Matthew 24
Jesus Tells the Signs of the Coming of the End of the World (24:1–14)
1 Now Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when his disciples approached him and pointed out the temple buildings to him. 2 Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly, I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 Then as he was sitting on the mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying, “Tell us, when these things will happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “See that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Many will be offended and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the charity of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the Gentiles, and then the end will come.”
Stand in Holy Places in the Perilous Times (24:15–28)
15 “Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place. Let the reader understand. 16 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and unto those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will neither be in the winter, nor on a sabbath; 21 for then, there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days were shortened, no life would have been saved. But for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ, or there,’ do not trust him. 24 False Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 If they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Look, he is in the storerooms,’ do not trust them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
Jesus Tells the Signs of the Final Coming of the Son of Man (24:29–31)
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken [see Isa. 34:4; Hag. 2:6]. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will be beaten, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
The Budding Fig Tree as a Harbinger of the Coming Season (24:32–42)
32 “Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So, you too, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father alone. 37 The coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah; 38 for as in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. 39 And they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away. So will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Therefore watch, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
The Parable of the Watchful and Unwatchful Servants (24:43–51)
43 “But know this, that if a landowner had known at what nightly watch the thief was coming, he would have been vigilant and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason, you also must be prepared. For the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not imagine. 45 Who then is the faithful and sensible servant, whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 And he will cut him in two and assign him the place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
