Matteo 24
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
2. DISCORSO ESCATOLOGICO
Introduzione
24 Mentre Gesù, uscito dal tempio, se ne andava, gli si avvicinarono i suoi discepoli per fargli osservare le costruzioni del tempio. 2 Gesù disse loro: «Vedete tutte queste cose? In verità vi dico, non resterà qui pietra su pietra che non venga diroccata».
3 Sedutosi poi sul monte degli Ulivi, i suoi discepoli gli si avvicinarono e, in disparte, gli dissero: «Dicci quando accadranno queste cose, e quale sarà il segno della tua venuta e della fine del mondo».
L'inizio dei dolori
4 Gesù rispose: «Guardate che nessuno vi inganni; 5 molti verranno nel mio nome, dicendo: Io sono il Cristo, e trarranno molti in inganno. 6 Sentirete poi parlare di guerre e di rumori di guerre. Guardate di non allarmarvi; è necessario che tutto questo avvenga, ma non è ancora la fine. 7 Si solleverà popolo contro popolo e regno contro regno; vi saranno carestie e terremoti in vari luoghi; 8 ma tutto questo è solo l'inizio dei dolori. 9 Allora vi consegneranno ai supplizi e vi uccideranno, e sarete odiati da tutti i popoli a causa del mio nome. 10 Molti ne resteranno scandalizzati, ed essi si tradiranno e odieranno a vicenda. 11 Sorgeranno molti falsi profeti e inganneranno molti; 12 per il dilagare dell'iniquità, l'amore di molti si raffredderà. 13 Ma chi persevererà sino alla fine, sarà salvato. 14 Frattanto questo vangelo del regno sarà annunziato in tutto il mondo, perché ne sia resa testimonianza a tutte le genti; e allora verrà la fine.
La grande tribolazione di Gerusalemme
15 Quando dunque vedrete l'abominio della desolazione, di cui parlò il profeta Daniele, stare nel luogo santo - chi legge comprenda -, 16 allora quelli che sono in Giudea fuggano ai monti, 17 chi si trova sulla terrazza non scenda a prendere la roba di casa, 18 e chi si trova nel campo non torni indietro a prendersi il mantello. 19 Guai alle donne incinte e a quelle che allatteranno in quei giorni. 20 Pregate perché la vostra fuga non accada d'inverno o di sabato.
21 Poiché vi sarà allora una tribolazione grande, quale mai avvenne dall'inizio del mondo fino a ora, né mai più ci sarà. 22 E se quei giorni non fossero abbreviati, nessun vivente si salverebbe; ma a causa degli eletti quei giorni saranno abbreviati. 23 Allora se qualcuno vi dirà: Ecco, il Cristo è qui, o: E' là, non ci credete. 24 Sorgeranno infatti falsi cristi e falsi profeti e faranno grandi portenti e miracoli, così da indurre in errore, se possibile, anche gli eletti. 25 Ecco, io ve l'ho predetto.
L'avvento del Figlio dell'uomo sarà manifestato
26 Se dunque vi diranno: Ecco, è nel deserto, non ci andate; o: E' in casa, non ci credete. 27 Come la folgore viene da oriente e brilla fino a occidente, così sarà la venuta del Figlio dell'uomo. 28 Dovunque sarà il cadavere, ivi si raduneranno gli avvoltoi.
Dimensione cosmica di questo avvento
29 Subito dopo la tribolazione di quei giorni,
il sole si oscurerà, la luna non darà più la sua luce, gli astri cadranno dal cielo e le potenze dei cieli saranno sconvolte.
30 Allora comparirà nel cielo il segno del Figlio dell'uomo e allora si batteranno il petto tutte le tribù della terra, e vedranno il Figlio dell'uomo venire sopra le nubi del cielo con grande potenza e gloria. 31 Egli manderà i suoi angeli con una grande tromba e raduneranno tutti i suoi eletti dai quattro venti, da un estremo all'altro dei cieli.
