Matthew Chapter Twenty-Four Commentary

I. Introduction

Our purpose is to render a commentary on the introduction to our Savior’s Olivet Discourse, the Gospel according to Matthew chapter twenty-four.

With these words from the lips of He who came in the name of the LORD ended the previous chapter:

“…Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’…” (Mat 23:37-39, “Matthew Chapter Twenty-three Commentary”—this commentary may serve as a preparatory introduction to what follows).

Thus the Shekinah Glory…departed from Israel. Here now, this chapter begins in apt continuity with the former, as we are told that straightaway: ‘…Jesus departed from the temple…’ That is, He departed from this people’s spiritual and national center of gravity (with respect to said departure, consider [Exd 13:21, 33:13-15, Hos 9:12, Jhn 15:4-6, but note Mat 28:20-He abides forever with His saints]). Here now, in this chapter, is revealed the bitter end attending that selfsame-provoked departure both for Christless Israel specifically, up front, and for Godless humankind generally in due time (selfsame in that God in Christ is rejected in both cases). Of necessity, then, a twofold judgment follows below, which intended direction thereof—Christless Israel, or Godless humankind—we must clearly delineate at the appropriate places as the prophetic text unfolds.

We will follow this format:

·        Verse of Scripture utilizing the YLT text followed by an NASB mouseover of that verse. Key words in the YLT text will be footnoted with a link to a word study based on the Greek text, and/or a general discussion relative to the given word. We are not biblical Greek or Hebrew scholars, please consider our grammatical constructions with a critical eye.

·        Commentary We shall be commenting on this passage keeping before us at all times the crucial fact that every jot and every tittle comprising these verses came forth under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit. We pray that He, by His grace, helps us along the way.

II. Matthew Chapter Twenty-four Commentary Verses

24:1-2-Ichabod

YLT TEXT: And having gone [1] forth, Jesus departed [2] from the temple [3], and his disciples [4] came near to show him the buildings of the temple, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do ye not see [5] all these? verily I say to you, There may not be left here [6] a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down [7].’ (Mat 24:1-2, cf. Mar 13:1-2, Luk 21:5-6, Mat 24:1-2, NLT; 1Sa 4:21).

COMMENTARY: Everything in this verse set points to a foreboding desolation—words and word phrases like gone forth, departed, not be left here a stone upon a stone, thrown down. The object, the focus of this doom, is the Temple. In other words, the focus has in view (1) the spiritual “stage” of Pharisaic Judaism (consider Luk 18:10-14), and (2) the national “ballast” of Judah. Heard here by immature disciples is what sounds to them like an incredulous (1), (2), Stroke, the former spiritual, the latter national, delivered by the One thought to restore the Kingdom to Israel ( a mindset that lingered especially post-Resurrection Act 1:6). We may take it that this verse set predicts the undoing of the fabric and very fiber of the glorious spiritual and national norms that entertained the minds of the hearers of these words. What a disturbance this must have been. Small wonder they had pressing questions for Jesus just later.

In the steps of the Master a retooling was afoot, not least because, (1) above, the spiritual “stage” of Pharisaic Judaism, thought to play God the fool, and by very exercise, thought to broadcast the same, and because, (2) above, the national “ballast” of Judah, thought to hold God hostage to a building, again, by very exercise, broadcasting the same. These broadcasts and others Jesus’ hearers had just before heard Him condemn, and straightaway judge (“Matthew Chapter Twenty-three “Commentary”). Here in continuity with that judgment He altogether seals it with its particulars: “…Do ye not see all these? verily I say to you, There may not be left here a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down…” Thus He broadcasts. Thus God shows Himself as omniscient God, not a fool, not a call-boy. Thus He shows Himself departed from that building.

Through Jesus the Shekinah Glory once more visited Israel (Judah here), but briefly, and shone forth from that day’s temple (Luk 19:47, 22:53), from those magnificent stones, endearing, but when He departed, so did any semblance of Glory. What remained was another sort of glory, more mundane, more low-plane-like, even a desolation without Him, in the broadest sense of that sorry word.

O, my Lord, stay ever in this lowly temple, that it may ever enjoy you, and ever glorify you, and ever shine forth your glory, while still you give it breath. Amen.

24:3-8-The Beginning of Travail

YLT TEXT: And when he is sitting [8] on the mount of the Olives [9], the disciples came near to him by himself, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence [10], and of the full end of the age? [11]’ And Jesus answering said to them, ‘Take heed that no one may lead you astray [12], for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ [13], and they shall lead many astray, and ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all these to come to pass, but the end [13a] is not yet. ‘For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places; and all these are the beginning [13b] of sorrows [14]; (Mat 24:3-8, cf. Mar 13:3-8, Luk 21:7-11, 20-24, Mat 24:3-8, NLT; cf. Zec 14:15, Rev 6:7-8, 12).

