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William Barclay

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 24:21

For then shall be great tribulation ,.... This is urged as a reason for their speedy flight; since the calamity that would come upon those who should remain in the city, what through the sword, famine, pestilence, murders, robberies, &c.; would be such as was not since the beginning of the world, to this time, no, nor ever shall be . The burning of Sodom and Gomorrha, the bondage of the children of Israel in Egypt, their captivity in Babylon, and all their distresses and afflictions... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:21

Verse 21 21For there will then be great tribulation. Luke says also, that there will be days of vengeance, and of wrath on that people, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. For since the people, through obstinate malice, had then broken the covenant of God, it was proper that alarming changes should take place, by which the earth itself and the air would be shaken. True, indeed, the most destructive plague inflicted on the Jews was, that the light of heavenly doctrine was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 24:15-28

Predictions of the nearer end: The destruction of Jerusalem. I. THE WARNINGS OF THE COMING END . 1 . The sign. The Lord returns to the first question of the disciples, "When shall these things be?" His eye had been looking forward in prophetic vision through the process of the ages; now he returns to the nearer end, to that awful catastrophe which, to the Jews, seemed like the very end of the world—the destruction of the holy city and of the temple, the dwelling-place of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:15-28

Salutary warnings. Having announced the signs of his advent, first for the destruction of the Jewish antichrist, and secondly for that of its Gentile counterpart, Christ gives to his disciples salutary warnings suited to the crises. I. IN RESPECT TO SECULAR EVILS . 1 . We do well to take heed to the sure Word of prophecy. 2 . Christ is a mountain of safety to those who fly to him for refuge. 3 . Calamities are mitigated for the sake of the deer. II. IN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:21

Nor then. Jesus gives the reason why this precipitate flight ( Matthew 24:16-20 ) was rendered necessary at the moment spoken of in Matthew 24:15 . Great tribulation. The miseries suffered in the siege of Jerusalem were stupendous To the skilful and fierce attacks of the Romans from without were added from within dire famine and pestilence, dissensions, violence, and continual bloodshed and murder. Josephus estimates the number of those who fell in the siege and capture of Jerusalem at... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 24:21

There shall be great tribulation - The word “tribulation” means calamity or “suffering.” Luke Luke 21:24 has specified in what this tribulation would consist: “They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.” That is, until the time allotted for the Gentiles “to do it” shall be fully accomplished, or as long as God is pleased to suffer them to do... read more

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