預言聖殿被毀

24 耶穌從聖殿出來,往前走的時候,他的門徒們上前來,把聖殿的建築指給他看。 耶穌回應說:「你們不是看見了這一切嗎?我確實地告訴你們:這裡將絕不會有一塊石頭留在另一塊石頭上而不被拆下。」

末日的預兆

耶穌在橄欖山上坐著,門徒們悄悄地前來問他:「請告訴我們,這些事什麼時候會發生呢?你的來臨和這世代的終結會有什麼預兆呢?」

耶穌回答他們,說:「你們要當心,免得有人迷惑你們。 因為許多人會以我的名而來,聲稱『我是基督』,並且會迷惑許多人。 你們也將會聽見戰爭和戰爭的消息。要注意,不可驚慌,因為這些事必須發生,不過結局還沒有到。 一個民族要起來反對另一個民族,一個國家要起來反對另一個國家;到處都會有饑荒[a]和地震。 這些都像臨產陣痛的開始。

預言受迫害

「那時,他們將要出賣你們,使你們受患難,甚至殺害你們。為了我的名,你們將被萬民憎恨。 10 那時,許多人將被絆倒[b],彼此出賣,彼此憎恨; 11 並且會有許多假先知起來,迷惑許多人; 12 由於罪惡[c]增多,許多人的愛心就會冷淡。 13 但是忍耐到底的,這個人將會得救。 14 這天國的福音將被傳遍天下,好對萬國做見證,然後結局才會到來。

大患難的日子

15 「當你們看見藉著先知但以理所說的『那帶來毀滅的褻瀆者[d][e]站在聖地的時候——讀者應當思考—— 16 那時,在猶太的人應當逃到山裡; 17 在屋頂上的人,不要下來拿屋子裡的東西; 18 在田裡的人,不要返回去拿自己的衣服。 19 在那些日子裡,孕婦和哺乳的女人有禍了! 20 你們要禱告,好讓你們逃難的時候不在冬天,也不在安息日。 21 因為那時將有大患難。這樣的患難從世界開始直到如今,從來沒有發生過,也絕不再發生。 22 如果那些日子不被減少,就沒有一個人[f]能得救。可是為了那些蒙揀選的人,那些日子將被減少。

23 「那時候,如果有人對你們說『看哪,基督在這裡!』或『他在那裡!』你們不要相信。 24 因為假基督們和假先知們會出現,行大神蹟和奇事,如果有可能,甚至迷惑那些蒙揀選的人。 25 看哪,我已經預先告訴你們了! 26 所以,如果有人對你們說『看哪,基督在曠野裡!』你們不要出去;有人說:『看哪,他在內室裡!』你們也不要相信; 27 因為就像閃電從東邊發出,直照到西邊,人子的來臨也將要這樣。 28 屍體在哪裡,禿鷹就聚集在哪裡。

人子的來臨

29 「那些日子的患難一過去,

『太陽就要變黑,
月亮也不發光,
星辰要從天上墜落,
諸天的各勢力也將被震動。』

30 「那時候,人子的徵兆將要顯現在天上,地上的萬族都要捶胸哀哭。他們將要看見人子帶著極大的權能和榮耀,在天上的雲彩中來臨。 31 在嘹亮的號角聲中,他要差派他的天使們從四方,從天這邊到天那邊,召集他所揀選的人。

無花果樹的比喻

32 「你們要從無花果樹那裡學個比喻:當無花果樹的枝子發嫩長出葉子的時候,你們就知道夏天快到了。 33 照樣,當你們看見這一切的時候,你們就知道人子[g]快到了,就在門口了。 34 我確實地告訴你們:在這一切事發生之前,這世代絕不會過去。 35 天和地將要消逝,但是我的話絕不會消逝。

無人知道那日子和那時刻

36 「至於那日子和那時刻,沒有人知道,連諸天之上的天使們也不知道,子也不知道,[h]唯有父知道。 37 挪亞的那些日子怎樣,人子的來臨也將要怎樣。 38 在洪水以前的那些日子裡,人們繼續吃、喝、嫁、娶,直到挪亞進方舟的那一天。 39 他們毫不察覺,直到洪水到來,把一切沖走。人子的來臨,也將是這樣。 40 那時,兩個人在田裡,一個被接去,一個被留下。 41 兩個女人在磨石那裡推磨,一個被接去,一個被留下。 42 所以你們要警醒,因為你們不知道你們的主哪一天[i]回來。 43 不過你們應當知道這一點:一家的主人如果知道賊什麼時刻[j]來,他就會警醒,不讓他的房子被人鑽進。 44 你們為了這緣故也應當做好準備,因為在你們意想不到的時候,人子就來了。