Parabola del fico
32 Dal fico poi imparate la parabola: quando ormai il suo ramo diventa tenero e spuntano le foglie, sapete che l'estate è vicina. 33 Così anche voi, quando vedrete tutte queste cose, sappiate che Egli è proprio alle porte. 34 In verità vi dico: non passerà questa generazione prima che tutto questo accada. 35 Il cielo e la terra passeranno, ma le mie parole non passeranno.
36 Quanto a quel giorno e a quell'ora, però, nessuno lo sa, neanche gli angeli del cielo e neppure il Figlio, ma solo il Padre.
Vegliare per non essere sorpresi
37 Come fu ai giorni di Noè, così sarà la venuta del Figlio dell'uomo. 38 Infatti, come nei giorni che precedettero il diluvio mangiavano e bevevano, prendevano moglie e marito, fino a quando Noè entrò nell'arca, 39 e non si accorsero di nulla finché venne il diluvio e inghiottì tutti, così sarà anche alla venuta del Figlio dell'uomo. 40 Allora due uomini saranno nel campo: uno sarà preso e l'altro lasciato. 41 Due donne macineranno alla mola: una sarà presa e l'altra lasciata.
42 Vegliate dunque, perché non sapete in quale giorno il Signore vostro verrà. 43 Questo considerate: se il padrone di casa sapesse in quale ora della notte viene il ladro, veglierebbe e non si lascerebbe scassinare la casa. 44 Perciò anche voi state pronti, perché nell'ora che non immaginate, il Figlio dell'uomo verrà.
Parabola del maggiordomo
45 Qual è dunque il servo fidato e prudente che il padrone ha preposto ai suoi domestici con l'incarico di dar loro il cibo al tempo dovuto? 46 Beato quel servo che il padrone al suo ritorno troverà ad agire così! 47 In verità vi dico: gli affiderà l'amministrazione di tutti i suoi beni. 48 Ma se questo servo malvagio dicesse in cuor suo: Il mio padrone tarda a venire, 49 e cominciasse a percuotere i suoi compagni e a bere e a mangiare con gli ubriaconi, 50 arriverà il padrone quando il servo non se l'aspetta e nell'ora che non sa, 51 lo punirà con rigore e gli infliggerà la sorte che gli ipocriti si meritano: e là sarà pianto e stridore di denti.
ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 24
1894 Scrivener New Testament
24 και εξελθων ο ιησους επορευετο απο του ιερου και προσηλθον οι μαθηται αυτου επιδειξαι αυτω τας οικοδομας του ιερου
2 ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ου βλεπετε παντα ταυτα αμην λεγω υμιν ου μη αφεθη ωδε λιθος επι λιθον ος ου μη καταλυθησεται
3 καθημενου δε αυτου επι του ορους των ελαιων προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται κατ ιδιαν λεγοντες ειπε ημιν ποτε ταυτα εσται και τι το σημειον της σης παρουσιας και της συντελειας του αιωνος
4 και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση
5 πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν
6 μελλησετε δε ακουειν πολεμους και ακοας πολεμων ορατε μη θροεισθε δει γαρ παντα γενεσθαι αλλ ουπω εστιν το τελος
7 εγερθησεται γαρ εθνος επι εθνος και βασιλεια επι βασιλειαν και εσονται λιμοι και λοιμοι και σεισμοι κατα τοπους
8 παντα δε ταυτα αρχη ωδινων
9 τοτε παραδωσουσιν υμας εις θλιψιν και αποκτενουσιν υμας και εσεσθε μισουμενοι υπο παντων των εθνων δια το ονομα μου
10 και τοτε σκανδαλισθησονται πολλοι και αλληλους παραδωσουσιν και μισησουσιν αλληλους
11 και πολλοι ψευδοπροφηται εγερθησονται και πλανησουσιν πολλους
12 και δια το πληθυνθηναι την ανομιαν ψυγησεται η αγαπη των πολλων
13 ο δε υπομεινας εις τελος ουτος σωθησεται
14 και κηρυχθησεται τουτο το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας εν ολη τη οικουμενη εις μαρτυριον πασιν τοις εθνεσιν και τοτε ηξει το τελος
15 οταν ουν ιδητε το βδελυγμα της ερημωσεως το ρηθεν δια δανιηλ του προφητου εστως εν τοπω αγιω ο αναγινωσκων νοειτω