COMMENTARY: ‘…Lord, we’ve got some questions…’

Jesus took His place, He seated Himself, somewhere removed, up yonder on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple: “…And when he is sitting on the mount of the Olives, the disciples came near to him by himself…” (cf. Mar 13:3). It is thought-provoking, in light of this context, to think that perhaps He seated Himself up there where He intends to touch down when He returns with His saints to smash His enemies (Rev 19:11-16, “Psalm Two Commentary”, “Psalm One-hundred-ten Commentary”); when He returns with His saints to judge the world and establish His millennial reign (not to be confused with the Rapture, at which time Jesus comes only on the clouds, calling His Church out of a world teetering on the brink [1Th 4:15-17, 2Th 2:1]). He, the glorified Messiah, thus returning as it is written of this awesome, great One ([that is, Messiah], 2Th 1:6-10, Zec 14:4; just as His feet touched the ground at His first advent, so they will touch the ground at His second advent). One so terrible in majesty that everything before Him melts as it were (Psa 46:6, 104:24-30,31-34, Amo 9:5). But presently He, incarnate, seated Himself, seated that mean frame He condescended to take upon Himself, content for the time being but to discuss that future Glory. See how He reveals its particulars piecemeal, for thus it must be revealed, it being too much for the human mind to grasp, even piecemeal, even per countless porings over in the centuries hence. He reveals its particulars in satisfaction of human minds groping to grasp: “…the disciples came near to him by himself, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence, and of the full end of the age?…” There is some measure of dismay in those three questions we think, besides curiosity and confusion. Nevertheless, through the answers to those questions come the pieces which reveal God’s program for Israel near-term, and for all of humankind on into eternity. It must be granted that pieces such as these are difficult things. And it must be granted that only an eternal mind, even the Eternal Mind, could comprehensively address, much less with integrity unfold such things (“The Alpha and the Omega”). Let us by God’s grace analyze Jesus’ response. One perceives an astute response, in that a vast, sweeping amount of time is packed into a concise answer. It is clear that this concision in the face of such a vast backdrop betrays clear, comprehensive knowledge of the details involved; the response is astute. One perceives a graded response wherein “first things come first.” Again this betrays clear, comprehensive knowledge of the details involved. Let’s look at that gradation a little closer. It is like a pyramid standing on its tip; the broader-based-eventualities up top are addressed first (Fig. 1, top pyramid). And given top priority is the broadest base, the one up top—many (like unto the broad base up top) are to come in Jesus’ Name, leading many astray. This eventuality has to be addressed first. Why? Not just because it is broad and far-reaching, more than that—because the great Program of God which Jesus unfolds next will be given either a different spin or altogether replaced with other programs, by way of many, down the ages (this push too, then, is broad): “…Take heed that no one may lead you astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray…” Note the foresight: “…they shall lead many astray…” (consider Act 5:36-39, 8:9-10, Bar Kokhba [“Son of the Star”], false prophets, false religions, “isms,” self-deified moderns (2Pe 3:3) teaching this and that contrary to the Word of God, and of course antiChrist [2Th 2:2-5, 6-9]—this list is a long one, it is well populated, it is broad]). This deception, that is, onslaught by the devil, for he is the father of lies (Jhn 8:44), particularly when it comes to the onslaught that seeks to derail Jesus’ Program, must be addressed first. Satan the imitator would, of course, come in Jesus’ Name (2Cr 11:14), thus pretending to offer something “better,” better messianic alternatives, other programs undergirded by that title. That cunning is his style; it is low-plane, like he is low-plane, he, qualifying the same. Jesus warns here of this, of this befooling by His adversary. That warning must come first, then may follow the Program Jesus outlines by way of response to the disciples’ questions. Let’s descend the pyramid by one level (Fig. 1); the span is still broad at this next level of the upside-down pyramid: “… and ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all these to come to pass, but the end is not yet. ‘For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom’…” Is this not a fact of history? So it has been to the very present; this level of the upside-down pyramid is indeed broad. What else needs to be said here? Nothing, for so it is, sadly. But, of such sad things comes not the End, though terrible enough to indicate so; we must descend the pyramid, squeezing, constraining, concentrating, narrowing the levels, before the End comes. So we step down another level (Fig. 1). The span is still broad at this next level of the upside-down pyramid: “… and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places…” Another statement borne out by fact. Famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. More sad and terrible things. Again, so it has been, to the very present. Yes more sad and terrible things, together with, shoulder-to-shoulder with, the former sad and terrible things, sadly. But even so, still, of these sad and terrible things comes not the End, though they might tempt one to think so: “… and all these are the beginning of sorrows…” Please notice: we are not at all in the Tribulation here. Why? We all know that the Restrainer is still active in the world despite wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and so forth. Thus there can be no great falling away here, nor can antiChrist be revealed because he needs an environment consistent with his character in order to ascend onto the world stage—but the Restrainer restrains him here (2Th 2:2-3, 5-9). And so there can be no Tribulation down to this level (Fig. 1), for the Tribulation commences with antiChrist’s appearance on the world stage and his appearance is marked by several things, one of which is apostasy. Jesus addresses antiChrist just later, and then we can talk about the Tribulation. The past levels of the upside-down pyramid consist of what we think are Fall-like realities (especially the last two); they are outlined by Jesus in an apparently matter-of-fact way, and are certainly borne out by history: “…be not troubled, for it behoveth all these to come to pass, but the end is not yet …” We must descend down lower yet to appreciate, to attain to, the point, the point of the End. Then, as we approach the End, antiChrist will reveal himself in an environment of lawlessness devoid of the Restrainer (2Th 2:7-8), and then sore tribulation commences. As you can see by looking ahead (Fig. 1)—with the next level of the upside-down pyramid we begin to get close, to approach the End, but not at all here, though the levels just discussed are very grievous to be sure.

