Mateo 24

1 Jesús predice eventos futuros
Cuando Jesús salía del terreno del templo, sus discípulos le señalaron los diversos edificios del templo.

2 Pero él les respondió:

3 Más tarde, Jesús se sentó en el monte de los Olivos. Sus discípulos se le acercaron en privado y le dijeron:
—Dinos, ¿cuándo sucederá todo eso? ¿Qué señal marcará tu regreso y el fin del mundo?

4 Jesús les dijo:

5 porque muchos vendrán en mi nombre y afirmarán: “Yo soy el Mesías”, y engañarán a muchos.

6 Oirán de guerras y de amenazas de guerras, pero no se dejen llevar por el pánico. Es verdad, esas cosas deben suceder, pero el fin no vendrá inmediatamente después.

7 Una nación entrará en guerra con otra, y un reino con otro reino. Habrá hambres y terremotos en muchas partes del mundo.

8 Sin embargo, todo eso es solo el comienzo de los dolores del parto, luego vendrán más.

9 »Entonces los arrestarán, los perseguirán y los matarán. En todo el mundo los odiarán por ser mis seguidores.

10 Muchos se apartarán de mí, se traicionarán unos a otros y se odiarán.

11 Aparecerán muchos falsos profetas y engañarán a mucha gente.

12 Abundará el pecado por todas partes, y el amor de muchos se enfriará;

13 pero el que se mantenga firme hasta el fin será salvo.

14 Y se predicará la Buena Noticia acerca del reino por todo el mundo, de manera que todas las naciones
la oirán; y entonces vendrá el fin.

15 (Lector, ¡presta atención!).

16 Entonces los que estén en Judea huyan a las colinas.

17 La persona que esté en la azotea no baje a la casa para empacar.

18 La persona que esté en el campo no regrese ni para buscar un abrigo.

19 ¡Qué terribles serán esos días para las mujeres embarazadas y para las madres que amamantan!

20 Y oren para que la huída no sea en invierno o en día de descanso.

21 Pues habrá más angustia que en cualquier otro momento desde el principio del mundo. Y jamás habrá una angustia tan grande.

22 De hecho, a menos que se acorte ese tiempo de calamidad, ni una sola persona sobrevivirá; pero se acortará por el bien de los elegidos de Dios.

23 »Entonces, si alguien les dice: “Miren, aquí está el Mesías” o “Allí está”, no lo crean.

24 Pues se levantarán falsos mesías y falsos profetas y realizarán grandes señales y milagros para engañar, de ser posible, aun a los elegidos de Dios.

25 Miren, que les he advertido esto de antemano.

26 »Por lo tanto, si alguien les dice: “Miren, el Mesías está en el desierto”, ni se molesten en ir a buscarlo. O bien, si les dicen: “Miren, se esconde aquí”, ¡no lo crean!

27 Pues, así como el relámpago destella en el oriente y brilla en el occidente, así será cuando venga el Hijo del Hombre.

28 Así como los buitres, cuando se juntan, indican que hay un cadáver cerca, de la misma manera, esas señales revelan que el fin está cerca.

29 »Inmediatamente después de la angustia de esos días,
“El sol se oscurecerá,
la luna no dará luz,
las estrellas caerán del cielo,
y los poderes de los cielos serán sacudidos”
.

30 »Y entonces, por fin, aparecerá en los cielos la señal de que el Hijo del Hombre viene, y habrá un profundo lamento entre todos los pueblos de la tierra. Verán al Hijo del Hombre venir en las nubes del cielo con poder y gran gloria.

31 Enviará a sus ángeles con un potente toque de trompeta y reunirán a los elegidos de todas partes del mundo,
desde los extremos más lejanos de la tierra y del cielo.

32 »Ahora, aprendan una lección de la higuera. Cuando las ramas echan brotes y comienzan a salir las hojas, ustedes saben que el verano se acerca.

33 De la misma manera, cuando vean que suceden todas estas cosas, sabrán que su regreso está muy cerca, a las puertas.

34 Les digo la verdad, no pasará esta generación
hasta que todas estas cosas sucedan.

35 El cielo y la tierra desaparecerán, pero mis palabras no desaparecerán jamás.

36 »Sin embargo, nadie sabe el día ni la hora en que sucederán estas cosas, ni siquiera los ángeles en el cielo ni el propio Hijo.
Solo el Padre lo sabe.

37 »Cuando el Hijo del Hombre regrese, será como en los días de Noé.

38 En esos días, antes del diluvio, la gente disfrutaba de banquetes, fiestas y casamientos, hasta el momento en que Noé entró en su barco.

39 La gente no se daba cuenta de lo que iba a suceder hasta que llegó el diluvio y arrasó con todos. Así será cuando venga el Hijo del Hombre.

40 »Dos hombres estarán trabajando juntos en el campo; uno será llevado, el otro será dejado.

41 Dos mujeres estarán moliendo harina en el molino; una será llevada, la otra será dejada.

42 »¡Así que ustedes también deben estar alerta!, porque no saben qué día vendrá su Señor.

43 Entiendan lo siguiente: si el dueño de una casa supiera exactamente a qué hora viene un ladrón, se mantendría alerta y no dejaría que asaltara su casa.

44 Ustedes también deben estar preparados todo el tiempo, porque el Hijo del Hombre vendrá cuando menos lo esperen.

45 »Un sirviente fiel y sensato es aquel a quien el amo puede darle la responsabilidad de dirigir a los demás sirvientes y alimentarlos.

46 Si el amo regresa y encuentra que el sirviente ha hecho un buen trabajo, habrá una recompensa.

47 Les digo la verdad, el amo pondrá a ese sirviente a cargo de todo lo que posee.

48 ¿Pero qué tal si el sirviente es malo y piensa: “Mi amo no regresará por un tiempo”

49 y comienza a golpear a los otros sirvientes, a parrandear y a emborracharse?

50 El amo regresará inesperadamente y sin previo aviso,

51 cortará al sirviente en pedazos y le asignará un lugar con los hipócritas. En ese lugar habrá llanto y rechinar de dientes.

Mateo 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.