Matthew 24:6-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:1-51

PROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM , AND OF THE TIMES OF THE END . ( Mark 13:1-37 ; Luke 21:5-36 .) There is no reason to think, with Olshauson, that St. Matthew or his editor has considerably amplified the original discourse of our Lord by introducing details and expressions from other quarters. The discourse, as we now have it ( Matthew 24:1-51 . and 25.), forms a distinct whole, divided into certain portions closely related to each other and it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:4-14

Signs of the advent. The coming of Christ in his kingdom being the great event of prophecy to be fulfilled, the time and signs of that coming became questions of intense interest to the disciples. The time is generally indicated by the signs. These are— I. APOSTASY THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF FALSE CHRISTS . 1 . Many antichrists appeared before the destruction of Jerusalem. 2 . Many have since been deceived by the popes. 3 . Many have been deceived in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:4-41

The first portion of the great prophecy. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:6

Ye shall hear ( μελλη ì σετε ἀκου ì ειν ). Ye are about, ye are destined, to hear. "Futurum complicatum, audituri eritis " (Bengel). He addresses the apostles as representatives of the whole body of believers. Wars and rumours of wars; i.e. wars near at hand, and distant wars of which the rumour only reaches you, but which threaten to approach and menace your peace (cf. Jeremiah 4:19 ). The peace which reigned at Christ's birth was rudely shattered after his death,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:6

The Christian attitude in times of civil commotion. There is always a tendency to exaggerate their importance. It is strange to find Christian people able to find some high prophetic allusion forevery little war or social disturbance within the sphere of their knowledge. Every national trouble is manufactured into a sign of the "coming end." Precisely of this strange tendency our Lord so anxiously warned his disciples in this discourse. "Do not run away into extravagant imaginations under... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:7

Nation shall rise against nation, etc. This part of the prediction is inapplicable to the era preceding the ruin of Jerusalem, the disturbances that occurred then ( e.g. at Alexandria, Seleucia, Jamnia, and other localities mentioned by Josephus, 'Ant.,' 18.9. 8, 9; 'Bell. Jud.,' 2.17. 10; 18.1-8; 4.3. 2; and by Philo, 'Legat. ad Caium,' § 30) could hardly have been indicated in such grand terms. More to the purpose is the sketch of the period given by Tacitus, at the opening of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:8

Beginning of sorrows; ὠδι ì νων : labour pangs, travailings. The metaphor often occurs (see Isaiah 26:17 ; Jeremiah 13:21 ; Hosea 13:13 , etc). These great events are called "labour pangs" because they usher in the new creation, "the regeneration" spoken of in Matthew 19:28 (see note there). St. Paul writes ( Romans 8:22 ), "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." The tribulations and calamities which preceded and accompanied the overthrow... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 24:6

And ye shall hear of wars ... - It is recorded in the history of Rome that violent agitations prevailed in the Roman empire previous to the destruction of Jerusalem. Four emperors, Nero, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, suffered violent deaths in the short space of eighteen months. In consequence of these changes in the government, there were commotions throughout the empire. Parties were formed, and bloody and violent wars were the consequence of attachment to particular emperors. This is the more... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 24:7

Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom - At Caesarea the Jews and Syrians contended about the right to the city, and twenty thousand of the Jews were slain. At this blow the whole nation of the Jews was exasperated, and carried war and desolation through the Syrian cities and villages. Sedition and civil war spread throughout Judea; Italy was also thrown into civil war by the contests between Otho and Vitellius for the crown.And there shall be famines - There was a famine... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 24:8

The beginning of sorrows - Far heavier calamities are yet to come before the end. read more

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