预言圣殿被毁

24 耶稣从圣殿出来,往前走的时候,他的门徒们上前来,把圣殿的建筑指给他看。 耶稣回应说:“你们不是看见了这一切吗?我确实地告诉你们:这里将绝不会有一块石头留在另一块石头上而不被拆下。”

末日的预兆

耶稣在橄榄山上坐着,门徒们悄悄地前来问他:“请告诉我们,这些事什么时候会发生呢?你的来临和这世代的终结会有什么预兆呢?”

耶稣回答他们,说:“你们要当心,免得有人迷惑你们。 因为许多人会以我的名而来,声称‘我是基督’,并且会迷惑许多人。 你们也将会听见战争和战争的消息。要注意,不可惊慌,因为这些事必须发生,不过结局还没有到。 一个民族要起来反对另一个民族,一个国家要起来反对另一个国家;到处都会有饥荒[a]和地震。 这些都像临产阵痛的开始。

预言受迫害

“那时,他们将要出卖你们,使你们受患难,甚至杀害你们。为了我的名,你们将被万民憎恨。 10 那时,许多人将被绊倒[b],彼此出卖,彼此憎恨; 11 并且会有许多假先知起来,迷惑许多人; 12 由于罪恶[c]增多,许多人的爱心就会冷淡。 13 但是忍耐到底的,这个人将会得救。 14 这天国的福音将被传遍天下,好对万国做见证,然后结局才会到来。

大患难的日子

15 “当你们看见藉着先知但以理所说的‘那带来毁灭的亵渎者[d][e]站在圣地的时候——读者应当思考—— 16 那时,在犹太的人应当逃到山里; 17 在屋顶上的人,不要下来拿屋子里的东西; 18 在田里的人,不要返回去拿自己的衣服。 19 在那些日子里,孕妇和哺乳的女人有祸了! 20 你们要祷告,好让你们逃难的时候不在冬天,也不在安息日。 21 因为那时将有大患难。这样的患难从世界开始直到如今,从来没有发生过,也绝不再发生。 22 如果那些日子不被减少,就没有一个人[f]能得救。可是为了那些蒙拣选的人,那些日子将被减少。

23 “那时候,如果有人对你们说‘看哪,基督在这里!’或‘他在那里!’你们不要相信。 24 因为假基督们和假先知们会出现,行大神迹和奇事,如果有可能,甚至迷惑那些蒙拣选的人。 25 看哪,我已经预先告诉你们了! 26 所以,如果有人对你们说‘看哪,基督在旷野里!’你们不要出去;有人说:‘看哪,他在内室里!’你们也不要相信; 27 因为就像闪电从东边发出,直照到西边,人子的来临也将要这样。 28 尸体在哪里,秃鹰就聚集在哪里。

人子的来临

29 “那些日子的患难一过去,

‘太阳就要变黑,
月亮也不发光,
星辰要从天上坠落,
诸天的各势力也将被震动。’

30 “那时候,人子的征兆将要显现在天上,地上的万族都要捶胸哀哭。他们将要看见人子带着极大的权能和荣耀,在天上的云彩中来临。 31 在嘹亮的号角声中,他要差派他的天使们从四方,从天这边到天那边,召集他所拣选的人。

无花果树的比喻

32 “你们要从无花果树那里学个比喻:当无花果树的枝子发嫩长出叶子的时候,你们就知道夏天快到了。 33 照样,当你们看见这一切的时候,你们就知道人子[g]快到了,就在门口了。 34 我确实地告诉你们:在这一切事发生之前,这世代绝不会过去。 35 天和地将要消逝,但是我的话绝不会消逝。

无人知道那日子和那时刻

36 “至于那日子和那时刻,没有人知道,连诸天之上的天使们也不知道,子也不知道,[h]唯有父知道。 37 挪亚的那些日子怎样,人子的来临也将要怎样。 38 在洪水以前的那些日子里,人们继续吃、喝、嫁、娶,直到挪亚进方舟的那一天。 39 他们毫不察觉,直到洪水到来,把一切冲走。人子的来临,也将是这样。 40 那时,两个人在田里,一个被接去,一个被留下。 41 两个女人在磨石那里推磨,一个被接去,一个被留下。 42 所以你们要警醒,因为你们不知道你们的主哪一天[i]回来。 43 不过你们应当知道这一点:一家的主人如果知道贼什么时刻[j]来,他就会警醒,不让他的房子被人钻进。 44 你们为了这缘故也应当做好准备,因为在你们意想不到的时候,人子就来了。