24:9-14-Persecution, Rampant Lawlessness, Lovelessness, A Pervasive Witness…of Such is the End

YLT TEXT: then they shall deliver you up to tribulation [15], and shall kill [16] you, and ye shall be hated [17] by all the nations [18] because of my name [19]; and then shall many be stumbled [20], and they shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another. ‘And many false prophets [21] shall arise, and shall lead many astray; and because of the abounding of the lawlessness [22], the love of the many shall become cold [23]; but he who did endure [24] to the end, he shall be saved [25]; and this good news of the reign [26] shall be proclaimed in all the world, for a testimony [27] to all the nations; and then shall the end [28] arrive. (Mat 24:9-14, cf. Mar 13:9-13, Luk 21:12-18, 19, Mat 24:9-14, NLT).

COMMENTARY: So we have descended further down the upside-down pyramid, to the next lower level (Fig. 1). The span is a little less broad, because of the squeezing, because the concentration and the constraint have increased at this level. Now concentration is on the people of God in the midst of all the nations—thereby are they squeezed; concentration is upon His Beloved, His Bride, His Namesakes, even Christians (Israel is not in these particular verses; Israel is, sad to say, still one of the enemies at this point). And the Constraint, the squeezing, that…has cursed the Name of Jesus, and has undertaken to expel His Name from the midst of the nations, and that by way of killing those who bear that blessed Name: “…then they shall deliver you up to tribulation, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated by all the nations because of my name…” Thus we have descended lower, we are down lower now, because expulsion of the Most High, this killing, must needs bring us most low, must bring us down. And of course it follows, follows downward, that lawlessness abounds, and the love of many grows cold (Fig. 1): “…and because of the abounding of the lawlessness, the love of the many shall become cold…” (already at work in Paul’s day with no small amount of inertia we can be sure [2Th 2:7]; imagine the inertia today [Satan has been busy since the Fall, of that we can be sure too]). It follows downward to the abounding of lawlessness and this cold love, but why? Because He, Most High, hated, sought to be expelled, is the One who stands in the place of Law, and gives expression to Law, and no less He stands in the place of Love, and gives expression to Love (“The Beatitudes”, 1Jo 4:8, 16). In this way then is hated and expelled Law, and Love, to the abounding of lawlessness and cold hearts. Thus without the Most High we are most low now. We have hurtled downward and cannot get any lower. With the hating of the Most High, even Jesus, by all the nations, to the abounding of the profane, even lawlessness and cold hearts, we have reached the bottom. In this way has emerged an environment consistent with the character of antiChrist; the time is rife now for his appearing. Moreover, now, per the proclamation of the Gospel (Mat 24:14), and the revelation of antiChrist, 2Th 2:2-3), must needs soon come the End (Fig 1). Still (literally), right here, in the darkest dark, in the coldest cold, in the face of this lawlessness and cold hearts, at the cost of their lives, God’s Namesakes still proclaim His hated Name (though some be stumbled in this darkest dark and coldest cold); they proclaim that surpassing Name that stands for all that He stands for (O, That Name!); it is proclaimed as a testimony to the nations of His Law and Love. In this way it is proclaimed to the nations to their Salvation, or to their Sorrow, the which coming by their own choosing ( Jhn 3:16-18, 1Jo 5:11, “A Letter of Invitation”): “….and this good news of the reign shall be proclaimed in all the world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end arrive…” And this is the End: It is the second advent of Jesus Christ, He, smashing His enemies, judging the nations (Jesus outlines this in the conclusion to this His Olivet Discourse [Mat 25:31-37, 38-44, 45-46, “Matthew Chapter Twenty-Five Commentary“), utterly displacing their Godless programs with an iron rod, and quite setting in place the program of God that, indeed, commences per His arrival (Isa 11:1-4, 5-9). Notice: He, Jesus, will: ‘…come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end…’ (part of the Nicene Creed).

The gradation just above, that of the upside-down pyramid, is thematically very tight (Fig. 1). It consists not so subtly of a Messianic theme (false Christs, [at the head of which is antiChrist], witnessing for Christ, hatred of Christ [or, His Name], hatred of Christ’s people, suffering for Christ, holding fast for Christ, the return of Christ [PAROUSIA]; interspersed is the sad reality of the Fall—death—sundry vehicles thereof, which [death] Messiah came to eliminate). This theme is understood to run from the time of Jesus Christ’s first advent, through Christ’s Church Age (=the days of Christ’s Namesakes, the end of which is marked by Jesus’ return for His Church [the Rapture]). The Messianic theme of Messiah Jesus’ answer would be consistent with the Messianic nature of the question that prompted His answer.

24:15-22-The Abomination of Desolation

YLT TEXT: ‘Whenever, therefore, ye may see the abomination of the desolation [29], that was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever is reading [30] let him observe [30a]) then those in Judea [30b] — let them flee to the mounts [31]; he on the house-top — let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house; and he in the field — let him not turn back to take his garments. ‘And wo to those with child, and to those giving suck in those days; and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter, nor on a sabbath; for there shall be then great tribulation [same as note 15], such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be. And if those days were not shortened [32], no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen [33], shall those days be shortened. (Mat 24:15-21, 22, cf. Mar 13:14-20, Luk 21:20-24, Mat 24:15-21, NLT, Mat 24:22, NLT).

