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Matthew 24
EasyEnglish Bible

Jesus talks about the temple

24 Jesus left the temple. While he was leaving, his disciples came to him. They began to talk to him about the buildings of the temple. 2 So Jesus said to them, ‘Yes, you can see all these beautiful buildings now. But I tell you this: Enemies will completely destroy them.[a] Not even one stone will remain on top of another stone.’

3 After that, Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives. While he was alone, his disciples came to him. They said to him, ‘Please tell us when all these things will happen. Also tell us what will show us that you will soon return? What will show us that the world will soon end?’

4 Jesus said, ‘You must be careful! Some people will tell you things that are not true. Do not believe them. 5 Many people will say that they have come on my behalf. They will say, “I am the Messiah.” Many people will believe their false words. 6 You will hear about wars. You will hear reports about wars in other places. But you must not be afraid. Those things must happen first, but it is not yet the end of everything. 7 People in one country will attack the people in another country. Kings and their armies will fight against other kings and their armies. In some places, people will be hungry, with no food. The ground will shake in many different places. 8 All those things will be like the first pains that a mother has before her baby is born.

9 Then people will take hold of you and they will give you pain. They will even kill some of you. People in every country will hate you because you are my disciples. 10 At that time, many people who believe in me will stop believing. They will put some of my disciples in the power of their rulers. They will hate each other. 11 Also at that time, many people will say that they are prophets from God. Their message is false, but many people will believe them. 12 More and more people everywhere will be doing very bad things. Because of this, many people will no longer love each other in the way that they did before. 13 But God will save the person who remains strong until the end. 14 People will tell the good news about God's kingdom to people all over the world. People in every country will hear the true message from God. Then God will cause the world to come to an end.

15 Long ago, God's prophet Daniel wrote in the Bible about something that would happen. He said that one day people would put a disgusting thing that causes trouble in the temple. You will see it in the holy place. (When you read this, you must understand what it means.) 16 At that time, people in Judea must run away to the hills to hide.

17 A person who is on the roof of his house must not go down into his house.[b] He must not stop to get anything from his home to take with him. 18 People who are outside in their fields must not go back to their homes. They must not even go to fetch their coats. 19 That will be a bad time for women who are soon to have a baby! It will also be a bad time for those women who have little babies! 20 You must pray to God about this time when you have to run away quickly. Pray that this time of trouble will not happen in winter. Pray that it will not happen on your day of rest. 21 Great troubles will happen to people at that time. Nothing as bad has ever happened before, since the beginning of the world. Nothing as bad will ever happen again. 22 God will cause those days of great trouble to be not so many. If he did not do that, there would be nobody still alive. But God will cause those days to come to an end. He will do that to help the people that he has chosen. 23 At that time, someone may say to you, “Look, here is the Messiah.” Or they may say, “There he is!” When they say that, do not believe them. 24 Some people will say to you, “I am the Messiah!” Other people will say, “I am a prophet from God.” But their words will be false. They will do strange and powerful things for people to see. If possible, they would even deceive the people that God has chosen. 25 So be careful! I have told you about these things before they happen.

26 Some people may say to you, “Look, the Messiah is out there in the wilderness.” But do not go out to see who is there. Some people may say to you, “Look, the Messiah is hiding in that secret room.” You must not believe these people. 27 Lightning shines quickly and it lights up the whole of the sky from one side to the other. It will be like that when the Son of Man returns. 28 If the dead body of an animal is lying somewhere, vultures will come together in that place.[c]

29 Then after all these bad things have happened,

“The sun will become dark.
The moon will not shine any more.
Stars will fall out of the sky.
And the powerful things in the sky will shake.”[d]

30 Then people will see a powerful thing in the sky. This will show them that the Son of Man is coming. All the families of people in the world will cry because they are very sad. Then they will see the Son of Man. He will be riding on the clouds in the sky. He will have great power and bright glory. 31 People will hear the sound of a loud trumpet. The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will go in every direction. They will bring together all the people that God has chosen from every part of the earth and from every part of the sky.’

