This is a very important chapter, as this is where Jesus predicts the future of the world, connecting it with current events such as the soon-to-come destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew chapter 24 commentary covers many different events, such as the days of Noah, the end of the world, the return of Jesus, the tribulation, the mark of the beast, and the description of Jerusalem as a sign of the end of the world. Toward the end of Matthew chapter 24 commentary, Jesus describes the character one needs to have to enter heaven.
We can correlate this with other places where Jesus explains that we can only receive this transformation through His righteousness, which comes only by faith.
MT 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Jesus’ disciples wanted Jesus to take pride in their nation and in this building, the temple, which was one of the wonders of the world. Here we see a problem that still exists in many Christians today — making distinctions between nations and loving some people more than others from different countries.
It is fine to love one’s country, but when it reaches the point of despising or hating people from other countries, this becomes sin and racism. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, Jesus instead points to the spiritual state of Israel and says that because the nation rejected Him, the Savior, the temple would be destroyed. Jesus directs His disciples instead toward the worldwide reality of all humanity united either in sin or in righteousness. For those who will make it to heaven, there is no distinction of race or country. There will be no passports in heaven. There will be no borders in heaven.
MT 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Jesus prophesied that about 40 years later, in AD 70, Titus, the Roman military commander, would come and destroy the Jerusalem temple. The cause was the nation’s rejection of Jesus Himself, because the masses believed the Pharisees rather than the voice of God in their hearts.
The Jews had a choice to make: believe men or believe truth. The majority sided with the Pharisees, and all who followed the majority were rejected by God. After three and a half years of ministry, countless miracles, and teachings from Jesus, the Jews had no excuse, as the truth came directly to them and they refused it. It was not only a prophet among them, but God Himself.
MT 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The disciples asked Jesus to tell them when the end of the world would be, and we see that they believed the destruction of Jerusalem was tied to the end of the world. Early Christians likewise believed that the end of the world would come in their own time.
It’s interesting to see in Matthew chapter 24 commentary that Jesus links the destruction of Jerusalem together with the end of the world. Here, Jesus begins to list events and signs that would occur before the end of the world.
MT 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
We see the first thing we need to be cautious of: deception. Many Christians think it doesn’t matter what we believe, but it is a matter of life or death, because God judges us in large part by what we have believed. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, we see that all honest people will accept truth, and all dishonest people will reject it. If something is true, it is impossible for an honest person to reject it. God uses this as the test of honesty. Revelation 21 says that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire. Honesty and humility are the two great pillars of being a Christian.
MT 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Deception will claim a great portion of professed Christians in the end. How do we know this? Jesus says few find the narrow road — many are called, but few are chosen. When the mark of the beast is enforced, the great majority of professed Christians will receive it. They will willfully reject truth and embrace this mark while still claiming to be Christians. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, we learn to beware of false teachings, which means we need to correctly learn how to read the Bible.
MT 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
In Revelation 9, it says that the four angels holding the winds of strife will be released. At that time, such scenes of strife and war will be on earth as we have never seen before. This is still not the end, as more events need to happen, such as the loud cry, the seven last plagues, the battle of Armageddon, the time of dealing, the shaking, and many more.
MT 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
The final events will be terrible. War will be waged — Ellen G. White says that a third world war will happen. Those conflicts cost money and will cause famines in diverse places on earth. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, we are also told that God will send judgments through earthquakes and in various other ways. We know that every country and individual has a limit. When that limit is passed, God’s judgments fall.
MT 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
We cannot imagine what will happen on earth in the years ahead. Ellen White says the most vivid imagination cannot reach the magnitude of the coming ordeal. Zephaniah 2 says that we need to seek humility, as it may be that God will shelter us in that time. Humility is a great and precious thing to God. No proud person will be in heaven. Malachi 4 says all the proud will be like ashes. This is because proud people claim that what God has given them belongs to themselves — they rob God of His glory. All glory belongs to God. We can do nothing without Him.
MT 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
This is a sign that you are a true Christian — if you face no opposition at all, and everyone loves you, then you are not walking like Jesus. This world is opposed to God. Humility and sincerity are seen as weakness and are hated. Turning the other cheek and not seeking the highest place are viewed as weakness. Yet the government of God is founded on those very principles. If we do not have them, we will not enter heaven, since we would still hold principles opposite to God’s.
MT 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Suffering will be so great that it will be too much for many professed Christians, who will give up their faith. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, we see that it does not say “a few,” but “many” — meaning the majority of professed Christians will give up their faith. What will cause them to give up their faith? The Sunday law is one such event. There will very possibly be other events before that which will test professed believers in Jesus. When the Sunday law, or mark of the beast, is enforced, requiring people to keep Sunday, those who choose to follow the Bible rather than sin will be persecuted.
