumpet H7782 shall be blown, H8628 and they shall come H935 which were ready to perish H6 in the land H776 of Assyria, H804 and the outcasts H5080 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and shall worship H7812 the LORD H3068 in the holy H6944 mount H2022 at Jerusalem. H3389
Now G1161 we beseech G2065 you, G5209 brethren, G80 by G5228 the coming G3952 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 and G2532 by our G2257 gathering together G1997 unto G1909 him, G846
And ye shall flee H5127 to the valley H1516 of the mountains; H2022 for the valley H1516 of the mountains H2022 shall reach H5060 unto Azal: H682 yea, ye shall flee, H5127 like as ye fled H5127 from before H6440 the earthquake H7494 in the days H3117 of Uzziah H5818 king H4428 of Judah: H3063 and the LORD H3068 my God H430 shall come, H935 and all the saints H6918 with thee.
And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Go ye G4198 into G1519 all G537 the world, G2889 and preach G2784 the gospel G2098 to every G3956 creature. G2937 He that believeth G4100 and G2532 is baptized G907 shall be saved; G4982 but G1161 he that believeth not G569 shall be damned. G2632
And G2532 I saw G1492 another G243 angel G32 fly G4072 in G1722 the midst of heaven, G3321 having G2192 the everlasting G166 gospel G2098 to preach G2097 unto them that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth, G1093 and G2532 to every G3956 nation, G1484 and G2532 kindred, G5443 and G2532 tongue, G1100 and G2532 people, G2992 Saying G3004 with G1722 a loud G3173 voice, G5456 Fear G5399 God, G2316 and G2532 give G1325 glory G1391 to him; G846 for G3754 the hour G5610 of his G846 judgment G2920 is come: G2064 and G2532 worship G4352 him that made G4160 heaven, G3772 and G2532 earth, G1093 and G2532 the sea, G2281 and G2532 the fountains G4077 of waters. G5204 And G2532 there followed G190 another G243 angel, G32 saying, G3004 Babylon G897 is fallen, G4098 is fallen, G4098 that great G3173 city, G4172 because G3754 she made G4222 all G3956 nations G1484 drink G4222 of G1537 the wine G3631 of the wrath G2372 of her G846 fornication. G4202 And G2532 the third G5154 angel G32 followed G190 them, G846 saying G3004 with G1722 a loud G3173 voice, G5456 If any man G1536 worship G4352 the beast G2342 and G2532 his G846 image, G1504 and G2532 receive G2983 his mark G5480 in G1909 his G846 forehead, G3359 or G2228 in G1909 his G846 hand, G5495
And G2532 the seventh G1442 angel G32 sounded; G4537 and G2532 there were G1096 great G3173 voices G5456 in G1722 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 The kingdoms G932 of this world G2889 are become G1096 the kingdoms of our G2257 Lord, G2962 and G2532 of his G846 Christ; G5547 and G2532 he shall reign G936 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165
And G2532 I saw G1492 the seven G2033 angels G32 which G3739 stood G2476 before G1799 God; G2316 and G2532 to them G846 were given G1325 seven G2033 trumpets. G4536
And G2532 after G3326 these things G5023 I saw G1492 four G5064 angels G32 standing G2476 on G1909 the four G5064 corners G1137 of the earth, G1093 holding G2902 the four G5064 winds G417 of the earth, G1093 that G3363 the wind G417 should G4154 not G3363 blow G4154 on G1909 the earth, G1093 nor G3383 on G1909 the sea, G2281 nor G3383 on G1909 any G3956 tree. G1186
But G235 I say, G3004 Have G191 they not G3378 heard? G191 Yes verily, G3304 their G846 sound G5353 went G1831 into G1519 all G3956 the earth, G1093 and G2532 their G846 words G4487 unto G1519 the ends G4009 of the world. G3625
Whereupon, G3606 O king G935 Agrippa, G67 I was G1096 not G3756 disobedient G545 unto the heavenly G3770 vision: G3701 But G235 shewed G518 G518 first G4412 unto them of G1722 Damascus, G1154 and G2532 at Jerusalem, G2414 and G5037 throughout G1519 all G3956 the coasts G5561 of Judaea, G2449 and G2532 then to the Gentiles, G1484 that they should repent G3340 and G2532 turn G1994 to G1909 God, G2316 and do G4238 works G2041 meet G514 for repentance. G3341
Look H6437 unto me, and be ye saved, H3467 all the ends H657 of the earth: H776 for I am God, H410 and there is none else.
