John Calvin Commentary Matthew 24:6

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for [these things] must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet." — Matthew 24:6 (ASV)

For you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. He describes here only the commotions that arose in Judea, for we will find him soon afterward saying that the flame will spread much wider. As he had formerly instructed them to beware lest any man deceive them, so now he tells them to meet with courage rumors of wars and wars themselves; for they would be in danger of yielding when surrounded by calamities, especially if they had expected ease and pleasure for themselves.

For all these things must take place. He adds this, not to assign a reason, but to warn them that none of these things happened accidentally or without God's providence, so that they may not uselessly kick against the spur. For nothing has a more powerful efficacy to bring us into subjection than when we acknowledge that those things which appear to be confused are regulated by the good pleasure of God.

Indeed, God Himself never lacks proper causes and the best reasons for allowing the world to be disturbed. But as believers ought to acquiesce in His mere good pleasure, Christ considered it enough to exhort the disciples to prepare their minds for endurance and to remain firm, because such is the will of God.

But the end is not yet. He now states more plainly the threat I have already mentioned: that those events, which were in themselves truly distressing, would be only a kind of preparation for greater calamities. This is because, when the flame of war has been kindled in Judea, it will spread more widely. For ever since the doctrine of the Gospel was published, a similar ingratitude prevailing among other nations has aroused God's wrath against them.

Therefore it happened that, having broken the bond of peace with God, they tore themselves apart with mutual strife. Having refused to obey God's rule, they yielded to their enemies' violence. Not having allowed themselves to be reconciled to God, they broke out into quarrels with one another. In short, having shut themselves out from heavenly salvation, they raged against each other and filled the earth with murders. Knowing how obstinate the world's malice would be, he again adds,