Mateo 24:1-40

Matthew 24 f. The Eschatological Discourse, and the Parables of Parousia (Mark 13*, Luke 21:5-Zephaniah : *, Luke 17:23-Haggai :).— Mt. follows Mk. fairly closely, but appends other eschatological sayings and illustrative parables (ch. 25). The discourse arises out of a prediction of the destruction of the Temple, and is spoken in Mt. not to four disciples but to the Twelve, who ask for “ the sign of Thy coming ( i.e. as Messiah, parousia) , and of the end of the world (or age).” Jesus enumerates the events that must first occur ( Matthew 24:4-2 Chronicles :). With Matthew 24:4-Ruth : cf. Mark 13:5-Ruth :. Most of Mark 13:9-1 Chronicles :, perhaps originally in Q, has been already used by Mt. in Matthew 10:17-Song of Solomon :, so here he summarises and varies, e.g. “ hated of the nations” and the prediction of deterioration among the brethren themselves, Matthew 24:10 ff.). The actual end is heralded by a season of dire distress ( Matthew 24:15-Song of Solomon :; cf. Mark 13:14-Proverbs :). “ Let him that readeth” ( Matthew 24:15), i.e. the Book of Daniel. Note the addition of “ the Sabbath” in Matthew 24:20; flight on such a day would be against the Law, or if one limited oneself to a “ Sabbath day’ s journey,” would hardly enable one to escape the enemy. Christians still observed the Sabbath when Mt. was written. Matthew 24:22 b may mean that the presence of the chosen ones (Christians), who are to meet the Messiah, saves many others from death ( cf. Genesis 18:32). Matthew 24:26 ff. is not in Mk., but cf. Luke 17:20-Lamentations :; when the hour strikes, there will be no need to search for the Messiah. His presence will be as obvious as that of the lightning.

Matthew 24:28 . This proverb ( cf. Job 39:30), which only loosely fits the context, need not be forced into a picture of the elect gathering round their Lord, or of the Messiah and His angels swooping down for judgment on a wholly corrupt world. With Matthew 24:29 ff . cf. Mark 13:24-Daniel :; notice Mt.’ s “ immediately” ( Matthew 24:29) and the addition in Matthew 24:30 ab. The evangelist expects that the fall of Jerusalem will speedily be followed by the sign of the Son of Man, i.e. some unique portent which precedes His advent; or perhaps there is a reference to Daniel 7:13. The mourning of the tribes of the earth ( Zechariah 12:12) resembles but is hardly due to Revelation 17 . It is lacking in Syr. Sin., which in Matthew 24:30 c has “ Ye shall see” ; if this was the original reading, it has been changed to “ they” to suit the fact that disciples had passed away without seeing the sign. For the “ trumpet” ( Matthew 24:31) cf. Isaiah 27:13, Ps. Sol. 11:1– 3; with 11:32– 36 cf. Mark 13:28-Jonah : *. “ Nor the Son” should probably (with good authority) be omitted from Mt.; we know how he usually treats statements of Mk. which humanise Christ. Lk. replaces the saying by an admonition against carelessness. Lk. ( Luke 17:26 ff.) also gives, and more fully, the analogy with the Flood ( Matthew 24:37 ff.), which is not found in Mk., and is from another source which regarded the Parousia as coming without signs and warnings.

Matthew 24:40 f. taken: i.e. for life; left: i.e. to destruction, or vice versa. For “ in the field” Lk. ( Luke 17:34) has “ on one bed.”