Matthew 24:26

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. For the exposition of this wonderful Prophecy, which will be best apprehended by taking all the records of it together, see the notes at Mark 13:1....

26._Lo, he is in the desert. _Luke connects this discourse with another reply of Christ; for, having been interrogated by the Pharisees _about the coming of the kingdom of God, _he replied, that_it would not come with observation; _and then follows in Luke’s narrative that, turning _to his disciples, _he informed them that _the days would come when they would no longer see a day of the Son of man. _By these words he intended to charge them to walls in the light before the darkness of the night overtook them, (John 12:35;) for this ought to have been a very powerful excitement to endeavor to make progress, so long as they enjoyed the presence of Christ, when they 1earned that very serious disturbances were at hand. Whether or not Christ admonished his disciples twice on this subject is uncertain; but I think it. probable that Luke, while he was speakin

4-28 The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these things should be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers fully. The prophecy first respects events near at hand, the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the general judgment; and toward the close, points more particularly to the latter. What Christ here said to his disciples, tended more to promote caution than to satisfy their curiosity; more to prepare them for the events that should happen, than to give a distinct idea of the events. This is that good understanding of the times which all should covet, thence to infer what Israel ought to do. Our Saviour cautions his disciples to stand on their guard against false teachers....

Verse Matthew 24:26. _IF THEY SHALL SAY UNTO YOU, BEHOLD, HE IS IN THE_ _DESERT_] Is it not worthy of remark that our Lord not only foretold the appearance of these impostors, but also the _manner_ and _circumstances_ of their conduct? Some he mentions as appearing in the _desert_. Josephus says, ANT. b. xx. c. 7, and WAR, book ii. c. 13: That many impostors and cheats persuaded the people to follow them to the _desert_, promising to show them _signs_ and _wonders_ done by the providence of God, is well attested. An Egyptian false prophet, mentioned by Josephus, ANT. b. xx. c. 7, and in the Acts, Acts 21:38, _led out into the_ DESERT _four thousand men, who were murderers_, but these were all taken or destroyed by _Felix_. Another promis...

BEHOLD, HE IS IN THE DESERT - The Jews had formed the expectation that the Messiah would appear suddenly from some unexpected quarter; hence, many would be looking to desert places, expecting that he would come from them. Accordingly, most of the impostors and pretended prophets led their people into the deserts. GO NOT FORTH - Do not follow them; they will only deceive you. IN SECRET CHAMBERS - Concealed in some house, or some retired part of the city. Many would, doubtless, pretend that the Messiah was concealed there, and, either for the purpose of encouraging or deceiving the people, would pretend that they had discovered him....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 24:1 PROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, AND OF THE TIMES OF THE END. (Mark 13:1; Luke 21:5.) 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. and 25.), forms a

WHEREFORE IF THEY SHALL SAY UNTO YOU,.... Any of the false prophets, or the deluded followers of false Christs: BEHOLD, HE IS IN THE DESERT, GO NOT FORTH: that is, should they affirm, that the Messiah is in such a wilderness, in the wilderness of Judea, or in any other desert place, do not go out of the places where you are to see, or hear, and know the truth of things; lest you should, in any respect, be stumbled, ensnared, and brought into danger. It was usual for these impostors to lead their followers into deserts, pretending to work wonders in such solitary places: so, during the siege, Simon, the son of Giora, collected together many thousands in the mountainous and desert parts of Judea t; and the above mentioned Jonathan, after the destruction of the city, led great multitudes into the desert: BEHOLD, HE IS IN THE SECRET CHAMBERS, BELIEVE IT NOT; or should others say behold, or...

Matthew 24:1. _And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciple came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down._ The King, having finished his first discourse in the temple, left it, never to return: «Jesus went out, and departed from the temple.» His ministry there was ended. As his disciples moved away with him cowards the mount of Olives, they called his attention to the great stones of which the temple was constructed, and the costly adornments of the beautiful building. To them the appearance was glorious; but to their Lord it was a sad sight. His Father's house, which ought to have been a house of prayer for all nations, had become a den of thieves, and soon would be utterly destroyed: Je

12. THE OLIVET DISCOURSE; THE KING REVEALS THE FUTURE OF THE KINGDOM. Chapter s 24-25. CHAPTER 24 1. The Destruction of the Temple Foretold. (Matthew 24:1 .) 2. The Questions of the Disciples. (Matthew 24:3 .) 3. The End of the Age; Events Preceding His Coming.(Matthew 24:4 .) 4. The Great Tribulation and what will Happen. (Matthew 24:15 .) 5. The Visible and Glorious Return of the King.(Matthew 24:27 .) 6. The Exhortations of the King. ...

MATTHEW 24 F. THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DISCOURSE, AND THE PARABLES OF PAROUSIA (Mark 13*, Luke 21:5 *, Luke 17:23). Mt. follows Mk. fairly closely, but appends other eschatological sayings and illustrative parables (ch. 25). The discourse arises out of a prediction of the destruction of the Temple, and is spoken in Mt. not to four disciples but to the Twelve, who ask for the sign of Thy coming (_i.e._ as Messiah, _parousia),_ and of the end of the world (or age). Jesus enumerates the events that must first occur (Matthew 24:4). With Matthew 24:4 _cf._ Mark