COMMENTARY: Please allow us to rewrite the verses with a little bit of highlighting for clarity of reference below: ‘…Whenever, therefore, ye may see the abomination of the desolation, that was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever is reading let him observe)…’ ‘…then those in Judea — let them flee to the mounts; he on the house-top — let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house; and he in the field — let him not turn back to take his garments. ‘And wo to those with child, and to those giving suck in those days; and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter, nor on a sabbath….’, ‘…for there shall be then great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be. And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened…’

This text gives us Jesus’ response to the second part of the disciples’ second question (yellow “sign” highlighting+cyan “heads up” highlighting+gray “heads up” highlighting, (note 11a see (2b)). Notice that “ye” here: “…whenever therefore, ye may see the abomination of desolation…” are the first Christians, in this case Jewish Christians, but of course a Christian is a Christian, period. The cyan highlighting is precisely for the Jews, whether in the context of “abomination2,” or “abomination3” (consider Rev 12:11-16; note twenty-nine, note thirty-one). The gray-highlighted text (1) only fits into the context of “abomination3,” and (2) only extends to the Jews. Why? Because (1) this text is Tribulation-specific text: the Tribulation commences per the ascendancy of antiChrist onto the world stage, and (2) we reckon that the Church will be long gone from the face of the earth (raptured) by the time the Tribulation commences. So this text gives us Jesus’ response to the second part of the disciples’ second question (note 11a see (2b)).

Now Luke gives us Jesus’ response to the disciples’ first question, no more ((note 11a see (1)), (Luk 21:20-24), with the possible exception of Luke 21:23, but that verse is not as descriptive as the gray-highlighted text). So were it not for Matthew (and Mark) we would not have Jesus’ full response to the second part of the second (far-term) question. What remains now for analysis is Jesus’ response to the first part of the far-term question (note 11a see (2a)), and that Matthew gives us in the next two verse sets just below. God has circumspectly utilized three men to record His answers to three questions, and they recorded them as they were inspired to hear them uttered, either first-hand (Matthew), or as they had it related to them once-removed (Mark [probably by Peter], Luke [probably by the disciples at large]). Notice how God distributes the load, utilizing His people in a manner consistent with the capacities He blessed them with. To the day, even our day, yours and mine Christian friend, Jehovah our God works out His purposes in the world like that (“Which of these Are You and I? Is the Church Better or Worse by Us?”).

How is antiChrist, the consummate enemy of Christ (of God) revealed? It comes by and by per the Rapture; Scripture unfolds the answer exactly—2Thessalonians 2:6-9—it is God the Holy Spirit at work through His Church that restrains lawlessness, but with the removal of the Church, the Restraint is removed, and so in this way the lawless one, the antiChrist, unrestrained, quite reveals himself. This removal of the Restraint would, further, provide impetus for a great falling away, apostasy, before the Day of the LORD (2Th 2:2-3). It is not necessary for the third temple to be entirely in place for antiChrist’s revealing to occur, and with that revealing the commencement of the Tribulation, it is however necessary for it to be in place in Jerusalem for the sacrilege of “abomination3” to take place, at which time thereabouts the Tribulation translates from the first half to the sore grievous second half (gray-highlighted text, [29]). The Rapture is an event we believe will happen some uncertain amount of time prior to the onset of the Tribulation (and thus prior to the ascendancy of antiChrist onto the world stage), or, some uncertain amount of time prior to Daniel’s seventieth week (Dan 9:24-27, esp. Dan 9:27). Daniel’s seventieth week is one “week” of seven years, itself broken into two three and one-half year periods, or, two forty-two month periods (Rev 11:2), or, (3 ½ years) times (360 days)/([Jewish] year)=1260 days (Rev 12:6) per each half of the Tribulation—a time of great worldwide affliction and suffering incidental to the ascendancy of antiChrist onto the world stage. Jesus, at His second coming throttles this “end-time” scenario and slays that wicked talking-mouth antiChrist (2Th 2:7-8). The gray-highlighted text characterizes for us the extent and gravity of the second half of the Tribulation, the Great Tribulation—but for those days being shortened, no flesh would survive it: “... for there shall be then great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be. And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened…” All of humankind is in view here: “…no flesh…”, and the Chosen are end-times Jews per the discussion of the highlighted text above (also note thirty-three). To put this carnage somewhat into perspective, according to a popular encyclopedia, the world’s population as of July, 2015, was 7.3 billion people; it would grow exponentially from here going forward. One cannot help but think back by way of Scripture to the days of Noah here and the Great Flood, wherein but a meager handful, God’s Chosen, were saved. Our Lord leads us to consider the days of Noah below.

24:23-28-The Second Coming of the Son of Man Will Be Unmistakable

YLT TEXT: ‘Then if any one may say to you, Lo, here is the Christ [same as 13]! or here! ye may not believe; for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and they shall give great signs [34] and wonders, so as to lead astray [same as 12], if possible, also the chosen [same as 33]. Lo, I did tell you beforehand. ‘If therefore they may say to you, Lo, in the wilderness he is, ye may not go forth; lo, in the inner chambers, ye may not believe; for as the lightning doth come forth from the east, and doth appear unto the west, so shall be also the presence [same as 10] of the Son of Man [35]; for wherever the carcase [36] may be, there shall the eagles [37] be gathered together. (Mat 24:23-28, cf. Mar 13:21-23, Luk 17:22-24, 37b, Mat 24:23-28, NLT).

