Matthew 24

  • What is “the end” in Matthew 24:14?
    • Signs of the end (Matthew 24:4-14)
      • Wars and rumors of wars
      • Nation rise up against nation
      • Famines and earthquakes
      • Delivered to tribulation, death, hated by all nations
      • False prophets arise and mislead
      • Lawlessness increased
      • Sun and moon darkened
      • Stars will fall from the sky
      • Heavenly bodies will be shaken
      • Then … “the end will come” (Matthew 24:29)
  • How to interpret the language of Matthew 24
    • Context
    • Pronouns
    • Figurative or literal language
    • Where and when
  • Preceding context – Matthew 21
    • Matthew 21:23 – Jesus is speaking to Jews in the temple.
  • Preceding context – Matthew 23
    • Matthew 23:34-36 – Jesus is still speaking to Jews. Bad things would happen to them because they had done bad things. These things would happen in their generations (Matthew 23:35).
  • Immediate context – Matthew 24
    • Matthew 24:32-35 – Jesus is still speaking to Jews. Things would happen in the time of that generation (Matthew 24:34).
  • Outline of the chapter
    • Matthew 24:1-4 – Disciples’ questions
    • Matthew 24:4-44 – Jesus’ answer
    • Matthew 24:45-25:30 – Three parables
      • Matthew 24:45-41 – Evil servant
      • Matthew 25:1-13 – Ten virgins
      • Matthew 25:14-30 – Talents
  • Matthew 24:2 – “These things” are the temple buildings in verse 1.
  • Matthew 24:3 – The KJV here has “end of the world” but the NASB and a number of other translations have “end of the age.” When the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, the Jewish “age” or “system” as depicted in the Old Testament ceased to exist.
  • Matthew 24:4-14 – Events leading up to “the end.”
  • Matthew 24:15-16 – See Daniel 9:24-27.
  • Matthew 24:29-33 – Compare similar language in other places:
    • Isaiah 13:9-10 – Isaiah 13:1 shows that this was talking about Babylon.
    • Isaiah 34:4-6
    • Amos 8:9-10, 13-14
    • Ezekiel 32:6-8, 1-2