Matthew 24:27

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 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east ,.... The eastern part of the horizon, and shineth even unto the west ; to the western part of it, with great clearness; in a moment; in the twinkling of an eye, filling the whole intermediate space; so shall also the coming of the son of man be ; which must be understood not of his last coming to judgment, though that will be sudden, visible, and universal; he will at once come to, and be seen by all, in the clouds of heaven, and not in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west - It is worthy of remark that our Lord, in the most particular manner, points out the very march of the Roman army: they entered into Judea on the East, and carried on their conquest Westward, as if not only the extensiveness of the ruin, but the very route which the army would take, were intended in the comparison of the lightning issuing from the east, and shining to the west. 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 24:4-41

The first portion of the great prophecy. 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 24:27

As the lightning … east … west. That is, shines from one end of heaven to the other. St. Chrysostom's comment explains the similitude: "How, then, shineth the lightning? It needs not one to talk of it, it needs not a herald, but even to them in chambers it shows itself in an instant of time throughout the whole world. So shall that coming be, showing itself at once everywhere by reason of the shining forth of his glory." We are told, "every eye shall see him." His advent shall be sudden,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:27

Lightning. Our Lord compares his coming to a great flash of lightning which blazes out in the east and illumines earth and sky as far as the west. This is in contrast to the notion of an obscure and doubtful appearance, or one that is local and limited, or one the coming of which is so gradual that it can scarcely be discerned. In opposition to these erroneous conceptions, the advent of Christ is to be lightning like. Let us consider its characteristics as they are suggested to us by this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east ... - This is not designed to denote the quarter from which he would come, but the manner. He does not mean to affirm that the “Son of man” will come from the “east,” but that he will come in a rapid and unexpected manner, like the lightning. Many would be looking for him in the desert, many in secret places; but he said it would be useless to be looking in that manner; it was useless to look to any particular part of the heavens to know where the... read more

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