Matthew 24:40

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....

40._Two men shall then be in the field. _Before mentioning this, Luke inserts some sentences; the first of which is presented by Matthew as belonging to the destruction of Jerusalem, _Let not him who shall be on the house-top go down into his house to carry away his furniture. _But it is possible that Christ applied the same words to various subjects. Luke states also a warning, that the disciples should _remember Lot’s wife; _that is, that they should _forget those things which are behind, _(Philippians 3:13) and advance towards the end of the heavenly calling. For _Lot’s wife _was changed into _a pillar of salt, _(Genesis 19:26,) because, hesitating whether there were good reasons for departing from the city, she _looked behind her, _by which she gave the lie to the heavenly oracle. Perhaps,

29-41 Christ foretells his second coming. It is usual for prophets to speak of things as near and just at hand, to express the greatness and certainty of them. Concerning Christ's second coming, it is foretold that there shall be a great change, in order to the making all things new. Then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds. At his first coming, he was set for a sign that should be spoken against, but at his second coming, a sign that should be admired. Sooner or later, all sinners will be mourners; but repenting sinners look to Christ, and mourn after a godly sort; and those who sow in those tears shall shortly reap in joy. Impenitent sinners shall see Him whom they have pierced, and, though they laugh now, shall mourn and weep in endless horror and despair. The elect of God are scattered abroad; there are some in all places, and all nations; but when that great gatherin...

Verse Matthew 24:40. _THEN SHALL TWO_ MEN - _TWO_ WOMEN - _ONE SHALL BE TAKEN,_ _AND THE OTHER LEFT._] The meaning seems to be, that so general should these calamities be, that no _two persons_, wheresoever found, or about whatsoever employed, should be _both_ able to effect their escape; and that _captivity_ and the _sword_ should have a complete triumph over this unhappy people. _TWO_ WOMEN SHALL BE _GRINDING_] Women alone are still employed in grinding the corn in the east; and it is only when despatch is required, or the uppermost millstone is heavy, that a _second_ woman is added. See Wakefield, and Harmer, Obs. vol. i. 253. That they were formerly thus employed, see...

THEN SHALL TWO BE IN THE FIELD ... - The calamity will come suddenly. There will be no escape for those whom it overtakes. ONE SHALL BE TAKEN - The word “taken” may mean either to be taken away from the danger - that is, rescued, as Lot was Luke 17:28, or to be taken away “by death.” Probably the latter is the meaning....

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

THEN SHALL TWO BE IN THE FIELD,.... About their proper business, of husbandry, ploughing, or sowing, or any other rural employment: THE ONE SHALL BE TAKEN; not by the preaching of the Gospel, into the kingdom of God, or Gospel dispensation; though such a distinction God makes, by the ministry of the word, accompanied by his Spirit and power; nor by angels, to meet Christ in the air, and to be introduced into his kingdom and glory; but by the eagles, the Roman army, and either killed or carried captive by them: AND THE OTHER LEFT; not in a state of nature and unregeneracy, as many are, to whom the Gospel is preached; nor with devils at the last day, to be thrust down by them into the infernal regions; but by the Romans, being by some remarkable providence, or another, delivered out of their hands; which was the case of some few, and these of the meaner sort; and therefore persons of a r...

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

THE VISION OF THINGS TO COME (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 look at them one by one. Matthew's interweaving of the sayings of Jesus lasts throughout Matthew 23:31. It will be best if, first of all, we set down these ve