忠僕與惡僕

45 「究竟誰是那又忠心又聰明的奴僕——受主人委任統管他家裡的人、按時給他們分糧的人呢? 46 主人回來的時候,看見哪個奴僕這樣做,那個奴僕就蒙福了。 47 我確實地告訴你們:主人會委任他統管自己所擁有的一切。 48 但如果這惡奴心裡說『我的主人會遲延回來[k]』, 49 就動手毆打與他同做奴僕的,並且與醉酒的人一起吃喝, 50 那麼,這奴僕的主人就要在意想不到的日子、在他不知道的時刻回來, 51 並且會嚴厲懲罰他[l],使他與那些偽善的人有同樣的下場。在那裡將有哀哭和切齒。

Footnotes

  1. 馬太福音 24:7 有古抄本附「瘟疫」。
  2. 馬太福音 24:10 被絆倒——或譯作「放棄信仰」。
  3. 馬太福音 24:12 罪惡——原文直譯「不法」。
  4. 馬太福音 24:15 褻瀆者——或譯作「褻瀆之物」。
  5. 馬太福音 24:15 《但以理書》9:27;11:31;12:11。
  6. 馬太福音 24:22 人——原文直譯「肉體」。
  7. 馬太福音 24:33 人子——原文直譯「他」或「它」;可指「人子」,也可指「那時刻」。
  8. 馬太福音 24:36 有古抄本沒有「子也不知道,」。
  9. 馬太福音 24:42 哪一天——有古抄本作「什麼時候」。
  10. 馬太福音 24:43 時刻——原文直譯「更次」。
  11. 馬太福音 24:48 有古抄本沒有「回來」。
  12. 馬太福音 24:51 嚴厲懲罰他——原文直譯「把他砍成兩段」。

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(A)

24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another;(B) every one will be thrown down.”

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives,(C) the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming(D) and of the end of the age?”(E)

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.(F) For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.(G) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(H) There will be famines(I) and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted(J) and put to death,(K) and you will be hated by all nations because of me.(L) 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets(M) will appear and deceive many people.(N) 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(O) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom(P) will be preached in the whole world(Q) as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place(R) ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a](S) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop(T) go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!(U) 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.(V)

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect(W) those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.(X) 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders(Y) to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning(Z) that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming(AA) of the Son of Man.(AB) 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.(AC)

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[b](AD)

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn(AE) when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven,(AF) with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels(AG) with a loud trumpet call,(AH) and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door.(AI) 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(AJ) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(AK)

The Day and Hour Unknown(AL)(AM)

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father.(AN) 37 As it was in the days of Noah,(AO) so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,(AP) up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.(AQ) 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.(AR) 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.(AS)

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.(AT) 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,(AU) he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready,(AV) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,(AW) whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.(AX) 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.(AY) 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.(AZ) 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(BA)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
  2. Matthew 24:29 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
  3. Matthew 24:30 Or the tribes of the land
  4. Matthew 24:30 See Daniel 7:13-14.
  5. Matthew 24:33 Or he
  6. Matthew 24:36 Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son.

The Temple Will Be Destroyed(A)

24 As Jesus left the Temple [courts] and was walking away, his ·followers [disciples] came up to ·show [point out to] him the Temple’s buildings. Jesus asked, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be ·thrown [pulled; torn] down.”

Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his ·followers [disciples] came to be alone with him. They said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign ·that it is time for you to come again [of your coming/return] and ·for this age to end [the end/consummation of the age]?”

Jesus answered, “·Be careful [Watch out] that no one ·fools [misleads; deceives] you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the ·Christ [Messiah],’ and they will ·fool [mislead; deceive] many people. You will hear about wars and ·stories of wars that are coming [rumors/reports of wars], but don’t be ·afraid [alarmed]. These things must happen ·before the end comes [or but that is not yet the end]. Nations will ·fight [L rise up] against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. There will be ·times when there is no food for people to eat [famines], and there will be earthquakes in ·different [various] places. All these things are ·like the first pains when something new is about to be born [L the beginning of the birth pains].

“Then people will arrest you, hand you over to be ·hurt [persecuted; tortured], and kill you. ·They [The world; L All nations] will hate you because ·you believe in me [you follow me; L of my name]. 10 At that time, many will ·lose their faith [turn/fall away], and they will ·turn against [betray] each other and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will ·come [appear; arise] and ·cause many people to believe lies [deceive many]. 12 There will be more and more ·evil [sin; lawlessness] in the world, so ·most people will stop showing their love for each other [L the love of many/most will grow cold]. 13 But those people who ·keep their faith [endure; stand firm; persevere] until the end will be saved. 14 ·The Good News [This Gospel] about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, [L as a testimony] to every nation. Then the end will come.