COMMENTARY: Here now comes finally the beginning of the answer to the first part of the disciples’ second question (note 11a see (2a)). This verse set sets the stage by way of characterizing the Parousia [10]: (1) it comes at an opportune time for false Christs and false prophets. What of these false ones?, why do they appear right here? The Tribulation has begun, and satanic opportunists claiming to be Messiah take advantage of the times to engender allegiance to antiChrist; with a mass of people terribly frightened, hopelessly confused, and clinging to any offings for a return to normalcy, these false ones apparently do well here for antiChrist: “…they shall give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, also the chosen. Lo, I did tell you before hand…” (2) it manifests itself lightning fast: “…for as the lightning doth come forth from the east, and doth appear unto the west, so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man…” (cf. 1Th 5:3), and (3) it will be unmistakable: again, like lightening: “…for as the lightning doth come forth from the east, and doth appear unto the west, so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man…”, and like the carrion, unmistakable: “…for wherever the carcase may be, there shall the eagles be gathered together…” Lightning and the carrion, who can miss them?, (4) It will come at an inopportune time for many, like a thief, striking in the night (Mat 24:42-43, 1Th 5:3, 2Pe 3:1-4). In the context of the unfolding of the great Rebellion, one might depict the response by Jesus (note 11a see (2a)) diagrammatically by way of a second gradation cozying up to shake hands with the former as the former sinks into the abyss (Fig. 1, lower pyramid). There is another gradation at work all along here which now needs to be introduced; it rises up from below to join the former gradation which is sinking into the abyss, the upper being the fallen, rebellious, Godless world at large, the lower being chosen, rebellious, Christless Israel taking on the character of the Godless world (introduction). These two gradations, fully matured, meld at the time of the End. Why? Because the one in its Godlessness will be indistinguishable from the other in its Christlessness (or, Godlessness, same thing).

24:29-31-The Day of the LORD, A Sign, A Sound, A Sickle

YLT TEXT: ‘And immediately after the tribulation [same as 15] of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall [38] from the heaven, and the powers [39] of the heavens shall be shaken [40]; and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man [41] in the heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth smite the breast [42], and they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds [43] of the heaven, with power [43a] and much glory; and he shall send his messengers with a great sound of a trumpet [44], and they shall gather [45] together his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens unto the ends thereof. (Mat 24:29-31, cf. Mar 13:24-27, Luk 21:25-28, Mat 24:29-31, NLT, cf. Dan 7:13-14).

COMMENTARY: Related here is not the Rapture: “… and he shall send his messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens unto the ends thereof…” It is not the Rapture because we are on the far side of the Tribulation: “…And immediately after the tribulation of those days…” So who are these Chosen ones at this point in time? It would follow that these are Tribulation-period saints, well represented, and dispersed: “…and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens unto the ends thereof…” (cf. Rev 7:2-4, 9-all Salvation-related ministries, human and/or angelic, end here; angelic ministries for God continue ad infinitum in a non-Salvation-related manner; we suspect that the ministries of the saints on into eternity future are somehow related to the reconstituted created order spoken of below, and we reckon that these too will run ad infinitum side-by-side with the angelic ministries, to the exceeding glory of Jehovah God, not least through the accomplishment of His purposes for creating the angels and humankind).

We have arrived at the Day of the LORD. The day has arrived for that talking-mouth, antiChrist, to be slain by the breath of the mouth of the great savior God and Messiah Jesus (2Th 2:8). It is the End of which we have been speaking above; it is the second advent of Jesus Christ, which was long ago by way of prophetic Scripture demarcated by unprecedented disturbances in the Creator’s celestial heavens (Isa 13:10, 34:1-4, Joe 2:28-32, Act 2:17-21, 2Pe 3:8-10, Rev 6:12-17): “….the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken…”—Jesus but repeats Himself here, repeating that which He spoke through His prophets long ago concerning this event centered precisely on Him. Consider for a moment the implications of Creation. God created the heavens and the earth from a massive amount of energy that He of Himself imparted in order to give them a mass-signature (this is referred to as primordial energy, which science to the day cannot address aright “Psalm Eight Commentary”). Now how can it be otherwise that He in His glory literally “outshines,” already from a very, very great distance from the earth, everything around Him as He comes toward the earth in that glory? Those luminaries that we study and barely understand by our sciences must without exception fade into darkness over against the One who packs more energy than all of them combined (a gross understatement [43a]). The second advent of Jesus Christ is an event that is so cataclysmic that Scripture has given us but the meanest guidance (like Creation for example, same thing), but it is sufficient for us to appreciate the omnipotent Creator. It is no wonder that Scripture says over and over that the heavens will fade away before He arrives on earth. And what of the earth?! How can it not help but “melt” here? (for as power=energy/time as said, intensity=power/area). Just His very presence necessitates exactly what Scripture is relating to us in regard to the state of the heavens and the earth at this time. If you would, think now of the Mount of Olives, Jesus’ destination—no way will it be materially like it was at His first advent; we believe it, as the rest of the earth, well be reconstituted in order to “accommodate” Him (reconstitution does not imply nor demand geographical reorientation/s here under the assumption that new mundane laws are operative in the reconstitution; what we are trying to say is that the Mount of Olives will stay in the Middle East even if it is reconstituted; so likewise other global features will stay in place [insofar as we are familiar with their location at the time of Jesus]). This is the practical side to this reconstitution—there is a spiritual side, and that concerns Sin of course—the created order is fallen (Rom 8:20-25).