MT 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
The Bible tells us we need to test the prophets, and we are required to follow the true prophet. The fact that there will be many false prophets does not mean God lacks a true prophet. Revelation 12:17 tells us Jesus will have His people, marked by the three angels’ messages, alongside a true prophet who also keeps the true Bible Sabbath.
MT 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Instead of loving others more, many will go the opposite direction, because many people simply follow what society does — this becomes their truth. People follow others like sheep follow a leader. People often do not follow principles and truth; they follow emotions. If you want to make it to heaven, you cannot follow emotions. This is why God gave us the Bible — to be the compass we follow amid every wind of doctrine.
MT 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
It is not how you start your Christian life that matters as much as how you finish. You could start a race, but unless you finish it, you cannot win. Here we see that the idea of “once saved, always saved” is not biblical. We can fall away from the path and change masters. Many will do so when the mark of the beast is enforced.
MT 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This is another sign of the end of the world — when the truth of the love of Jesus, and His death on the cross for us, is proclaimed all over the world. Right now, many countries have little to no way of learning about Jesus. The 10/40 window represents the greater part of the unreached people who have never read the Bible. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, we see that this lukewarm state of Christians today, who do very little to help people in other countries, will not last. The Bible tells us that God will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness. This is a test for Christians, and we see that most fail it — concerned only about themselves and doing little to help the billions dying without Jesus. How offensive this is to God. How sad it is not to help others come to know Him.
MT 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
This refers to when the Roman armies entered Jerusalem and took over the temple.
MT 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
MT 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
This corresponds to the same event as the mark of the beast. When this happens, the remnant will need to flee quickly to places of refuge, just as the Waldenses did.
MT 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
MT 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
It is good to prepare now to be able to move quickly. If you have grown too comfortable in life, you might find yourself stuck and lose eternal life because you’ll be forced to keep Sunday as the mark. If floods, wars, tsunamis, or earthquakes happen in your area, are you able to relocate quickly?
MT 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.
We see here that the Sabbath will be the great point of discussion. Jesus expects that Christians will still keep the Sabbath in the end time. The remnant will go to church on the Sabbath, and it would be a difficult day for them to flee spiritual Jerusalem.
MT 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
There is a double application here. One concerns the 1,260 years of tribulation, and the other concerns the tribulation under the mark of the beast. This will be the worst persecution that has ever happened on earth.
MT 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened.
There is a limit to what a Christian can humanly bear. Unless God shortened the 1,260 years of persecution, all would have fallen away from Bible truth and signed their own apostasy.
MT 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Satan himself will appear on earth, along with his angels. Those who are not founded on the truth will fall away. They will receive messages from these fallen beings, which will contradict the Bible.
MT 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Signs and wonders are not proof that something is from God. Many people trust that all miracles come from God — this is not true. Satan performed miracles in Egypt when Moses threw down his rod; the magicians’ rods became serpents too.
MT 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
MT 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
When Jesus returns, He will not touch the earth. Yet many false Christs will appear on earth and deceive millions who do not have a daily Bible study and a daily connection with God through prayer and reading the Bible. Bible study is the great protection against every kind of deception.
MT 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Jesus will appear in the sky as suddenly as lightning — people will have no time to repent then. Now is the time to seek God, to read the Bible, to repent of our sins, and to ask God for His righteousness by faith, which is the only power that can give us divine strength to obey.
MT 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
This is echoed in Revelation 19, which says that when Jesus returns, the wicked will be slain, and the birds will eat their flesh. This also relates to when Jesus says “one taken, one left.” When asked who is taken, Jesus essentially answers: wherever you see eagles gathered, there the slain will be. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, those who are “taken” are taken to be consumed by birds, as Jesus will destroy the wicked by the brightness of His coming. Those who are “left behind” and remain will be caught up in the air.
MT 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Here Jesus refers to the 1,260-year reign of the papacy, which ended in 1798 when Napoleon’s forces took the pope from Rome. The events described here happened a few years afterward. In another place, the Bible also adds the mention of a great earthquake.
This was the Lisbon earthquake, the mightiest the earth had experienced, which happened in 1755. These events needed to follow the 1,260 years of persecution. Was there ever any time in history when these four events happened one after another within a short span of years? Yes — these four events happened around the late 1700s and early 1800s, right after the 1,260-year period that ended in 1798. On November 13, 1833, the stars fell all over New England. The dark day occurred on May 19, 1780.
