Bible Commentaries

went out, &c. Thus marking this (see Mark 13:1) as the second of the two prophecies: the former (Luk 21) being spoken "in the Temple". See App-155.

from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104.

the temple = the Temple courts, the sacred enclosure. See note on Matthew 23:35.

the buildings, &c. These consisted of the courts, halls, colonnades, towers, and "wings". In Luk 21"some" spake of its adornment with goodly stones and gifts.

See = Behold, look on. App-133. Not the same word as in verses: Matthew 24:6, Matthew 24:15, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 6:33.

verily. See note on Matthew 5:18.

shall not = shall by no means. Very emphatic, because certain. Greek. ou me. App-105.

upon. Greek. epi. App-104.

shall not. All the texts omit the "me", and read simply "ou" as in the first clause.

privately = apart. Luk 21 was spoken publicly.

coming = presence. Greek. parousia. This is the first of twenty-four occurrences of this important word (Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:37, Matthew 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Corinthians 16:17. 2 Corinthians 7:6, 2 Corinthians 7:7; 2 Corinthians 10:10. Philippians 1:1, Philippians 1:26; Philippians 2:12. 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23. 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:9. James 5:7, James 5:8; 2 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 3:4, 2 Peter 3:12; 1 John 2:28). The Papyri show that "from the Ptolemaic period down to the second century A.D. the word is traced in the East as a technical expression for the arrival or the visit of the king or the emperor", also of other persons in authority, or of troops. (See Deissmann's Light, &c, pp. 372-8, 441-5). It is not therefore a N. T word, as some have supposed.

the end of the world. See App-129.

the end = the sunteleia. Sunteleia = meeting together of all that marks the consummation of the age; not telos = the actual end, verses: Matthew 24:6, Matthew 24:13, Matthew 24:14.

world. See App-129.

Take heed. Greek. blepo. App-133.

no man = not (me. App-105.) any one.

deceive = lead astray.

in = upon: trading upon. Greek. epi.

Christ = the Messiah. App-98.

shall hear = will be about to hear.

see. Greek. horao. App-133. Not the same word as in verses: Matthew 24:2, Matthew 24:15, Matthew 24:30.

must = it is necessary [for them to].

come to pass = arise (as in Matthew 24:34).

the end. Greek. telos. Not the same as in Matthew 24:3. This marks the beginning, not the end. The "many Christs" would be the very first sign. See note on 1 John 2:18.

For nation, &c. See App-117. Quoted from Isaiah 19:2.

famines, and pestilences. Figure of speech Paronomasia. Greek. limoi kai loimoi. Eng. dearths and deaths, in divers = Greek. kata = in [different] places.

the = a.

sorrows = birth-pangs.

to be afflicted = unto tribulation.

to = unto. Greek. eis.

of = by.

for = on account of. Greek. dia.

be offended = stumble. See App-117. Quoted from Isaiah 8:15.

shall betray = will deliver up, as in Matthew 24:9.

because = on account of. Greek. dia, as in Matthew 24:9.

iniquity = lawlessness.

abound = be multiplied. Compare Acts 6:1, Acts 6:7; Acts 7:17; Acts 9:31.

many = the many.

wax = grow. Anglo-Saxon weaxen, to grow.

wax cold. Greek. psuchomai.

shall endure = shall have endured.

the end. Greek. telos, the actual end. Not the sunteleia (Matthew 24:3), but the same as in Matthew 24:6 and Matthew 24:14.

saved = delivered (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

gospel of the kingdom. See App-140.

of = concerning. Genitive of Relation. App-17.

preached = proclaimed. App-121.

world = the (then) habitable world. Greek. oikoumene. See App-129. The civilized as distinct from barbarian. Not the same word as in either Matthew 24:3 and Matthew 24:21.

for = to, or with a view to. Greek. eis. App-104.

nations = the nations.

the abomination, &c. Reference to Daniel 12:11. See App-117., and notes on Daniel 9:27; Daniel 9:11, Daniel 9:31; Daniel 12:11. Used as the equivalent for a special idol. Deuteronomy 7:26. 1 Kings 11:7. 2 Kings 23:13. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

of. Genitive of Cause, that which brings on God's desolating judgments.

by = by means of, or through. Greek. dia.

the holy place. See note on "pinnacle", Matthew 4:5.

understands = observe attentively.

into = upon. Greek. epi. LTr. WH read "eis". App-104.

anything. All the texts read "the things".

be = happen.

on. Greek. en. App-103.

shall be, &c. See App-117. Quoted from Daniel 12:1.

was not = has not arisen, or happened; same as "fulfilled", Matthew 24:34.

since = from, as in Matthew 24:1.

the beginning. See note on John 8:44.

world. Greek. kosmos App-129.

nor ever = ou me. App-105; i.e. shall by no means happen.

shortened = curtailed. See App-90.

if . . . &c. The condition is hypothetical. App-118.