Only very little can be said about the glorified Jesus’ brilliance; this brilliance as viewed from afar off on earth as He approaches, and it is just one individual’s construction; please consider it prayerfully, and critically:

The sign of the Cross [41], together with the Son of Man in His glory (=manifest, perfect holiness): “… and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth smite the breast and they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of the heaven, with power and much glory…” evinces deep mourning upon the earth at Messiah Jesus’ second advent. We expect the first to “see” Jesus coming afar off will be low orbit telescopes, space probes, and the like, irrespective of their heading, given the exceeding brilliance. These will see Him as He makes His way majestically this time (not on a donkey as before) to the Mount of Olives, in the Middle East (note that it was in the other direction before—from the Mount of Olives [Zec 9:9, Mat 21:6-11]). When Jesus comes the second time His holiness will be apparent, not veiled in any way, and that means that His perfect innocence will be quite apparent too, and that beautiful, tender, lamb-like Innocence over against Jesus’ signature bloody cross, itself signifying such deep love for humankind, will be too much to bear; men and women on earth hearing and seeing the news of this amazing Brilliance afar off, will sore grieve at the sight once it is appreciated, appreciated for what it is (this will take some time to sink in we suspect because it defies all naturalistic laws and precedents); they will grieve especially with respect to their guilt (they/we put Him on that signature, bloody cross). They will grieve before this great, majestic savior God, One whom they will realize gave all for them (“Psalm Twenty-two Commentary”). The Greek verb utilized (KOPTW) gives the sense of deep grieving: “…smiting the breast…” These people will not survive His coming, of course. O how they will exceedingly grieve as they see Him, Brilliant, getting closer and closer and closer, with that signature, bloody Cross before Him. And what hope is there for them of Salvation, these end-time mockers (2Pe 3:3, “A Letter of Invitation”)?

24:32-36-Fig Trees Can Talk

YLT TEXT: ‘And from the fig-tree [46] learn ye the simile [47]: When already its branch may have become tender, and the leaves it may put forth, ye know that summer is nigh, so also ye, when ye may see all these, ye know that it is nigh — at the doors. Verily I say to you, this generation may not pass away [48] till all these may come to pass [49]. The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. ‘And concerning that day and the hour no one hath known — not even the messengers of the heavens — except my Father only; (Mat 24:32-36, cf. Mar 13:28-32, Luk 21:29-33, Mat 24:32-36, NLT).

COMMENTARY: Surely everybody in Jesus’ hearing knew the budding character of fig trees, so He used that particular tree as an object over against which to compare the unfurling of the signs He had spoken of (Fig 1, both pyramids). Dearest reader, have you ever looked at a broad-leaved deciduous tree in the Spring and noticed how their leaves are all furled, ready to unfurl at any moment given the right conditions? It is a beautiful sight, that furling (like a baby in the womb). We once had a silver maple tree that did that very thing—some years those leaves unfurled sooner, some years later, but friend, they always unfurled once the right environmental conditions finally came together and stayed that way more often than not going forward. And then there came a point in time not too far removed from the unfurling when “there was no looking back” if you will, those leaves stayed unfurled—Spring was in full bloom now and Summer was just around the corner as it were. All this is simple enough, we all understand it; let us use that picture to clear an apparent hurdle with these verses. The hurdle seems to be, just exactly who is meant by “this generation:” “…so also ye, when ye may see all these, know that it is nigh – at the doors. Verily I say to you, this generation may not pass away till all these may come to pass…” Is it these disciples hearing Jesus that is meant? It certainly could have been meant that way—but it turns out that something was missing—something obvious—they never saw all the right signs. It could have been intended for those disciples, that generation, but it wasn’t, because, just like with our silver maple, the “environmental conditions” weren’t right. This passage has in view those who actually witness these signs (Luk 12:56), and those hard-pressed folks will be the last people to see any kind of sign whatsoever, for, as we are informed by our Lord in our passage, when those sore signs unmistakably manifest, hard on the heels of that comes the End. This is more than just an “eyeball thing” here spoken of; when those signs manifest, that generation will flat know it, they, feeling the heat, bogged down with oppression. And so specifically they, to the person, will not pass away until all things spoken of come to pass.

By way of the cataclysmic events that attend our Lord’s return, the prophetic text indicates that the universe as we have come to understand it is going to be unravelled, by the glorious coming of He whose finger created it, as discussed in the previous section: “…the heaven and the earth shall pass away…” It is a done deal as far as the Creator is concerned, it shall pass away He says. But why (not predominatly how, as in the previous section)? Surely the answer is because it is fallen (2Pe 3:7). When the jewel of creation, humankind, fell, the universe, created for humankind (Psa 8:3-9), fell along with him (Rom 8:20-25). Everywhere that humankind has set foot he has left a trail of blood, pollution, idolatry, and Godlessness; how does he think it will be different when, suppose, he goes to another planet and sets his heels there? If Jesus Christ is not in his heart and not on board, it does not matter where he goes, the end he brings about will always be the same: bloodshed, pollution, idolatry, Godlessness, the profane… Is this not the regular pattern with humankind, and the testimony of millennia of recorded history? Humankind must be reconstituted—a heart cleansing affair according to God (“John Chapter Three Commentary”)—and this is the thrust of the rest of Scripture besides the verses of our commentary. And of course the world which humankind has polluted and ravaged, even hijacked for Godless means to an end, must be reconstituted. These things follow easily from the facts before all of us—but what of the rest of the created order, there where humankind has not set his heels yet—why must they undergo the sort of cessations that attend the Day of the LORD? Something better is coming we reckon; something that complements the reconstituted jewel of creation’s reconstitution. And given that jewel’s reconstitution, even holiness, it defies mundane description. We will have to wait and see. Friend, if you are not yet one of the Family, please don’t miss out on this future (“A Letter of Invitation”).

