Matthew 24:16-20

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 24:1-31

We have already seen that it is one of the great characteristics of Matthew that he gathers together in large blocks the teaching of Jesus about different subjects. In Matthew 24:1-51 he gathers together things that Jesus said about the future and gives us the vision of things to come. In so doing Matthew weaves together sayings of Jesus about different aspects of the future; and it will make this difficult chapter very much easier to understand if we can disentangle the various strands and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:16

Then let them which be in Judea ,.... When this signal is given, let it be taken notice of and observed; let them that are in the city of Jerusalem, depart out of it; or who are in any other parts of Judea, in any of the towns, or cities thereof; let them not betake themselves to Jerusalem, imagining they may be safe there, in so strong and fortified a place, but let them flee elsewhere; see Luke 21:21 and accordingly it is observed, that many did flee about this time; and it is remarked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:17

Let him which is on the housetop ,.... Who should be there either for his devotion or recreation; for the houses of the Jews were built with flat roofs and battlements about them, which they made use of both for diversion and pleasure, and for private meditation and prayer, for social conversation, and sometimes for public preaching; see Matthew 10:27 not come down to take anything out of his house : that is, let him not come down in the inner way, but by the stairs, or ladder, on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:18

Neither let him which is in the field ,.... Ploughing, or sowing, or employed in any other parts of husbandry, or rural business, return back to take clothes ; for it was usual to work in the fields without their clothes, as at ploughing and sowing. Hence those words of Virgil F5 Georgic. l. 1. . "Nudus ara, sere nudus, hyems ignava colono.' Upon which Servius observes, that in good weather, when the sun warms the earth, men might plough and sow without their clothes: and it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:19

And woe unto them that are with child ,.... Not that it should be criminal for them to be with child, or a judgment on them; for it was always esteemed a blessing to be fruitful, and bear children: but this expresses the miserable circumstances such would be in, who, by reason of their heavy burdens, would not be able to make so speedy a flight, as the case would require; or would be obliged to stay at home, and endure all the miseries of the siege: so that these words, as the following are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:20

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter ,.... When days are short, and unfit for long journeys, and roads are bad, and sometimes not passable, through large snows, or floods of water; and when to dwell in desert places, and lodge in mountains, must be very uncomfortable: wherefore Christ directs to pray to God, who has the disposal of all events, and of the timing of them, that he would so order things in the course of his providence, that their flight might not be in such a season... 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

Group of Brands