忠仆与恶仆

45 “究竟谁是那又忠心又聪明的奴仆——受主人委任统管他家里的人、按时给他们分粮的人呢? 46 主人回来的时候,看见哪个奴仆这样做,那个奴仆就蒙福了。 47 我确实地告诉你们:主人会委任他统管自己所拥有的一切。 48 但如果这恶奴心里说‘我的主人会迟延回来[k]’, 49 就动手殴打与他同做奴仆的,并且与醉酒的人一起吃喝, 50 那么,这奴仆的主人就要在意想不到的日子、在他不知道的时刻回来, 51 并且会严厉惩罚他[l],使他与那些伪善的人有同样的下场。在那里将有哀哭和切齿。

Footnotes

  1. 马太福音 24:7 有古抄本附“瘟疫”。
  2. 马太福音 24:10 被绊倒——或译作“放弃信仰”。
  3. 马太福音 24:12 罪恶——原文直译“不法”。
  4. 马太福音 24:15 亵渎者——或译作“亵渎之物”。
  5. 马太福音 24:15 《但以理书》9:27;11:31;12:11。
  6. 马太福音 24:22 人——原文直译“肉体”。
  7. 马太福音 24:33 人子——原文直译“他”或“它”;可指“人子”,也可指“那时刻”。
  8. 马太福音 24:36 有古抄本没有“子也不知道,”。
  9. 马太福音 24:42 哪一天——有古抄本作“什么时候”。
  10. 马太福音 24:43 时刻——原文直译“更次”。
  11. 马太福音 24:48 有古抄本没有“回来”。
  12. 马太福音 24:51 严厉惩罚他——原文直译“把他砍成两段”。

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

24 (A)Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, (B)there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

As he sat on (C)the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him (D)privately, saying, “Tell us, (E)when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your (F)coming and of (G)the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, (H)“See that no one leads you astray. For (I)many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am (J)the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you (K)are not alarmed, for this (L)must take place, but the end is not yet. For (M)nation will rise against nation, and (N)kingdom against kingdom, and there will be (O)famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of (P)the birth pains.

“Then (Q)they will deliver you up (R)to tribulation and (S)put you to death, and (T)you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and (U)betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many (V)false prophets will arise (W)and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, (X)the love of many will grow cold. 13 (Y)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom (Z)will be proclaimed throughout the whole world (AA)as a testimony (AB)to all nations, and (AC)then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation (AD)spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in (AE)the holy place ((AF)let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 (AG)Let the one who is on (AH)the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And (AI)alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be (AJ)great tribulation, (AK)such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for (AL)the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 (AM)Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For (AN)false christs and (AO)false prophets will arise and (AP)perform great signs and wonders, (AQ)so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, (AR)I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, (AS)he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 (AT)For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be (AU)the coming of the Son of Man. 28 (AV)Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 “Immediately after (AW)the tribulation of those days (AX)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and (AY)the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then (AZ)will appear in heaven (BA)the sign of the Son of Man, and then (BB)all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and (BC)they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven (BD)with power and great glory. 31 And (BE)he will send out his angels with a loud (BF)trumpet call, and they will (BG)gather (BH)his elect from (BI)the four winds, (BJ)from one end of heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, (BK)at the very gates. 34 (BL)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 (BM)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (BN)my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

36 “But concerning that day and hour (BO)no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, (BP)nor the Son,[b] (BQ)but the Father only. 37 (BR)For as were the days of Noah, (BS)so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 (BT)For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, (BU)marrying and giving in marriage, until (BV)the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, (BW)so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 (BX)Two women will be grinding (BY)at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, (BZ)stay awake, for you do not know on what day (CA)your Lord is coming. 43 (CB)But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night (CC)the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be (CD)ready, for (CE)the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is (CF)the faithful and (CG)wise servant,[c] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 (CH)Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, (CI)he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master (CJ)is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants[d] and eats and drinks with (CK)drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come (CL)on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place (CM)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:10 Or stumble
  2. Matthew 24:36 Some manuscripts omit nor the Son
  3. Matthew 24:45 Or bondservant; also verses 46, 48, 50
  4. Matthew 24:49 Or bondservants