Matthew 24
Matthew 24 is the twenty-fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It commences the Olivet Discourse or "Little Apocalypse" spoken by Jesus Christ, also described as the Eschatological Discourse,[1] which continues into chapter 25.[2] It contains Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.[3] Mark 13 and Luke 21 also cover the same material.[4]
| Matthew 24 | |
|---|---|
Matthew 1:1-9,12 on the recto side of Papyrus 1, written about AD 250. | |
| Book | Gospel of Matthew |
| Category | Gospel |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 1 |
Text Edit
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 51 verses.
Textual witnesses Edit
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
- Codex Vaticanus (AD 325–350)
- Codex Sinaiticus (330-360)
- Codex Bezae (c. 400)
- Codex Washingtonianus (c. 400)
- Codex Alexandrinus (c. 400-440)
- Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450)
- Codex Purpureus Rossanensis (6th century)
- Codex Sinopensis (6th century; extant: verses 3–12)
- Papyrus 83 (6th century; extant: verses 1, 6)
Old Testament references Edit
- Matthew 24:15: Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11
- Matthew 24:35: Isaiah 51:6
Context Edit
In the preceding chapters (chapters 21–23), Jesus has been teaching in the Temple and debating with the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees.
Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple Edit
Jesus and his disciples leave the Temple (Matthew 24:1), or the temple grounds in the New Living Translation.[5] Theologian John Gill observes that Jesus was "never to return".[6]
Arthur Carr reports that in descending the Kedron Valley, to the east of the temple, and then ascending the slope of the Mount of Olives, the disciples could look back and see "the Temple [rising] with its colonnade of dazzling white marble, surmounted with golden roof and pinnacles, and founded on a substructure of huge stones".[2]
In this "introductory scene " (verses 1-2),[7]: 876 Jesus predicts that "not one stone shall be left here upon another".[8] The prediction follows the sentiments expressed by Jesus in Matthew 23:37–38:
- O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ... See! Your house is left to you desolate.
Methodism's founder John Wesley says that the prediction was "most punctually fulfilled" in that the majority of the temple buildings were burned and then dug up on the orders of the invading Roman general Titus in 70 AD.[9]
Mount of Olives Edit
Jesus and his disciples proceed to the Mount of Olives, where a "private" conversation takes place regarding "the end of the age". Jesus's words here are referred to as the "Little Apocalypse" or "Olivet Discourse." Jesus appears to have gone ahead of his disciples (Matthew 24:3), who come to him to enquire about the timing and signification of his parousia (Greek: παρουσιας, parousias). Mark 13:3 states that only Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to speak with him.[2]
Verse 5 Edit
- For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.[10]
'I am Christ,' lacking the definite article, in the Geneva Bible (1599),[11] the King James Version,[12] and the New Matthew Bible [13] (a modernised version of the New Testament of William Tyndale).[14] Carr (1882 onwards) observes that "the Christ, the Messiah" is correct, departing from the King James Version then in use.[2]
Verse 15 Edit
- Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation', spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand) [15]
The "abomination of desolation" is alternatively described as the "desolating sacrifice" in the New Revised Standard Version.[16] Citation from Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11
Verse 20 Edit
- Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath.[17]
The hardship associated with escape during winter is likely to arise from bad weather.[18] Dale Allison notes the absence of any explanation as to why flight on a sabbath day might also be more challenging; he suggests that Matthew's community might still have observed the sabbath as a day of rest, with its traditional travel restrictions, and been both hesitant and unprepared for flight on such a day.[7]: 877
Verses 29-31 Edit
- "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
- And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
- And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet."[19]
In the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh gives an interpretation of Matthew 24:29-31 in his major theological work Kitáb-i-Íqán (The Book of Certitude),[20][21] giving detailed explanations about the allegorical meanings of each of these phrases.[22]
Verse 35 Edit
- Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.[23]
Jesus's words refer to an Old Testament saying recorded in Isaiah 51:6:
- For the heavens will vanish away like smoke,
- The earth will grow old like a garment,
- And those who dwell in it will die in like manner;
- But My salvation will be forever,
- And My righteousness will not be abolished.[24]
See also Edit
- Noah
- Noah's Ark
- Noah's Flood
- Other related Bible parts: Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Isaiah 51, Jeremiah 15, Daniel 11, Daniel 12, Matthew 25, Mark 13, Luke 12, Luke 17, Luke 21, 2 Peter 3
- Rapture
- Joseph Smith–Matthew, a retranslation of Matthew 24
References Edit
- ^ Jerusalem Bible (1966), sub-title for Matthew 24-25
- ^ a b c d Carr, A., Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: Matthew 24, accessed 10 October 2019
- ^ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an Abbreviated Bible Commentary. 23rd edition, Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
- ^ Jerusalem Bible (1966) at Matthew 24:1
- ^ New Living Translation
- ^ Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on Matthew 24, accessed 19 February 2017
- ^ a b Allison, D., 56. Matthew, in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary
- ^ Matthew 24:2
- ^ Wesley, J., Wesley's Notes on the Bible on Matthew 24, accessed 19 February 2017
- ^ Matthew 24:5: NKJV
- ^ Matthew 24:5: Geneva Bible
- ^ Matthew 24:5: KJV
- ^ Matthew 24:5: NMB
- ^ BibleGateway.com, New Matthew Bible: Version Information, accessed 10 October 2019
- ^ Matthew 24:15: NKJV
- ^ Matthew 24:15: NRSV
- ^ Matthew 24:20: Revised Standard Version
- ^ Matthew 24:20: Expanded Bible
- ^ Matthew 24:29–31 KJV
- ^ Bahá'u'lláh (1931). Kitáb-i-Íqán: The Book of Certitude. Translated by Effendi, Shoghi. Baháʹí publishing committee. OCLC 603643768. Paragraphs 24-51, 66-87.
- ^ Dunbar, Hooper C. (1998). A Companion to the Study of the Kitáb-i-Íqán. Oxford, United Kingdom: George Ronald. pp. 52–53. ISBN 0-85398-430-1.
- ^ Buck, Christopher (1995). Symbol & Secret. Los Angeles, USA: Kalimát Press. pp. 120–126. ISBN 0-933770-80-4.
- ^ Matthew 24:35 KJV
- ^ Isaiah 51:6
External links Edit
- Matthew 24 King James Bible - Wikisource
- English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Multiple Bible versions at Bible Gateway (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
| Preceded by Matthew 23 | Chapters of the Bible Gospel of Matthew | Succeeded by Matthew 25 |