Christ = the Messiah. App-98.

shew = give.

insomuch that = so as to, &c.

if it were possible. The condition involves no doubt as to its being impossible. See App-118.

secret chambers. See note on Matthew 6:6. Greek. tameion. Occurs only there, here, and Luke 12:3, Luke 12:24.

as = just as.

out of = frorn. Greek. apo.

also. All the texts omit "also".

the coming = the parousia, or presence. See note on Matthew 24:3.

the Son of man. See App-98.

carcase. Greek. ptoma.

eagles = vultures.

gathered together. See Job 39:30, which shows the true interpretation.

Immediately after. No room therefore for a Millennium before His coming. It must follow it.

after. Greek. meta. App-104.

shall the sun, &c. App-117. Quoted from Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 34:4.

heaven = the heaven (Singular.) See note on Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

the powers, &c. See Isaiah 13:10, Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 34:4. Probably referring to the evil "principalities and powers" of Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 6:12. Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:10, Colossians 2:15.

the heavens. Plural See note on Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

appear = shine forth. Greek. phaino. App-106.

the sign. As asked in Matthew 24:3.

then shall, &c. Quoted from Zechariah 12:12.

earth = land. Greek. ge. App-129.

they shall see. Greek. opsomai. App-133.

in = [seated] upon. Greek. epi.

with. Greek. meta. Quoted from Daniel 7:13.

with power and great glory = with power, yea, with great and glorious power. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6.

a great sound of a trumpet. Greek "a trumpet and a great sound" = a trumpet, yea, a great sounding trumpet. Figure of speech Hendiadys (App-6); not two things, but one.

they shall gather, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 30:4. See 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

His elect. Who "received the Word". Acts 2:41. 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

from = out of. Greek. ek. App-104.

heaven = heavens. Plural See note on Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132. The same word as in verses: Matthew 24:33, Matthew 24:39, Matthew 24:43 ("know").

likewise ye = ye also.

it is near = He is near

This generation. See note on Matthew 11:16.

not = by no means. Greek. ou me. App-105.

till. Here with Greek "an", and the Subjunctive Mood, marking the uncertainty, which was conditional on the repentance of the nation. Note the four "tills" (Matthew 10:23; Matthew 16:28; Matthew 23:39; Matthew 24:34), and compare what is certain with what is uncertain.

be fulfilled = may have begun to arise, or take place: referring specially to the first "sign" in Matthew 24:4, in response to the first question in Matthew 24:3; not the same word as in Luke 21:24, but the same as in Matthew 24:32.

words. Plural of logos. See note on Mark 9:32.

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104. knoweth = has any intuitive knowledge. Greek. oida. The same word as in verses: Matthew 24:42, Matthew 24:43 ("known"); not the same as in verses: Matthew 24:32, Matthew 24:33, Matthew 24:39, Matthew 24:43 ("known").

Father. App-98.

only = alone. Not the Lord as "the Son of man", though surely as "the Son of God".

shall = will.

also the coming = the parousia (or presence) also.

the coming = the parousia. See note on Matthew 24:3.

Noe = Noah.

into. Greek. eis. App-104.

until. Reference to Pentateuch (Gen 7-11).

the one shall be taken, &c., 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 refers to this, for it is the same parousia.

shall = is. So in Matthew 24:41.

taken = taken to one's side, in peace and for blessing, as in Matthew 1:20, Matthew 1:24; Matthew 17:1. Luke 9:10; Luke 18:31; John 14:3 ("receive").

left. For judgment; as in Matthew 13:30 ("let"); Matthew 15:14 ("let alone"); Matthew 19:27, Matthew 19:29 ("forsaken"); Matthew 23:38; Matthew 26:56, &c.

women. Grinding was and is woman's work in the East, and is done in the morning.

at = in. Greek. en. App-104.

the mill. Greek. mulon. Occurs only here.

Watch. As in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ("wake").

goodman of the house = master of the house.

would come = is coming.

Therefore = on this account. Greek. dia touto. App-104. Matthew 24:2.

be = become.

over = at the head of Greek. epi.

meat = their food. "Meat" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for all kinds of food (App-6).

Blessed = Happy. As in Matthew 5:3.

over = in charge of. Greek. epi.

goods = substance, or property.

But and if = But if. As in Matthew 24:23.

evil. Greek. kakos. App-128.

his coming = to come.

aware of = knoweth, as in Matthew 24:32, Matthew 24:33, Matthew 24:39.

weeping and gnashing. See note on Matthew 8:12.