MATT. XXIV. temple and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings 2 of the temple. 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 3 thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the diciples MARK XIII. are his disciples saith unto 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 4 world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall 6 deceive many. ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled:2 for all these things must come to pass, but the end is 7 not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers 8 places. All these are 8 6 7 8 9 when ye shall hear of of Olives, over against the temple, where the city was spread out before him as on a map; and here four of his disciples put to him the question, "When shall these things be?" According to Matthew they add," and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" They were still in darkness; and believed, like the other Jews, that the Messiah was yet to go forth as an exalted temporal prince, to subvert the then existing order of things, to overthrow their enemies and subdue all nations, and thus restore pre-eminency and glory to the Jewish people, and reign in peace and splendour over the LUKE XXI. was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;1 and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified:2 for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; world: see Luke 24. 21; Acts 1.6. This was the expected coming, and the end of the world, or present state of things, referred to in Matt. 24. 3; as also in Luke 17. 20, sq.; 19. 11. See American Bibliotheca Sacra, 1843, No. III. pp. 531–535. Jesus does not directly answer the question of the four apostles; but speaks of deceivers, and calamities, and persecutions that should arise. His language here is introductory to the next Section. Comp. Acts 5. 36, 37; 8. 9, 10. 2 Comp. Isa. 8. 11-14. MATT. XXIV. the beginning of sor rows. : MARK XIII. MARK XIII. the beginnings of sor rows. 13 14 9 But take heed to yourselves: for 12 they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, 11 for a testimony against them. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate1 but whatsoever 15 shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. MATT. XXIV. 9 Then shall they deliver 12 you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's 10 sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one an- 13 other, and shall hate 11 one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall 12 deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.2 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." 14 And this gospel of 10 the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. LUKE XXI. and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. LUKE XXI. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. § 128. THE SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING TO DESTROY JERUSALEM, AND PUT AN END TO THE JEWISH STATE AND DISPENSATION.-Mount of Olives. 19 19 And woe unto them 17 MARK XIII. by Daniel the pro- Jerusalem was destroyed, is shown conclusively by Luke 21. 20. The subsequent desolation and calamity spoken of in Matt. 24. 29-31 and the parallel passages, is considered by Robinson to refer to the overthrow and complete extirpation of the Jewish people fifty years later under Adrian; when they were sold as slaves, and utterly driven out from the land of their fathers. See Münter's Jewish War (Jüdischer Krieg), Leipz. 1821; translated in the Biblioth. Sacra, 1843, No. III. p. 393, sq. Comp. ibid. p. 550, sq. This was the final war of the Jewish nation under the celebrated and mysterious Bar-Cochba, "Son of a Star." It was a catastrophe far more terrible than that of the destruction of Jerusalem; though the latter, in consequence of the vivid description of it by Josephus, has been usually considered as the last act in this great tragedy. The figurative language of these verses is similar to that of many passages in the Old Testament which refer to civil commotions and historical events. See Isa. 13. 9, sq.; 19. 1, 5, sq.; 34. 2, 4. sq.; Ezek. 32. 2, 7; Psa. 18. 7-14; 68. 1, sq. &c. See also Biblioth. Sac. 1843, No. III. p. 545, sq. Further, Luke 21. 28 shows that these LUKE XXI. then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. verses cannot have reference to the general judgment of the great and final day; and the same appears also from the limitation to this generation, in Matt. 24. 34, and the parallel passages. Matt. 24. 36-42 connects itself directly with what precedes, see ver. 36; and refers likewise to the overthrow of the Jewish nation and dispensation. Comp. Luke 17. 20-37. But with ver. 42 of Matthew all direct reference to the Jewish catastrophe terminates. This appears from the nature of the language; and further from the fact, that thus far both Mark and Luke give parallel reports; while at this very point their reports cease, and all that follows belongs to Matthew alone. This goes to show, that the discourse of our Lord up to this point is to be regarded as a whole, which is here completed; having reference to his coming for the overthrow of Judaism. At this point a new topic is introduced. I Dan. 9. 27. 2 Nor on the sabbath: probably because the Jews were accustomed to go only a short distance on that day, which distance they called a sabbathday's journey, reckoned about a mile. Compare Ex. 16. 29; Acts 1. 12. days. And then if there shall arise false 22 lieve him not: for Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;2 insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very 23 25 elect.3 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, 2 false Christs and false he is in the desert; go not forth behold, he is in the secret 27 chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the 28 coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." MARK XIII. after that tribulation, 26 And then shall they 27 29 Immediately after the 24 But in those days, 25 1 Comp. Luke 17. 23. 2 2 Thess. 2. 9-11; Rev. 13. 13. 3 Comp. John 10. 28, 29. Comp. Luke 17. 24. see the Son of man Now learn a parable 29 LUKE XXI. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.7 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them 5 Luke 17. 37. Comp. Job 39. 30. MATT. XXIV. 30 der, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that 33 summer is nigh: so 29 likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation1 shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.2 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my 31 words shall not pass 36 away. But of that day and hour knoweth no 32 man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. MARK XIII. SO der, and putteth forth 30 leaves, ye know that summer is near: ye in like manner, when ye shall see these 31 things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, That this generation 32 shall not pass, till all these things be done.2 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but 33 my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. MATT. XXIV. LUKE XXI. trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.2 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 37 But as the days of Noe were,3 so shall also the coming of the Son of man 38 be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered 39 into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; 40 so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the 41 field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. LUKE XXI. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these event the apostle John outlived by about thirty years. The full accomplishment took place, perhaps, in the complete scattering of the Jews about fifty years later under Adrian. See Robinson's article in the American Bibliotheca Sacra, 1843, p. 540. 2 Comp. Matt. 16. 28. 3 Gen. 7. 1-13. Comp. Luke 17. 26, 27. |