Jesus tells a story about a fig tree

32 ‘Here is a lesson for you to learn about the fig tree. When the new branches on the tree start to grow, the leaves appear. Then you know that the summer will come soon. 33 In the same way, you will see all these strange things happening. Then you will know that the Son of Man will come very soon. He will be like someone at the door who is ready to come in. 34 I tell you this: The people who are alive now will not all die until all these things happen. 35 One day, the earth and the sky will have an end. But my words will be there for ever.’

Nobody will know when the Son of Man will return

36 Jesus then said, ‘Nobody knows the day or the hour when all these things will happen. Only God the Father knows when they will happen. The angels who are in heaven do not know. Even the Son does not know. 37 Remember what happened when Noah was alive.[e] It will be like that when the Son of Man returns to the earth. 38 In Noah's time, in the days before the flood, people were eating their meals every day. Men married women and women married men. They continued to do all these things until the day that Noah went into his big boat. 39 The people did not know what would happen. Then rain fell for a long time and all these people died in the deep water. When the Son of Man returns, it will happen quickly in the same way. 40 At that time, it will be like this: Two men will be working in a field. God will take one man away, but he will leave the other man behind. 41 Two women will be preparing food together in the same place. God will take one of them away, but he will leave the other woman behind.

42 So you must watch carefully! You do not know the day when your Master will come back. 43 You can be sure about this. The master of a house does not know at what time of night a man would come to rob him. If he knew the time, he would watch his house more carefully. He would not let the robber come into his house and take away his things. 44 So you must also be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time when you are not thinking about it.’

Jesus tells a story about two servants

45 Jesus then said, ‘You should be like a wise servant. Be someone that the master can trust. The master will choose a man like that. He will say to him, “Rule over my house and all my other servants. Give everyone their food to eat at the right time.” 46 That servant will be very happy when his master comes home. His master will see that he has done everything well. 47 Yes, I tell you this: The master will give that servant authority to rule over everything in his house. 48 But another servant might be bad. He might say to himself, “My master will not come yet.” 49 Then he begins to hit the other servants. He eats too much and he drinks too much. He meets with other people who become drunk. 50 Then the master of that servant will come home and he will surprise the servant. He did not think that his master would come home on that day or at that time. 51 Then the master will punish him a lot. He will put the servant with those people who do not obey him. The people in that place will cry and they will bite their teeth together.’

Footnotes

  1. 24:2 Jesus is talking about when the Romans would destroy Jerusalem in the year AD 70.
  2. 24:17 At that time, people often sat on the roof of their house after they had finished their work. The roof was flat, and it was cool there. People told each other news across the roofs. There were steps outside the house up onto the roof.
  3. 24:28 People know if there is a dead animal on the ground. When they see vultures flying in the sky, they know. In the same way, people will see the things happening that Jesus talked about. Then they will know that he will soon return.
  4. 24:29 See Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10.
  5. 24:37 We can read the story about Noah in Genesis 6. God sent the flood very quickly when the people were not thinking about it. Jesus will also return quickly when people are not thinking about it.
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Матай 24
Священное Писание (Восточный Перевод)

Иса Масих говорит о будущем(A)

24 Когда Иса, выйдя из храма, уже уходил, к Нему подошли ученики, которые хотели показать Ему здания храма.

2 – Видите всё это? – сказал им Иса. – Говорю вам истину: здесь не останется и камня на камне, всё будет разрушено.

3 Когда Иса сидел на Оливковой горе, ученики подошли к Нему без посторонних и спросили:

– Скажи нам, когда это произойдёт, и какое знамение укажет на Твоё возвращение и на конец нынешнего мира?

4 Иса ответил им:

– Смотрите, чтобы никто не обманул вас. 5 Потому что многие будут приходить под Моим именем, говоря: «Я Масих», и многих обманут. 6 Вы услышите о войнах, настоящих и грядущих, но пусть вас это не пугает. Всё это должно произойти, но это ещё не конец. 7 Потому что народ поднимется на народ и царство на царство, в разных местах будет голод и землетрясения. 8 Но всё это лишь начало родовых схваток.[a]

9 Тогда вас будут выдавать, мучить и убивать, и все народы будут ненавидеть вас из-за Меня. 10 Многие тогда отвернутся от веры, будут предавать и ненавидеть друг друга. 11 Появится много лжепророков, которые многих обманут. 12 И от умножения зла во многих охладеет любовь, 13 но тот, кто выстоит до конца, будет спасён. 14 Радостная Весть о Царстве будет возвещена по всему миру как свидетельство для всех народов, и только тогда наступит конец.

