Mateo 24

1 Y SALIDO Jesús, íbase del templo; y se llegaron sus discípulos, para mostrarle los edificios del templo.

2 Y respondiendo él, les dijo: ¿Veis todo esto? de cierto os digo, que no será dejada aquí piedra sobre piedra, que no sea destruída.

3 Y sentándose él en el monte de las Olivas, se llegaron á él los discípulos aparte, diciendo: Dinos, ¿cuándo serán estas cosas, y qué señal habrá de tu venida, y del fin del mundo?

4 Y respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Mirad que nadie os engañe.

5 Porque vendrán muchos en mi nombre, diciendo: Yo soy el Cristo; y á muchos engañarán.

6 Y oiréis guerras, y rumores de guerras: mirad que no os turbéis; porque es menester que todo esto acontezca; mas aún no es el fin.

7 Porque se levantará nación contra nación, y reino contra reino; y habrá pestilencias, y hambres, y terremotos por los lugares.

8 Y todas estas cosas, principio de dolores.

9 Entonces os entregarán para ser afligidos, y os matarán; y seréis aborrecidos de todas las gentes por causa de mi nombre.

10 Y muchos entonces serán escandalizados; y se entregarán unos á otros, y unos á otros se aborrecerán.

11 Y muchos falsos profetas se levantarán y engañarán á muchos.

12 Y por haberse multiplicado la maldad, la caridad de muchos se resfriará.

13 Mas el que perseverare hasta el fin, éste será salvo.

14 Y será predicado este evangelio del reino en todo el mundo, por testimonio á todos los Gentiles; y entonces vendrá el fin.

15 Por tanto, cuando viereis la abominación del asolamiento, que fué dicha por Daniel profeta, que estará en el lugar santo, (el que lee, entienda),

16 Entonces los que están en Judea, huyan á los montes;

17 Y el que sobre el terrado, no descienda á tomar algo de su casa;

18 Y el que en el campo, no vuelva atrás á tomar sus vestidos.

19 Mas ¡ay de las preñadas, y de las que crían en aquellos días!

20 Orad, pues, que vuestra huída no sea en invierno ni en sábado;

21 Porque habrá entonces grande aflicción, cual no fué desde el principio del mundo hasta ahora, ni será.

22 Y si aquellos días no fuesen acortados, ninguna carne sería salva; mas por causa de los escogidos, aquellos días serán acortados.

23 Entonces, si alguno os dijere: He aquí está el Cristo, ó allí, no creáis.

24 Porque se levantarán falsos Cristos, y falsos profetas, y darán señales grandes y prodigios; de tal manera que engañarán, si es posible, aun á los escogidos.

25 He aquí os lo he dicho antes.

26 Así que, si os dijeren: He aquí en el desierto está; no salgáis: He aquí en las cámaras; no creáis.

27 Porque como el relámpago que sale del oriente y se muestra hasta el occidente, así será también la venida del Hijo del hombre.

28 Porque donde quiera que estuviere el cuerpo muerto, allí se juntarán las águilas.

29 Y luego después de la aflicción de aquellos días, el sol se obscurecerá, y la luna no dará su lumbre, y las estrellas caerán del cielo, y las virtudes de los cielos serán conmovidas.

30 Y entonces se mostrará la señal del Hijo del hombre en el cielo; y entonces lamentarán todas las tribus de la tierra, y verán al Hijo del hombre que vendrá sobre las nubes del cielo, con grande poder y gloria.

31 Y enviará sus ángeles con gran voz de trompeta, y juntarán sus escogidos de los cuatro vientos, de un cabo del cielo hasta el otro.

32 De la higuera aprended la parábola: Cuando ya su rama se enternece, y las hojas brotan, sabéis que el verano está cerca.

33 Así también vosotros, cuando viereis todas estas cosas, sabed que está cercano, á las puertas.

34 De cierto os digo, que no pasará esta generación, que todas estas cosas no acontezcan.

35 El cielo y la tierra pasarán, mas mis palabras no pasarán.

36 Empero del día y hora nadie sabe, ni aun los ángeles de los cielos, sino mi Padre solo.

37 Mas como los días de Noé, así será la venida del Hijo del hombre.

38 Porque como en los días antes del diluvio estaban comiendo y bebiendo, casándose y dando en casamiento, hasta el día que Noé entró en el arca,

39 Y no conocieron hasta que vino el diluvio y llevó á todos, así será también la venida del Hijo del hombre.

40 Entonces estarán dos en el campo; el uno será tomado, y el otro será dejado:

41 Dos mujeres moliendo á un molinillo; la una será tomada, y la otra será dejada.

42 Velad pues, porque no sabéis á qué hora ha de venir vuestro Señor.

43 Esto empero sabed, que si el padre de la familia supiese á cuál vela el ladrón había de venir, velaría, y no dejaría minar su casa.

44 Por tanto, también vosotros estad apercibidos; porque el Hijo del hombre ha de venir á la hora que no pensáis.

45 ¿Quién pues es el siervo fiel y prudente, al cual puso su señor sobre su familia para que les dé alimento á tiempo?

46 Bienaventurado aquel siervo, al cual, cuando su señor viniere, le hallare haciendo así.

47 De cierto os digo, que sobre todos sus bienes le pondrá.

48 Y si aquel siervo malo dijere en su corazón Mi señor se tarda en venir:

49 Y comenzare á herir á sus consiervos, y aun á comer y á beber con los borrachos;

50 Vendrá el señor de aquel siervo en el día que no espera, y á la hora que no sabe,

51 Y le cortará por medio, y pondrá su parte con los hipócritas: allí será el lloro y el crujir 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.