God H430 shall bless H1288 us; and all the ends H657 of the earth H776 shall fear H3372 him.
They come H935 from a far H4801 country, H776 from the end H7097 of heaven, H8064 even the LORD, H3068 and the weapons H3627 of his indignation, H2195 to destroy H2254 the whole land. H776
And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Make H6213 thee two H8147 trumpets H2689 of silver; H3701 of a whole piece H4749 shalt thou make H6213 them: that thou mayest use H1961 them for the calling H4744 of the assembly, H5712 and for the journeying H4550 of the camps. H4264 And when they shall blow H8628 with them, H2004 all the assembly H5712 shall assemble H3259 themselves to thee at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 And if they blow H8628 but with one H259 trumpet, then the princes, H5387 which are heads H7218 of the thousands H505 of Israel, H3478 shall gather H3259 themselves unto thee. When ye blow H8628 an alarm, H8643 then the camps H4264 that lie H2583 on the east parts H6924 shall go forward. H5265 When ye blow H8628 an alarm H8643 the second time, H8145 then the camps H4264 that lie H2583 on the south side H8486 shall take their journey: H5265 they shall blow H8628 an alarm H8643 for their journeys. H4550 But when the congregation H6951 is to be gathered together, H6950 ye shall blow, H8628 but ye shall not sound an alarm. H7321 And the sons H1121 of Aaron, H175 the priests, H3548 shall blow H8628 with the trumpets; H2689 and they shall be to you for an ordinance H2708 for ever H5769 throughout your generations. H1755 And if ye go H935 to war H4421 in your land H776 against H6862 the enemy that oppresseth H6887 you, then ye shall blow an alarm H7321 with the trumpets; H2689 and ye shall be remembered H2142 before H6440 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 and ye shall be saved H3467 from your enemies. H341 Also in the day H3117 of your gladness, H8057 and in your solemn days, H4150 and in the beginnings H7218 of your months, H2320 ye shall blow H8628 with the trumpets H2689 over your burnt offerings, H5930 and over the sacrifices H2077 of your peace offerings; H8002 that they may be to you for a memorial H2146 before H6440 your God: H430 I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430
Lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 round about, H5439 and behold: H7200 all these gather themselves together, H6908 and come H935 to thee. As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 thou shalt surely clothe H3847 thee with them all, as with an ornament, H5716 and bind H7194 them on thee, as a bride H3618 doeth.
Daniel H1841 spake H6032 and said, H560 I saw H2370 H1934 in my vision H2376 by H5974 night, H3916 and, behold, H718 the four H703 winds H7308 of the heaven H8065 strove H1519 upon the great H7229 sea. H3221
Ho, H1945 ho, H1945 come forth, and flee H5127 from the land H776 of the north, H6828 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I have spread you abroad H6566 as the four H702 winds H7307 of the heaven, H8064 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
And I will cut off H3772 the chariot H7393 from Ephraim, H669 and the horse H5483 from Jerusalem, H3389 and the battle H4421 bow H7198 shall be cut off: H3772 and he shall speak H1696 peace H7965 unto the heathen: H1471 and his dominion H4915 shall be from sea H3220 even to sea, H3220 and from the river H5104 even to the ends H657 of the earth. H776
And the LORD H3068 shall be seen H7200 over them, and his arrow H2671 shall go forth H3318 as the lightning: H1300 and the Lord H136 GOD H3069 shall blow H8628 the trumpet, H7782 and shall go H1980 with whirlwinds H5591 of the south. H8486
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.