15 “You will see ‘·a blasphemous object that brings destruction [T the abomination of desolation; C a phrase taken from Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11, and originally referring to the desecration of the Temple by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 bc],’ which Daniel the prophet spoke about. ·It [or He] will be standing in the holy place.” (You who read this should understand what it means [C probably a reference to the soon-to-occur destruction of Jerusalem in ad 70].) 16 “At that time, the people in Judea should ·run away [flee] to the mountains. 17 If people are on the roofs of their houses [C roofs in Palestine were flat and used as spare rooms and for storage], they must not go down to get anything out of their houses. 18 If people are in the fields, they must not go back to get their ·coats [cloaks]. 19 At that time, ·how terrible it will be for [L woe to] women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! 20 Pray that it will not be ·winter [bad weather] or a Sabbath day when these things happen and you have to run away, 21 because at that time there will be much ·trouble [distress; T tribulation]. There will be more ·trouble [distress; T tribulation]. than there has ever been since the beginning of the world until now, and nothing as bad will ever happen again [Dan. 12:1]. 22 ·God has decided to make that terrible time short [L If those days had not been shortened (by God)…; C the passive verb implies God as subject]. Otherwise, no one would ·go on living [survive; L be saved]. But God will make that time short ·to help the people he has chosen [for the sake of the elect]. 23 At that time, someone might say to you, ‘Look, there is the ·Christ [Messiah]!’ Or another person might say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t believe them. 24 False ·Christs [messiahs] and false prophets will ·come [appear; rise up] and perform great ·wonders [signs; miracles] and ·miracles [wonders; marvels]. They will try to ·fool [mislead; deceive] even the ·people God has chosen [elect], if that is possible. 25 Now I have warned you about this before it happens.

26 “If people tell you, ‘[L Look,] ·the Christ [L he] is in the ·desert [wilderness],’ don’t go there. If they say, ‘[L Look,] he is ·in the inner room [or hiding here; in this secret place],’ don’t believe it. 27 When the Son of Man comes [Dan. 7:13–14], he will be like lightning flashing from the east to the west [C he will be seen by everyone]. 28 Wherever the ·dead body [carcass] is, there the vultures will gather.

29 “Soon after the ·trouble [tribulation; distress] of those days,

‘the sun will grow dark,
    and the moon will not give its light.
The stars will fall from ·the sky [heaven].
    And the ·powers of the heavens [celestial bodies] will be shaken [Is. 13:10; 34:4; cf. Ezek. 32:7–8; Joel 2:10, 31].’

30 “At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in ·the sky [or heaven]. Then all the ·peoples [tribes] of the world will ·cry [mourn]. They will see the Son of Man coming on ·clouds in the sky [or the clouds of heaven] with great power and glory. 31 He will use a loud trumpet to send his angels, and they will gather his ·chosen people [elect] ·from every part of the world [L from the four winds, from one end of the sky/heavens to another].

32 “Learn a ·lesson [parable; analogy] from the fig tree: When its branches ·become green and soft [become tender; sprout] and new leaves appear, you know summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that ·the time [or he] is near, ·ready to come [right at the door]. 34 I tell you the truth, all these things will happen ·while the people of this time are still living [before this generation passes away; C either the generation that sees the destruction of Jerusalem (ad 70), or a future generation of the end times]. 35 ·Earth and sky will be destroyed [T Heaven and earth will pass away], but the words I have said will never ·be destroyed [pass away].

When Will Jesus Come Again?(B)

36 “No one knows when that day or ·time [hour] will be, not the angels in heaven, not even the Son.[a] Only the Father knows. 37 When the Son of Man comes [Dan. 7:13–14], it will be like what happened during Noah’s time. 38 [L For] In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving their children to be married, until the day Noah entered the boat. 39 They ·knew [understood] nothing about what was happening until the flood came and ·destroyed them [L took/swept them all away]. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes. 40 Two men will be in the field. One will be taken, and the other will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain with a ·mill [handmill; C two large, round, flat rocks used for grinding grain to make flour]. One will be taken, and the other will be left.

42 “So ·always be ready [stay alert; keep watching], because you don’t know the day your Lord will come. 43 ·Remember [Know] this: If the owner of the house knew what time of night a thief was coming, the owner would ·watch [have stayed alert; kept watching] and not let ·the thief break in [L his house be broken into]. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a ·time [hour] you don’t expect him.

The Story of the Two Servants(C)

45 “Who is the ·loyal [faithful; trusted] and ·wise [sensible] ·servant [slave] that the master ·trusts [L puts in charge of his household] to give ·the other servants [L them] their food at the right time? 46 That servant will be ·blessed [happy; or rewarded] when the master comes and finds him doing his work. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will ·choose that servant to take care [put him in charge] of everything he owns. 48 But suppose that evil servant thinks to himself, ‘My master ·will not come back soon [will be away for a long time; is delayed],’ 49 and he begins to beat the other servants and eat and ·get drunk with others like him [drink with drunkards]? 50 The master [L of that servant/slave] will come [L on a day] when that servant is not ready and [L at an hour when he] is not expecting him. 51 Then the master will cut him in pieces and ·send him away to be [L assign/appoint him a place] with the hypocrites, where ·people will cry and grind their teeth with pain [T there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; C indicating agony and remorse].

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:36 not even the Son Some Greek copies do not have this phrase.

24 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples 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.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.