Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 24
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Matthew 24
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Matthew 24
"And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple." — Matthew 24:1 (ASV)
As Jesus departs from the temple , his disciples call his attention to its various structures. They show that they have underestimated or even misunderstood the force of Jesus’ denunciations in ch. 23. They still focus on the temple, on which Jesus has pronounced doom, since the true center of the relation between God and humankind has shifted to himself.
"But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." — Matthew 24:2 (ASV)
The question of Jesus in this verse anticipates a “yes” answer; of course the disciples see the buildings! Jesus’ forecast of the destruction of the temple complex is unambiguous, cast in OT language (cf. Jeremiah 26:6, 18; Micah 3:12) and repeated variously elsewhere (23:38; 26:61).
"And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" — Matthew 24:3 (ASV)
The Mount of Olives is an appropriate site for a discourse dealing with the Parousia (cf. Zechariah 14:4). The disciples ask Jesus several questions privately (i.e., without the crowds around) about the temple’s destruction and the signs that will presage it and about the end of the age and Jesus’ return.
“The end of the age” is used six times in the NT (13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20; Hebrews 9:26), five of which are in Matthew and look to final judgment and the consummation of all things. Parousia (“coming”; GK 4242) is found twentyfour times in the NT, four of which are in Mt 24 (vv.3, 27, 37, 39). The term can refer to “presence,” “arrival,” or “coming”—the first stage of “presence”—and need not have eschatological overtones (2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 10:10). Yet the word is often closely tied with Jesus’ glorious “appearing” or “coming” at the end of human history.
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray." — Matthew 24:4 (ASV)
One of the greatest temptations in times of difficulty is to follow blindly any self-proclaimed savior who promises help (i.e., false christs). Those who “come in my name” claim to be Christ himself. They come as if they were he. Wouldbe deliverers have appeared in every age, not least the first century (Acts 5:36).
"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray." — Matthew 24:5 (ASV)
One of the greatest temptations in times of difficulty is to follow blindly any self-proclaimed savior who promises help (i.e., false christs). Those who “come in my name” claim to be Christ himself. They come as if they were he. Wouldbe deliverers have appeared in every age, not least the first century (Acts 5:36).
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