Jesus turns next to His own words, the ones spoken in the verses of our commentary, and spoken by Him per se—the Word—the same will not pass away. It is so because the Word of God, like He, is eternal (“The Alpha and the Omega”, John Chapter One Commentary”). Let us appreciate the ring of authority and confidence behind these words of Jesus and get focused on Him right here in the midst of these universal upheavals: “…The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away…” (cf. Num 23:19, Isa 51:6, Mat 5:18, “The Beatitudes”). Truly it as said even by His enemies of this great and awesome One here speaking: ‘…never so spake a man as this man…’ (Jhn 7:46). Whence this authority and confidence? Jesus was given a very specific mission, from Father God (Redemption | Slavation). The authority He brought to that mission came from His Father (Mat 28:18, Eph 1:22, please note that here He humbly speaks as the incarnate Jesus: Jhn 14:28). He, Jesus, incarnate, knew where He came from; He, incarnate, knew what He was doing, and why; and He, incarnate, knew where He was going (Jhn 16:28). Thus with the sort of knowledge particular only to a member of the Godhead He says of His second advent, says of the Day of the LORD: “…’And concerning that day and the hour no one hath known — not even the messengers of the heavens — except my Father only’…” Let us not be suckered by those who think they know.

24:37-44-As in the Days of Noah, Pay Attention!, Watch!

YLT TEXT: and as the days of Noah — so shall be also the presence [same as 10] of the Son of Man [same as 35]; for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, till the day Noah entered into the ark, and they did not know till the flood came and took all away; so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man. Then two men shall be in the field, the one is received [50], and the one is left [51]; two women shall be grinding in the mill, one is received [same as 50], and one is left [same as 51]. ‘Watch [52] ye therefore, because ye have not known in what hour [53] your Lord doth come; and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch [54] the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be broken through; because of this also ye, become ye ready [55], because in what hour ye do not think, the Son of Man doth come. (Mat 24:37-42, 43-44, cf. Mar 13:33, 35, Luk 12:39-40, 17:26-32, 33-36. Mat 24:37-42, NLT, Mat 24:43-44, NLT).

COMMENTARY: With this verse set comes now the full answer to the first part of the disciples’ second question (note 11a see (2a)) and with that are addressed all three questions they asked Jesus up yonder on the Mount of Olives, up there where He, glorified, majestic, will touch His reconstituted earth at His second advent (Fig. 2).

Noah. Consider his name: “…and calleth his name Noah, saying, ‘This one doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.’…” (Gen 5:29). Accursed ground. Soon to melt away. The dust of humankind, who returns to dust, to the ground. Very foundation underfoot upon which humankind goes about eating, and drinking, and marrying, and giving in marriage. Generation after generation that O so human record turns and turns; generation after generation it plays like that (“Ecclesiastes Chapter Three Commentary”). Why should the profane mind even doubt that it will not be like that on into the next generation? Indeed, it does not. ”As security bolsters men up in their brutal sensuality; so sensuality rocks them asleep in their carnal security” (Matthew Henry). There is no fear of God in that mind, and thus no knowledge of God; no understanding, no Truth. And so it plows ahead oblivious to the signs of God, glassy-eyed to them; quite vulnerable. The profane mind says in its heart, there where its rotten secrets lie buried as in the ground, as in a tomb: ‘…Business as usual. As today, so tomorrow, and again the next…’ (Isa 56:12). It maps out its course and doggedly plows along, with no thoughts of God save His possible utility for this and that, especially in the crises and terrors that confront it. God is a burden to the profane mind, even a nuisance to its better-than-Thou estimations of itself. The profane mind does not fear God, it does not consider Him, even all the way to the lapping of the flood waters at the doors. It is the profane mind that our verses point to (Gen 6:5-8, Isa 22:12-14, consider Ecc 8:11), and it was precisely to such minds that Noah preached Comfort. And so it will be at the time of the End: “…for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, till the day Noah entered into the ark, and they did not know till the flood came and took all away; so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man. …” Here we recall the prophetic timeline, and note that (1) the (preTribulation) Rapture has already occurred (Dan 12:2, 1Th 4:15-17), and (2) the Tribulation-period saints have been gathered (Mat 24:30-31)—the following in-gathering scenario fits both of these in-gathering contexts (that is, (1) and (2)), but we prefer to apply it to (2): “…Then two men shall be in the field, the one is received, and the one is left; two women shall be grinding in the mill, one is received, and one is left. ‘Watch ye therefore, because ye have not known in what hour your Lord doth come; and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be broken through; because of this also ye, become ye ready, because in what hour ye do not think, the Son of Man doth come…” We prefer to apply it to (2) because of these words by Jesus: “…become ye ready, because in what hour ye do not think, the Son of Man doth come…”

24:45-51-Hast Thou, Steward, Fed My Sheep?

YLT TEXT: ‘Who, then, is the servant [56], faithful [57] and wise [58], whom his lord did set [59] over his household [60], to give them the nourishment [61] in season [62]? Happy [63] that servant, whom his lord, having come, shall find doing so; verily I say to you, that over all his substance [64] he will set [same as 59] him. ‘And, if that evil servant may say in his heart [65], My Lord doth delay [66] to come, and may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and to eat and to drink with the drunken, the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when he doth not expect, and in an hour of which he doth not know, and will cut [67] him off, and his portion [68] with the hypocrites [69] will appoint [70]; there shall be the weeping [71] and the gnashing [72] of the teeth. (Mat 24:45-51, cf. Mar 13:33-37, Luk 12:41-46, 21:34-36, Mat 24:45-51, NLT, 1Th 5:2-3).