15 Итак, когда вы увидите на святом месте «осквернение, что ведёт к опустошению», о котором говорил пророк Даниял[b] (пусть читающий поймёт), 16 тогда те, кто находится в Иудее, пусть бегут в горы. 17 Кто окажется на крыше, пусть не спускается в дом за вещами, 18 и кто окажется в поле, пусть не возвращается за своим плащом. 19 Горе же беременным и кормящим грудью в те дни. 20 Молитесь, чтобы ваше бегство не случилось зимой или в субботу[c], 21 потому что таких бедствий, как в то время, не было от начала мира и доныне, и никогда больше не будет.[d] 22 И если бы те дни не были сокращены, то не уцелело бы ни одно живое существо, но ради избранных они будут сокращены.

Иса Масих говорит о Своём возвращении(B)

23 – Если кто-нибудь вам тогда скажет: «Смотрите! Масих здесь!» или «Он там!» – не верьте, 24 потому что явятся лжемасихи и лжепророки и покажут великие знамения и чудеса, чтобы обмануть, если удастся, даже избранных. 25 Смотрите, Я предсказал вам наперёд, 26 поэтому, если кто скажет вам: «Он там, в пустыне», не ходите, или: «Он там, в потайной комнате», не верьте, 27 потому что, как молния, которая, сверкая с востока, бывает видна и на западе, так будет и возвращение Ниспосланного как Человек. 28 Где будет труп, туда соберутся и стервятники.[e]

29 Сразу же после бедствий, которые будут в те дни,

«солнце померкнет,
    и луна не даст света,
звёзды упадут с неба,
    и небесные тела поколеблются».[f]

30 Тогда на небе появится знамение Ниспосланного как Человек, и все народы земли будут охвачены скорбью. Они увидят Ниспосланного как Человек, идущего на небесных облаках с силой и великой славой.[g] 31 Он пошлёт Своих ангелов, и те под громкий трубный зов соберут Его избранных с четырёх сторон света, от края и до края небес.

32 Пусть для вас примером будет инжир: когда почки набухают и выпускают листья, вы знаете, что приближается лето. 33 Так и здесь, когда вы увидите, что всё это сбывается, знайте, что Он уже близко, у самых дверей. 34 Говорю вам истину: ещё не исчезнет это поколение, как всё это произойдёт.[h] 35 Небо и земля исчезнут, но Мои слова останутся в силе.

Призыв к бодрствованию(C)

36 – Но о том дне и часе не знает никто, кроме Отца, – ни ангелы на небесах, ни Сын. 37 Но как было во времена Нуха[i], так будет и при возвращении Ниспосланного как Человек. 38 Перед потопом люди ели и пили, женились и выходили замуж, и так продолжалось вплоть до того дня, когда Нух вошёл в ковчег. 39 Они не понимали, что должно случиться, пока не пришёл потоп и не истребил их всех. Так будет и когда придёт Ниспосланный как Человек. 40 Двое будут работать в поле: один будет взят, а другой оставлен.[j] 41 Две женщины будут молоть на одной мельнице: одна будет взята, а другая оставлена.

42 Поэтому будьте всегда наготове, ведь вы не знаете, в какой день придёт ваш Повелитель. 43 Знайте, что если бы хозяин дома знал, в котором часу ночи придёт вор, то он сторожил бы свой дом и не позволил бы вору проникнуть в него. 44 Поэтому вы тоже должны быть готовы, потому что Ниспосланный как Человек придёт в час, когда вы Его не ждёте.