MT 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Here we see that the return of Jesus would happen fairly soon after these events occur. But we know the return of Jesus has been delayed because: 1) the gospel has not yet been taken to all nations, and 2) the spiritual condition is such that if Jesus were to return right now, most would be lost.
MT 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
One of the signs of Jesus’ return will be that we will hear His voice and the trumpet of God. Jesus will return visibly and audibly, gathering His elect from the four corners of the earth.
MT 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
MT 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Why are these signs given? So that we can know how near the end of the world is and prepare beforehand.
MT 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
MT 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Here Jesus refers back to the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened in AD 70, when Titus took over the city and destroyed the temple.
MT 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
This verse does not say nobody will ever know the time of Jesus’ return. It says that back then, nobody knew. Certainly, before Jesus returns, He will know when He is to return to earth.
MT 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
In the days of Noah, people thought they were fine and did not see their offensive behavior before God. Their conscience was dulled. To justify this, they believed their own opinions and human reasoning were the truth. The truth of God carried little weight to them then. The same thing is happening today. It’s striking that nearly everyone I meet — even Christians — gives weight to their own ideas and beliefs as though they came directly from God. This worship of human reason closely mirrors the spirit of Noah’s time.
MT 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
All these activities are good in themselves, but people then — and now — were consumed with love for self. Utter selfishness, pride, and unloving, uncaring spirits prevailed. No one selfish and proud can enter heaven. God alone can change us through His righteousness.
MT 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
People were so blinded by their own opinions and worship of human reasoning, by looking to leaders, following the crowd, neglecting to study the Bible, and being dishonest with themselves, that even after Noah warned them every day for 120 years, they were still taken by surprise when the flood came. They had strong faith — but faith placed in error.
MT 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Those who are “taken,” Jesus says, are taken to be consumed by birds. Those who remain and are alive will be caught up in the air.
MT 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
One woman is taken to be consumed by birds. It says Jesus will destroy the wicked by the spirit of His mouth and the brightness of His presence. Sin cannot survive in God’s presence.
MT 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
No one on earth knows the exact time of the end. Be ready, for when Jesus returns, it will be too late to repent and remove the defects of your character — such as seeking the highest place, arrogance, dishonesty, and an unloving, uncaring spirit. These defects take time to remove. Now is the time to begin removing them. Do not delay, as the end will come soon.
MT 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Prepare. Read the Bible. Understand for yourself the truth of righteousness by faith. This is the great power that enables us to love God and love others.
MT 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
The time when it seems Jesus will not be returning is precisely when He will return. Do not look at appearances or at what people say. Do not follow trends, as Jesus’ return will run contrary to earthly trends.
MT 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
We are faithful only through the power of God, by receiving His righteousness, since we have no righteousness of our own. There is no power within ourselves to do good and obey. Let us ask God to give us His righteousness.
MT 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Those who follow truth rather than our wicked society will be commended. People will not like you when you refuse to follow what the masses are doing, but we must follow truth even when it means walking contrary to society.
MT 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Those who multiply their talents, God will bless with even more talents. The gifts we are given are not inherently our own; they are given by God for the growth of His kingdom and the blessing of humanity — helping the poor, healing the sick, and teaching the ignorant about the truth, the wonders of the cross, and the love of Jesus for them.
MT 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Here we see that part of professed Christianity follows Jesus for selfish reasons. They fail to recognize the delay and give up their faith because of it. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, we see that the real divide is not Christians against the rest of the world — this is a mistaken belief found in many Christian churches. Rather, it is those who are kind, loving, and honest, regardless of where they come from, against those who are proud, selfish, arrogant, and dishonest. It is the fruit that defines the person, not merely the profession of being a Christian.
MT 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Those who fail to see the benefits of walking with Jesus, and who grow frustrated with the delay, begin to reveal that their love for Him was rooted in selfish motives — or that they tried to follow the Bible in their own strength, becoming legalistic. This kind of Christianity cannot stand.
MT 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Because of the delay, such Christians become careless — they stop reading the Bible, they stop helping others, and when Jesus returns, or when they die, they are found unready.
MT 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Their profession of being a Christian was all in vain. They followed rules and discovered too late that following rules alone does not change the heart. In Matthew chapter 24 commentary, it becomes clear that their hearts remained proud, selfish, uncaring, and dishonest.
And such hearts cannot enter where love for others and love for God reign supreme. Jesus truly loves you — He died so that you could live forever. Why not give your heart to Him now? Repeat after me: “Father God, forgive my sins. Come into my heart. Bless and heal me. Give me Your righteousness. Help me walk with You, in the name of Jesus. Amen.”