COMMENTARY: Christian friend please see, see and treasure, how our Lord’s face turns always toward His own. How deeply our Lord loves His own. Yet again we hear Him saying loudly and clearly: ‘…feed my sheep…’ (“Feed My Sheep”): “…Who, then, is the servant, faithful and wise, whom his lord did set over his household to give them the nourishment in season?…” We must stop and ponder, whom does the Lord God set over His Household? It is servants, like He, even He the Head of the Household (imagine that), thus set by God, a Head, a Servant. He, in every respect a Servant in His Day (Psa 40:6-8, Isa 42:1, 49:6, 53:1-5, 11, Zec 3:8, Jhn 6:38, 17:3-8, Act 4:27, Phl 2:5-8). He, feeding God’s sheep in His day. So it must needs be that the appointed head of God’s Household serves God, and serves His sheep, altogether by feeding God’s sheep. O, a servile labor, well done but by that good and faithful servant, ever motivated by love, even as our Lord’s face usward turns for the same reason, He, motivated by love. The appointed head of God’s Household loves God above all else and straightaway loves that which God loves above all else, namely, the sheep. Thus is a head, imagine, motivated to labor servile, a head, a servant. They, in every respect a servant in their day. They, feeding God’s sheep in their day.

And what of the nourishment thus fed? It is the Word of God, the Head of the Household’s Word; the One whose face shines love upon His sheep, His Word it is that nourishes, that satisfies the seasons. Seasons of famine, when the abundant manna can no longer be found as before, seasons of drought, when the vital streams of faith slow to a trickle, seasons of cold, when the ember of love is quenched from without and from within, seasons of shaking, when the heart faints. Seasons; so many seasons. So many sheep to nourish, in the midst of their seasons. Thus the good and faithful servant feeds the sheep, in their seasons. Ever feeding the sheep, turning a loving face toward them, they, beloved, as the seasons, their seasons, cycle around and around and around. No end to this feeding, whilst yet our Lord tarries.

Wise is such a one serving, thus faithfully serving. Why? Here is why: “…verily I say to you, that over all his substance he [the Lord God, the Head of the Household] will set him. ‘…” Over all His substance the Lord God sets such a one, such a one showing themselves faithful and wise. And so it is that such as these have a share in all of God’s possessions. Here is wisdom on display. Such a blessing defies comment but to say, thank you Lord; help us to feed your sheep aright, our dear beloved brethren, amen.

And now another sort of servant; here follows the negative reality: “…and if that evil servant may say in his heart, My Lord doth delay to come, and may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and to eat and to drink with the drunken, the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when he doth not expect, and in an hour of which he doth not know, and will cut him off, and his portion with the hypocrites will appoint; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth…”. There emerges a polar symmetry at this point—polar is good servant/reward over against evil servant/punishment; symmetry appears in that both the reward and the punishment are great. Why is it that the magnitude of reward on the one hand, and the magnitude of punishment on the other, is so very great? No doubt because the ministry of feeding God’s sheep, that appointment in all its broad implications, its importance in God’s eyes, is very great, is as great as His love for the very sheep for whom He gave His life (Redemption | Salvation). Thus it is, in its importance, equal to the ministry of Redemption | Salvation by which lost sinners are brought into the very fold here in view, a fold exceedingly expensive, and exceedingly loved, yet abused, or neglected—emotionally, physically, spiritually—certainly not loved, not shown the loving face of Jesus, a face, even His, that “strains itself” in order to turn toward them. The latter ministry (that of Redemption | Salvation) is effected by God, the former ministry (that of feeding God’s sheep) is effected by His shepherds, yet, the importance of the two ministries is indistinguishable from God’s perspective as we have come to understand them. In this way follows the exceeding magnitude of the polar symmetry mentioned above.

What lies behind, what motivates lousy shepherding? Two things are specifically related: (1) evil estimations, and (2) evil entertainments, all alike betraying an evil heart, indeed, betraying an evil servant—and thus not a child of God in the first place, let alone a true shepherd of the Flock: “…and if that evil servant may say in his heart, [1] My Lord doth delay to come, and [2, once] may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and [2, twice, thrice…] to eat and to drink with the drunken…” It is in their heart, this evil, like root-rot—one might as well pluck up such plants and cast them out and burn them because they contaminate and waste the space of ground that they occupy. It is better to burn that plant and clean up the ground and plant new plants there that will bear fruit, thus blessing the ground, even all around (Eze 34:8-10, 1Ti 4:16, Hbr 13:17).

It is fitting that the chapter ends with a reference to “hypocrites,” for that was Jesus’ exceeding grief with those other lousy stewards, the Pharisees of the preceding chapter (“Matthew Chapter Twenty-three Commentary”). Having condemned the former, He must condemn the latter. No substantive difference here, just the names and the faces are different, that’s all. As the shepherd’s responsibility is great; so too their reward, or their punishment, will be great. What we see in the negative is sobering—imagine, a servant of God, fallen, and clearly steadfast in their fallenness, that is, unrepentant, is cut off, cast out of God’s sight (Mat 7:21-23, consider Gal 6:7-8). Help us great God to do your work. Amen.

Praised be your Name great Jehovah God. Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly; please send Him soon Father God. Amen.