Mateus 24

O Sinal do Fim dos Tempos

1 Jesus saiu do templo e, enquanto caminhava, seus discípulos aproximaram-se dele para lhe mostrar as construções do templo.

2 “Vocês estão vendo tudo isto?”, perguntou ele. “Eu garanto que não ficará aqui pedra sobre pedra; serão todas derrubadas”.

3 Tendo Jesus se assentado no monte das Oliveiras, os discípulos dirigiram-se a ele em particular e disseram: “Dize-nos, quando acontecerão essas coisas? E qual será o sinal da tua vinda e do fim dos tempos?”

4 Jesus respondeu: “Cuidado, que ninguém os engane.

5 Pois muitos virão em meu nome, dizendo: ‘Eu sou o Cristo!’ e enganarão a muitos.

6 Vocês ouvirão falar de guerras e rumores de guerras, mas não tenham medo. É necessário que tais coisas aconteçam, mas ainda não é o fim.

7 Nação se levantará contra nação, e reino contra reino. Haverá fomes e terremotos em vários lugares.

8 Tudo isso será o início das dores.

9 “Então eles os entregarão para serem perseguidos e condenados à morte, e vocês serão odiados por todas as nações por minha causa.

10 Naquele tempo, muitos ficarão escandalizados, trairão e odiarão uns aos outros,

11 e numerosos falsos profetas surgirão e enganarão a muitos.

12 Devido ao aumento da maldade, o amor de muitos esfriará,

13 mas aquele que perseverar até o fim será salvo.

14 E este evangelho do Reino será pregado em todo o mundo como testemunho a todas as nações, e então virá o fim.

15 “Assim, quando vocês virem ‘o sacrilégio terrível’,^[a] do qual falou o profeta Daniel, no Lugar Santo—quem lê, entenda—

16 então, os que estiverem na Judeia fujam para os montes.

17 Quem estiver no telhado de sua casa não desça para tirar dela coisa alguma.

18 Quem estiver no campo não volte para pegar seu manto.

19 Como serão terríveis aqueles dias para as grávidas e para as que estiverem amamentando!

20 Orem para que a fuga de vocês não aconteça no inverno nem no sábado.

21 Porque haverá então grande tribulação, como nunca houve desde o princípio do mundo até agora, nem jamais haverá.

22 Se aqueles dias não fossem abreviados, ninguém sobreviveria;^[b] mas, por causa dos eleitos, aqueles dias serão abreviados.

23 Se, então, alguém disser: ‘Vejam, aqui está o Cristo!’ ou: ‘Ali está ele!’, não acreditem.

24 Pois aparecerão falsos cristos e falsos profetas que realizarão grandes sinais e maravilhas para, se possível, enganar até os eleitos.

25 Vejam que eu os avisei antecipadamente.

26 “Assim, se alguém disser: ‘Ele está lá, no deserto!’, não saiam; ou: ‘Ali está ele, dentro da casa!’, não acreditem.

27 Porque assim como o relâmpago sai do Oriente e se mostra no Ocidente, assim será a vinda do Filho do homem.

28 Onde houver um cadáver, aí se ajuntarão os abutres.

29 “Imediatamente após a tribulação daqueles dias“ ‘o sol escurecerá,e a lua não dará a sua luz;as estrelas cairão do céu,e os poderes celestes serão abalados’.^[c]

30 “Então aparecerá no céu o sinal do Filho do homem, e todas as nações da terra se lamentarão e verão o Filho do homem vindo nas nuvens do céu com poder e grande glória.

31 E ele enviará os seus anjos com grande som de trombeta, e estes reunirão os seus eleitos dos quatro ventos, de uma a outra extremidade dos céus.

32 “Aprendam a lição da figueira: quando seus ramos se renovam e suas folhas começam a brotar, vocês sabem que o verão está próximo.

33 Assim também, quando virem todas estas coisas, saibam que ele está próximo, às portas.

34 Eu asseguro a vocês que não passará esta geração até que todas estas coisas aconteçam.

35 Os céus e a terra passarão, mas as minhas palavras jamais passarão.

O Dia e a Hora São Desconhecidos

36 “Quanto ao dia e à hora ninguém sabe, nem os anjos dos céus, nem o Filho,^[d] senão somente o Pai.

37 Como foi nos dias de Noé, assim também será na vinda do Filho do homem.

38 Pois nos dias anteriores ao Dilúvio, o povo vivia comendo e bebendo, casando-se e dando-se em casamento, até o dia em que Noé entrou na arca;

39 e eles nada perceberam, até que veio o Dilúvio e os levou a todos. Assim acontecerá na vinda do Filho do homem.

40 Dois homens estarão no campo: um será levado e o outro deixado.

41 Duas mulheres estarão trabalhando num moinho: uma será levada e a outra deixada.

42 “Portanto, vigiem, porque vocês não sabem em que dia virá o seu Senhor.

43 Mas entendam isto: se o dono da casa soubesse a que hora da noite o ladrão viria, ele ficaria de guarda e não deixaria que a sua casa fosse arrombada.

44 Assim, vocês também precisam estar preparados, porque o Filho do homem virá numa hora em que vocês menos esperam.

45 “Quem é, pois, o servo fiel e sensato, a quem seu senhor encarrega dos demais servos de sua casa para lhes dar alimento no tempo devido?

46 Feliz o servo que seu senhor encontrar fazendo assim quando voltar.

47 Garanto que ele o encarregará de todos os seus bens.

48 Mas suponham que esse servo seja mau e diga a si mesmo: ‘Meu senhor está demorando’,

49 e então comece a bater em seus conservos e a comer e a beber com os beberrões.