45 Кто тогда окажется верным и разумным рабом, которого хозяин поставил над другими рабами, чтобы вовремя раздавать им пищу? 46 Благословен тот раб, которого хозяин, когда вернётся, найдёт поступающим так. 47 Говорю вам истину: он доверит ему всё своё имение. 48 Но если это дурной раб, который решит: «Мой хозяин вернётся не скоро» – 49 и станет избивать своих товарищей, есть и пить с пьяницами, 50 то придёт его хозяин в тот день, когда он не ожидает, и в тот час, когда он не знает. 51 Он рассечёт его надвое и определит ему одну участь с лицемерами, – там, где будет плач и скрежет зубов.

Footnotes

  1. 24:8 Религиозные учители иудеев говорили о периоде ужасных страданий перед пришествием Масиха, которые они сравнивали с родовыми муками.
  2. 24:15 См. Дан. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. Пророчество Данияла исполнилось в 168 г. до н. э., когда Антиох Епифан осквернил храм в Иерусалиме, установив там статую Зевса и принеся ему в жертву свинью. Это событие было прообразом того, о чём говорил Иса Масих. Само же пророчество Исы частично исполнилось в 70 г., когда храм был разрушен римлянами, а в полноте оно свершится в конце времён (см. 2 Фес. 2:3-4; Отк. 11:2).
  3. 24:20 Суббота была иудейским религиозным днём отдыха (см. пояснительный словарь), и в связи с этим возникли бы определённые трудности.
  4. 24:21 См. Дан. 12:1; Иоиль 2:2.
  5. 24:28 Существует множество толкований этого стиха. Вот два наиболее вероятных: 1) где моральное разложение достигнет своего апогея, там неизбежно будут и суды Всевышнего; 2) как по кружащим в небе стервятникам можно безошибочно определить, что там лежит труп, так и пришествие Масиха будет явным для всех.
  6. 24:29 Ис. 13:10; 34:4; см. также Езек. 32:7; Иоиль 2:10, 31; 3:15; Агг. 2:6, 21; Отк. 6:12-13.
  7. 24:30 См. Зак. 12:10-14; Дан. 7:13.
  8. 24:34 Существует три основных толкования этих слов: 1) имеется в виду поколение, которое будет свидетелем всех вышеописанных космических катаклизмов и второго пришествия Исы Масиха; 2) так как стоящее здесь слово можно перевести и как «поколение», и как «род», то, возможно, здесь говорится об иудейском народе; 3) имеется в виду поколение, жившее во времена Исы Масиха и ставшее свидетелем разрушения Иерусалима в 70 г. В третьем случае слова «всё это произойдёт» относятся не к событиям последнего времени, но к пророчеству об Иерусалиме.
  9. 24:37 Нух   – также известен как Ной.
  10. 24:40 Взят… оставлен – существуют два основных толкования этих слов: 1) Повелитель Иса заберёт Своих последователей, а другие останутся для наказания; 2) грешники будут взяты на Суд, а Его последователи останутся. В любом случае, видно, что будет разделение, критерием которого станет вера и жизнь людей.
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Matthew 24
New International Version

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. 2 “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.”

3 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)

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.(F) 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.(G) 6 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. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(H) There will be famines(I) and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “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.
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Matthew 24
New Catholic Bible

Instructions for the Coming of the Kingdom[a]

Chapter 24

The Time of the End[b]

Jesus Announces the Destruction of the Temple.[c] 1 As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to call his attention to the buildings of the temple. 2 He thereupon said to them, “Do you see all these? Amen, I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down.”

The End Has Not Yet Come.[d] 3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached and spoke to him when they were alone. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered them, “Take care that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed, for those things are bound to happen, but the end is still to come. 7 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are only the beginning of the labor pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be tortured and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 At that time, many will fall away from the faith; they will betray and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and lead many astray, 12 and with the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But whoever endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the entire world as a testimony offered to all the nations. And then the end will come.

15 The Great Trial.[e]“Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, about which the prophet Daniel spoke, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, 17 the one who is standing on the roof must not come down to collect what is in his house, 18 and someone who is in the field must not turn back to retrieve his coat.

19 “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that you will not have to take flight in the winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering that has not been equaled since the beginning of the world until now, and will never again be duplicated. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect they will be shortened.