16 τοτε οι εν τη ιουδαια φευγετωσαν επι τα ορη
17 ο επι του δωματος μη καταβαινετω αραι τι εκ της οικιας αυτου
18 και ο εν τω αγρω μη επιστρεψατω οπισω αραι τα ιματια αυτου
19 ουαι δε ταις εν γαστρι εχουσαις και ταις θηλαζουσαις εν εκειναις ταις ημεραις
20 προσευχεσθε δε ινα μη γενηται η φυγη υμων χειμωνος μηδε εν σαββατω
21 εσται γαρ τοτε θλιψις μεγαλη οια ου γεγονεν απ αρχης κοσμου εως του νυν ουδ ου μη γενηται
22 και ει μη εκολοβωθησαν αι ημεραι εκειναι ουκ αν εσωθη πασα σαρξ δια δε τους εκλεκτους κολοβωθησονται αι ημεραι εκειναι
23 τοτε εαν τις υμιν ειπη ιδου ωδε ο χριστος η ωδε μη πιστευσητε
24 εγερθησονται γαρ ψευδοχριστοι και ψευδοπροφηται και δωσουσιν σημεια μεγαλα και τερατα ωστε πλανησαι ει δυνατον και τους εκλεκτους
25 ιδου προειρηκα υμιν
26 εαν ουν ειπωσιν υμιν ιδου εν τη ερημω εστιν μη εξελθητε ιδου εν τοις ταμειοις μη πιστευσητε
27 ωσπερ γαρ η αστραπη εξερχεται απο ανατολων και φαινεται εως δυσμων ουτως εσται και η παρουσια του υιου του ανθρωπου
28 οπου γαρ εαν η το πτωμα εκει συναχθησονται οι αετοι
29 ευθεως δε μετα την θλιψιν των ημερων εκεινων ο ηλιος σκοτισθησεται και η σεληνη ου δωσει το φεγγος αυτης και οι αστερες πεσουνται απο του ουρανου και αι δυναμεις των ουρανων σαλευθησονται
30 και τοτε φανησεται το σημειον του υιου του ανθρωπου εν τω ουρανω και τοτε κοψονται πασαι αι φυλαι της γης και οψονται τον υιον του ανθρωπου ερχομενον επι των νεφελων του ουρανου μετα δυναμεως και δοξης πολλης
31 και αποστελει τους αγγελους αυτου μετα σαλπιγγος φωνης μεγαλης και επισυναξουσιν τους εκλεκτους αυτου εκ των τεσσαρων ανεμων απ ακρων ουρανων εως ακρων αυτων
32 απο δε της συκης μαθετε την παραβολην οταν ηδη ο κλαδος αυτης γενηται απαλος και τα φυλλα εκφυη γινωσκετε οτι εγγυς το θερος
33 ουτως και υμεις οταν ιδητε παντα ταυτα γινωσκετε οτι εγγυς εστιν επι θυραις
34 αμην λεγω υμιν ου μη παρελθη η γενεα αυτη εως αν παντα ταυτα γενηται
35 ο ουρανος και η γη παρελευσονται οι δε λογοι μου ου μη παρελθωσιν
36 περι δε της ημερας εκεινης και της ωρας ουδεις οιδεν ουδε οι αγγελοι των ουρανων ει μη ο πατηρ μου μονος
37 ωσπερ δε αι ημεραι του νωε ουτως εσται και η παρουσια του υιου του ανθρωπου
38 ωσπερ γαρ ησαν εν ταις ημεραις ταις προ του κατακλυσμου τρωγοντες και πινοντες γαμουντες και εκγαμιζοντες αχρι ης ημερας εισηλθεν νωε εις την κιβωτον
39 και ουκ εγνωσαν εως ηλθεν ο κατακλυσμος και ηρεν απαντας ουτως εσται και η παρουσια του υιου του ανθρωπου
40 τοτε δυο εσονται εν τω αγρω ο εις παραλαμβανεται και ο εις αφιεται
41 δυο αληθουσαι εν τω μυλωνι μια παραλαμβανεται και μια αφιεται
42 γρηγορειτε ουν οτι ουκ οιδατε ποια ωρα ο κυριος υμων ερχεται
43 εκεινο δε γινωσκετε οτι ει ηδει ο οικοδεσποτης ποια φυλακη ο κλεπτης ερχεται εγρηγορησεν αν και ουκ αν ειασεν διορυγηναι την οικιαν αυτου
44 δια τουτο και υμεις γινεσθε ετοιμοι οτι η ωρα ου δοκειτε ο υιος του ανθρωπου ερχεται
45 τις αρα εστιν ο πιστος δουλος και φρονιμος ον κατεστησεν ο κυριος αυτου επι της θεραπειας αυτου του διδοναι αυτοις την τροφην εν καιρω
46 μακαριος ο δουλος εκεινος ον ελθων ο κυριος αυτου ευρησει ποιουντα ουτως
47 αμην λεγω υμιν οτι επι πασιν τοις υπαρχουσιν αυτου καταστησει αυτον
48 εαν δε ειπη ο κακος δουλος εκεινος εν τη καρδια αυτου χρονιζει ο κυριος μου ελθειν
49 και αρξηται τυπτειν τους συνδουλους εσθιειν δε και πινειν μετα των μεθυοντων
50 ηξει ο κυριος του δουλου εκεινου εν ημερα η ου προσδοκα και εν ωρα η ου γινωσκει
51 και διχοτομησει αυτον και το μερος αυτου μετα των υποκριτων θησει εκει εσται ο κλαυθμος και ο βρυγμος των οδοντων
Matthew 24
New King James Version
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple(A)