50 O senhor daquele servo virá num dia em que ele não o espera e numa hora que não sabe.

51 Ele o punirá severamente^[e] e lhe dará lugar com os hipócritas, onde haverá choro e ranger de dentes.

PREVIOUS Mateus 23 NEXT Mateus 25

Mateus 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Christ foretells the destruction of the temple. (1-3) The troubles before the destruction of Jerusalem. (4-28) Christ foretells other signs and miseries, to the end of the world. (29-41) Exhortations to watchfulness. (42-51)

Verses 1-3 Christ foretells the utter ruin and destruction coming upon the temple. A believing foresight of the defacing of all worldly glory, will help to keep us from admiring it, and overvaluing it. The most beautiful body soon will be food for worms, and the most magnificent building a ruinous heap. See ye not all these things? It will do us good so to see them as to see through them, and see to the end of them. Our Lord having gone with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, he set before them the order of the times concerning the Jews, till the destruction of Jerusalem; and as to men in general till the end of the world.

Verses 4-28 The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these things should be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers fully. The prophecy first respects events near at hand, the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the general judgment; and toward the close, points more particularly to the latter. What Christ here said to his disciples, tended more to promote caution than to satisfy their curiosity; more to prepare them for the events that should happen, than to give a distinct idea of the events. This is that good understanding of the times which all should covet, thence to infer what Israel ought to do. Our Saviour cautions his disciples to stand on their guard against false teachers. And he foretells wars and great commotions among nations. From the time that the Jews rejected Christ, and he left their house desolate, the sword never departed from them. See what comes of refusing the gospel. Those who will not hear the messengers of peace, shall be made to hear the messengers of war. But where the heart is fixed, trusting in God, it is kept in peace, and is not afraid. It is against the mind of Christ, that his people should have troubled hearts, even in troublous times. When we looked forward to the eternity of misery that is before the obstinate refusers of Christ and his gospel, we may truly say, The greatest earthly judgments are but the beginning of sorrows. It is comforting that some shall endure even to the end. Our Lord foretells the preaching of the gospel in all the world. The end of the world shall not be till the gospel has done its work. Christ foretells the ruin coming upon the people of the Jews; and what he said here, would be of use to his disciples, for their conduct and for their comfort. If God opens a door of escape, we ought to make our escape, otherwise we do not trust God, but tempt him. It becomes Christ's disciples, in times of public trouble, to be much in prayer: that is never out of season, but in a special manner seasonable when we are distressed on every side. Though we must take what God sends, yet we may pray against sufferings; and it is very trying to a good man, to be taken by any work of necessity from the solemn service and worship of God on the sabbath day. But here is one word of comfort, that for the elect's sake these days shall be made shorter than their enemies designed, who would have cut all off, if God, who used these foes to serve his own purpose, had not set bounds to their wrath. Christ foretells the rapid spreading of the gospel in the world. It is plainly seen as the lightning. Christ preached his gospel openly. The Romans were like an eagle, and the ensign of their armies was an eagle. When a people, by their sin, make themselves as loathsome carcasses, nothing can be expected but that God should send enemies to destroy them. It is very applicable to the day of judgment, the coming of our Lord Jesus ( 2 Thessalonians. 2:1 ) calling and election sure; then may we know that no enemy or deceiver shall ever prevail against us.

Verses 29-41 Christ foretells his second coming. It is usual for prophets to speak of things as near and just at hand, to express the greatness and certainty of them. Concerning Christ's second coming, it is foretold that there shall be a great change, in order to the making all things new. Then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds. At his first coming, he was set for a sign that should be spoken against, but at his second coming, a sign that should be admired. Sooner or later, all sinners will be mourners; but repenting sinners look to Christ, and mourn after a godly sort; and those who sow in those tears shall shortly reap in joy. Impenitent sinners shall see Him whom they have pierced, and, though they laugh now, shall mourn and weep in endless horror and despair. The elect of God are scattered abroad; there are some in all places, and all nations; but when that great gathering day comes, there shall not one of them be missing. Distance of place shall keep none out of heaven. Our Lord declares that the Jews should never cease to be a distinct people, until all things he had been predicting were fulfilled. His prophecy reaches to the day of final judgment; therefore he here, ver. 34, foretells that Judah shall never cease to exist as a distinct people, so long as this world shall endure. Men of the world scheme and plan for generation upon generation here, but they plan not with reference to the overwhelming, approaching, and most certain event of Christ's second coming, which shall do away every human scheme, and set aside for ever all that God forbids. That will be as surprising a day, as the deluge to the old world. Apply this, first, to temporal judgments, particularly that which was then hastening upon the nation and people of the Jews. Secondly, to the eternal judgment. Christ here shows the state of the old world when the deluge came. They were secure and careless; they knew not, until the flood came; and they believed not. Did we know aright that all earthly things must shortly pass away, we should not set our eyes and hearts so much upon them as we do. The evil day is not the further off for men's putting it far from them. What words can more strongly describe the suddenness of our Saviour's coming! Men will be at their respective businesses, and suddenly the Lord of glory will appear. Women will be in their house employments, but in that moment every other work will be laid aside, and every heart will turn inward and say, It is the Lord! Am I prepared to meet him? Can I stand before him? And what, in fact, is the day of judgment to the whole world, but the day of death to every one?

Verses 42-51 To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind which we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment. Our Lord's coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not. If a man, professing to be the servant of Christ, be an unbeliever, covetous, ambitious, or a lover of pleasure, he will be cut off. Those who choose the world for their portion in this life, will have hell for their portion in the other life. May our Lord, when he cometh, pronounce us blessed, and present us to the Father, washed in his blood, purified by his Spirit, and fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.