Matthew 24:23-44

Christian Standard Bible

²³ “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’^(A) or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it.^{(B) 24} For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray,^(C) if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Take note: I have told you in advance. ²⁶ So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.^{(D) 28} Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures^[a] will gather.^(E)

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the distress^(F) of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth^[b] will mourn;^[c] and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.^{(G) 31} He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet,^(H) and they will gather his elect from the four winds,^(I) from one end of the sky to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

³² “Learn this lesson^(J) from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize^[d] that he^[e] is near—at the door.^{(K) 34} Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.^{(L) 35} Heaven and earth will pass away,^(M) but my words will never pass away.^(N)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³⁶ “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son^[f] —except the Father alone.^{(O) 37} As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ³⁸ For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.^{(P) 39} They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left.^{(Q) 42} Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day^[g] your Lord is coming.^{(R) 43} But know this: If the homeowner had known what time^[h] the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.^{(S) 44} This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.^(T)