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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:29

Immediately after the tribulation, etc. - Commentators generally understand this, and what follows, of the end of the world and Christ's coming to judgment: but the word immediately shows that our Lord is not speaking of any distant event, but of something immediately consequent on calamities already predicted: and that must be the destruction of Jerusalem. "The Jewish heaven shall perish, and the sun and moon of its glory and happiness shall be darkened - brought to nothing. The sun is the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:30

Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man - The plain meaning of this is, that the destruction of Jerusalem will be such a remarkable instance of Divine vengeance, such a signal manifestation of Christ's power and glory, that all the Jewish tribes shall mourn, and many will, in consequence of this manifestation of God, be led to acknowledge Christ and his religion. By της γης , of the land, in the text, is evidently meant here, as in several other places, the land of Judea and its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:31

He shall send his angels - Τους αγγελους , his messengers, the apostles, and their successors in the Christian ministry. With a great sound of a trumpet - Or, a loud-sounding trumpet - the earnest affectionate call of the Gospel of peace, life, and salvation. Shall gather together his elect - The Gentiles, who were now chosen or elected, in place of the rebellious, obstinate Jews, according to Our Lord's prediction, Matthew 8:11 , Matthew 8:12 , and Luke 13:28 , Luke 13:29 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:32

Learn a parable of the fig-tree - That is, These signs which I have given you will be as infallible a proof of the approaching ruin of the Jewish state as the budding of the trees is a proof of the coming summer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:34

This generation shall not pass - Η γενεα αυτη , this race; i.e. the Jews shall not cease from being a distinct people, till all the counsels of God relative to them and the Gentiles be fulfilled. Some translate η γενεα αυτη , this generation, meaning the persons who were then living, that they should not die before these signs, etc., took place: but though this was true, as to the calamities that fell upon the Jews, and the destruction of their government, temple, etc., yet as our Lord... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:36

But of that day and hour - Ωρα , here, is translated season by many eminent critics, and is used in this sense by both sacred and profane authors. As the day was not known, in which Jerusalem should be invested by the Romans, therefore our Lord advised his disciples to pray that it might not be on a Sabbath; and as the season was not known, therefore they were to pray that it might not be in the winter; Matthew 24:20 . See on Mark 13:32 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:37-38

As the days of Noah - they were eating and drinking - That is, they spent their time in rapine, luxury, and riot. The design of these verses seems to be, that the desolation should be as general as it should be unexpected. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:39

And knew not - They considered not - did not lay Noah's warning to heart, till it was too late to profit by it: so shall it be - and so it was in this coming of the Son of man. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:40-41

Then shall two men - two women - one shall be taken, and the other left - The meaning seems to be, that so general should these calamities be, that no two persons, wheresoever found, or about whatsoever employed, should be both able to effect their escape; and that captivity and the sword should have a complete triumph over this unhappy people. Two women shall be grinding - Women alone are still employed in grinding the corn in the east; and it is only when despatch is required, or the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:42

Watch therefore - Be always on your guard, that you may not be taken unawares, and that you may be properly prepared to meet God in the way either of judgment or mercy, whensoever he may come. This advice the followers of Christ took, and therefore they escaped; the miserable Jews rejected it, and were destroyed. Let us learn wisdom by the things which they suffered. read more

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