24 Then (B)Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, (C)not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age(D)
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, (E)the disciples came to Him privately, saying, (F)“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: (G)“Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For (H)many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ (I)and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of (J)wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [a]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For (K)nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be (L)famines, [b]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 (M)“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then (N)many false prophets will rise up and (O)deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow (P)cold. 13 (Q)But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this (R)gospel of the kingdom (S)will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Great Tribulation(T)
15 (U)“Therefore when you see the (V)‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (W)(whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But (X)woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For (Y)then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; (Z)but for the [c]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
23 (AA)“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For (AB)false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, (AC)if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 (AD)For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 (AE)For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man(AF)
29 (AG)“Immediately after the tribulation of those days (AH)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 (AI)Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, (AJ)and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 (AK)And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [d]elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree(AL)
32 “Now learn (AM)this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know (AN)that [e]it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, (AO)this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 (AP)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour(AQ)
36 (AR)“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of [f]heaven, (AS)but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 (AT)For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 (AU)Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 (AV)Watch therefore, for you do not know what [g]hour your Lord is coming. 43 (AW)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what [h]hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 (AX)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant(AY)
45 (AZ)“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food [i]in due season? 46 (BA)Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that (BB)he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master (BC)is delaying [j]his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is (BD)not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. (BE)There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes
- Matthew 24:6 NU omits all
- Matthew 24:7 NU omits pestilences
- Matthew 24:22 chosen ones’
- Matthew 24:31 chosen ones
- Matthew 24:33 Or He
- Matthew 24:36 NU adds nor the Son
- Matthew 24:42 NU day
- Matthew 24:43 Lit. watch of the night
- Matthew 24:45 at the right time
- Matthew 24:48 NU omits his coming
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
