Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 24:8

"But all these things are the beginning of travail." — Matthew 24:8 (ASV)

The beginning of sorrows—The words literally mean, the beginning of labor pains. The troubles through which the world passes are thought of as resulting in a “new birth”—the “regeneration” of Matthew 19:28. In the same way, St. Paul speaks of the whole creation as travailing in pain together (Romans 8:22). Likewise, a time of national suffering and perplexity is one in which the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth (Isaiah 37:3).