Matthew 24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:15

The abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel - This abomination of desolation, St. Luke, ( Luke 21:20 , Luke 21:21 ;), refers to the Roman army; and this abomination standing in the holy place is the Roman army besieging Jerusalem; this, our Lord says, is what was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, in the ninth and eleventh chapters of his prophecy; and so let every one who reads these prophecies understand them; and in reference to this very event they are understood by the rabbins.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:16

Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains - This counsel was remembered and wisely followed by the Christians afterwards. Eusebius and Epiphanius say, that at this juncture, after Cestius Gallus had raised the siege, and Vespasian was approaching with his army, all who believed in Christ left Jerusalem and fled to Pella, and other places beyond the river Jordan; and so they all marvellously escaped the general shipwreck of their country: not one of them perished. See on ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:17

Let him which is on the house top - The houses of the Jews, as well as those of the ancient Greeks and Romans, were flat-roofed, and had stairs on the outside, by which persons might ascend and descend without coming into the house. In the eastern walled cities, these flat-roofed houses usually formed continued terraces from one end of the city to the other; which terraces terminated at the gates. He, therefore, who is walking on the house top, let him not come down to take any thing out of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:18

Neither let him which is in the field return back - Because when once the army of the Romans sits down before the city, there shall be no more any possibility of escape, as they shall never remove till Jerusalem be destroyed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:19

And wo unto them (alas! for them) that are with child, etc. - For such persons are not in a condition to make their escape; neither can they bear the miseries of the siege. Josephus says the houses were full of women and children that perished by the famine; and that the mothers snatched the food even out of their own children's mouths. See War, b. v. c. 10. But he relates a more horrid story than this, of one Mary, the daughter of Eliezar, illustrious for her family and riches, who, being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:20

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter - For the hardness of the season, the badness of the roads, the shortness of the days, and the length of the nights, will all be great impediments to your flight. Rabbi Tanchum observes, "that the favor of God was particularly manifested in the destruction of the first temple, in not obliging the Jews to go out in the winter, but in the summer." See the place in Lightfoot. Neither on the Sabbath-day - That you may not raise the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:21

For then shall be great tribulation - No history can furnish us with a parallel to the calamities and miseries of the Jews: - rapine, murder, famine, and pestilence within: fire and sword, and all the horrors of war, without. Our Lord wept at the foresight of these calamities; and it is almost impossible for any humane person to read the relation of them in Josephus without weeping also. St. Luke, Luke 21:22 , calls these the days of vengeance, that all things which were written might be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:22

Except those days should be shortened - Josephus computes the number of those who perished in the siege at eleven hundred thousand, besides those who were slain in other places, War, b. vi. c. 9; and if the Romans had gone on destroying in this manner, the whole nation of the Jews would, in a short time, have been entirely extirpated; but, for the sake of the elect, the Jews, that they might not be utterly destroyed, and for the Christians particularly, the days were shortened. These, partly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:23

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ - Our Lord had cautioned his disciples against false Christs and prophets before, Matthew 24:11 ; but he seems here to intimate that there would be especial need to attend to this caution about the time of the siege. And in fact many such impostors did arise about that time, promising deliverance from God; and the lower the Jews were reduced, the more disposed they were to listen to such deceivers. Like a man drowning, they were willing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:25

Behold, I have told you before - That is, I have forewarned you. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:25

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