23 False Messiahs and False Prophets.“Therefore, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There he is,’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform great signs and wonders that are impressive enough to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

25 “Remember, I have forewarned you about this. 26 So if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there. If they say, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even in the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.[f]

29 The Coming of the Son of Man.[g]“Immediately after the distress of those days,

‘the sun will be darkened
    and the moon will not give forth 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 heaven, and all the peoples 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 And he will send forth his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Be Vigilant in Expectation of the End[h]

32 The Parable of the Fig Tree.[i]“Learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things take place, know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

36 The Day and Hour Unknown.[j]“As for the exact day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. 39 They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and swept them all away.

“That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other will be left. 42 Therefore, keep watch, for you do not know the day when your Lord is coming.

43 The Parable of the Owner of the House.[k]“But keep this in mind: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, you must also be prepared, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 The Parable of the Faithful Servant.[l]“Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give its members their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant if his master finds him doing so when he returns home. 47 Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

48 “But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is detained,’ 49 and he proceeds to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will return on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:1 Five discourses give the Gospel of Matthew its characteristic structure. Here is the last discourse, which brings together prophecies and parables that speak of the last times of humanity and distinguish its phases. At the center of the scenario is the return of Christ. This great passage is known as the “eschatological discourse,” because it deals with the end, the last times (Greek: eschaton).
  2. Matthew 24:1 The prophetic sayings about the last “days” abound in descriptions of panic, wars, earthquakes, and cosmic upheavals; these descriptions are called “apocalypses,” that is, “revelations.” They defy the imagination in order better to bring out the greatness of God’s manifestation in the history of humanity (see Isa 13:10-13; Jer 21:9; Ezek 5:12; Am 8:8-9; Joel 2:10; 3:3; 4:17-21). Jesus makes use of this entire scenario in order to warn believers about the trials and conflicts in which their fidelity will be tested, and in order to encourage the missionaries of the Gospel.
  3. Matthew 24:1 Jesus announces the destruction of the temple, which is the sign of God’s presence among his people. Hence, one must envisage a radical change in the religious life.
  4. Matthew 24:3 There are many indications of Christ’s coming at the end of the world. However, no one should be mistaken. Neither the explosion of religious movements, nor the confusion of human societies, nor the catastrophes that pervade human history are signs of the end. The believer must stand fast under trials, which may appear to be excessive at times.
  5. Matthew 24:15 The abomination of desolation: was a pagan idol placed in the midst of the Jerusalem temple (see Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; 1 Mac 1:54). The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is described here in order to convey a lesson about the future.
  6. Matthew 24:28 A popular proverb cited also in Lk 17:37. In this context it signifies both the uncertain time of the Lord’s coming and his universal presence.
  7. Matthew 24:29 The coming of the Son of Man is described in the words of the Old Testament (see Isa 13:9-10; 34:4; Am 5:18; Zec 12:10) in order to express the glory and power of God and the confusion of humanity. Christ dead and risen: this is the sign that converts human beings.
  8. Matthew 24:32 The perspective of the end of the world must keep the community on its guard. But it also concerns each disciple, for it has an effect on the end of each individual too. Let everyone be vigilant and active so as not to find oneself barred from the kingdom.
  9. Matthew 24:32 This parable is intended to revive the hope of the first Christians, who are under persecution, with the perspective of the proximity of the glorious kingdom, in accord with the schema of the apocalyptic tradition. Indeed, every Christian lives in this expectation, for with Christ the last period of history has begun.
  10. Matthew 24:36 The early Church is exhorted not to fall into indifference because judgment comes less quickly than expected. The life of humans cannot be exhausted in the gloomy flow of hours and days; it has another horizon: the coming of God, which is unforeseeable but completely certain. It hovers like a threat over the uncaring who seclude themselves in their securities. But it is a power and a source of strength for believers.
  11. Matthew 24:43 This very brief parable of the owner of the house and the thief reinforces the theme of vigilance, for one does not know when the Son of Man will come.
  12. Matthew 24:45 Jesus addresses the religious leaders of his time to place them on guard: the time to render accounts has arrived. But the coming of God is still to take place, and the disciples will be tempted to no longer believe in it. The parable of the faithful servant remains a wake-up call for them. The religious leaders and Christians must not neglect to work for the kingdom as if the Master were always present—God is in their midst.
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