Matthew 24:20 - Flight on a Sabbath (1st century historical understanding?)
Matthew 24:20 (1st century historical fulfillment?)
Matthew 24:19 - Woe to the ones nursing (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:20
Matthew 24:21 - Great tribulation (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:20: "And be-praying that your flight may not take-place (in) winter, nor (on a) Sabbath."
The same Greek words that are used in the various passages will be CAPITALIZED.
Summary
Jesus said to His 1st century disciples to "be-praying that your flight may not take-place (in) winter, nor (on a) Sabbath" (Matthew 24:20). 4 verses earlier, Jesus referred to a flight to the mountains, commanding: "let the (ones) in Judea be-fleeing to the mountains" (Matthew 24:16).
In the parallel account in Luke, this flight would need to be done "when you-see Jerusalem being-surrounded by army-encampments, then recognize that her desolation has-drawn-near. At-that-time let the (ones) in Judea be-fleeing to the mountains" (Luke 21:20-21). Around the start of the First Jewish-Roman War in the 1st century, Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem, ending up to its desolation around AD 70. Christians in Judea around that time were recorded to have fled to a town called Pella.
One understanding can be that Jesus would have said to be-praying that this flight may not take place on a Sabbath because in the 1st century Jewish people in Judea would have restrictions for travels on the Sabbath to a certain distance. These restrictions may not have allowed the Christians to flee to a safe distance in order to obey that command from Jesus, and so Jesus would have told them to pray that their flight may not take place on a Sabbath.
You can find below evidences for that.
1st century audience?
Jesus said in Matthew 24:20: "be-praying that your flight may not take-place (in) winter, nor (on a) Sabbath".
Jesus here commanded His 1st century disciples to "be-praying" (Matthew 24:20) about "your" (Matthew 24:20) flight.
Jesus addressed here His 1st century disciples, as 18 verses earlier "the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us" (Matthew 24:3) and "having-responded, Jesus said (to) them" (Matthew 24:4) these things.
Your flight?
Jesus said: "be-praying that your flight may not take-place (in) winter, nor (on a) Sabbath" (Matthew 24:20). 4 verses earlier, Jesus referred to a flight to the mountains, commanding: "let the (ones) in Judea be-fleeing to the mountains" (Matthew 24:16).
In ancient manuscripts of this verse, the Greek noun for "flight" [phugé 5437 in Greek] used in Matthew 24:20 comes etymologically from the Greek verb for "be-fleeing" [pheugо́ 5343 in Greek] used in Matthew 24:16.
In the parallel account in Luke, this flight would need to be done "when you-see Jerusalem being-surrounded by army-encampments, then recognize that her desolation has-drawn-near. At-that-time let the (ones) in Judea be-fleeing to the mountains" (Luke 21:20-21).
Around the start of the First Jewish-Roman War in the 1st century, Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem, ending up to its desolation around AD 70. Christians in Judea around that time were recorded to have fled to a town called Pella.
For evidences of that:
Matthew 24:15 & Luke 21:20 - Jerusalem surrounded by armies (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:16 - Flee to the mountains (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Flight on a Sabbath?
Jesus said to be praying that your flight may not take place "(on a) Sabbath" (Matthew 24:20).
One understanding can be that Jesus would have said to be-praying that this flight may not take place on a Sabbath because in the 1st century Jewish people in Judea would have restrictions for travels on the Sabbath to a certain distance.
Restrictions of travel on a Sabbath?
For example, in Acts when the disciples returned from a mountain near Jerusalem, it is indicated that this mountain was one Sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem: "Then they-returned to Jerusalem from (the) mountain being-called ‘(of) Olives’, which is near Jerusalem (having (a) Sabbath’s (day) journey)" (Acts 1:12). Even though this mountain was "near Jerusalem" (Acts 1:12), yet it had a Sabbath's day journey, implying that a specific restriction for traveling may have applied on a Sabbath.
A 1st century historian also confirmed this when writing about events happening near Jerusalem.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "Antiquities of the Jews":
"And truly he did not speak falsely in saying so; for the festival, which we call Pentecost, did then fall out to be the next day to the Sabbath: nor is it lawful for us to journey, either on the Sabbath day, or on a festival day."
The gates of Jerusalem closed on a Sabbath?
In ancient times the gates of Jerusalem were shut on the Sabbath, which would have been preventing fleeing that city on that day.
For example, it is written in Nehemiah: "when (the) gates of Jerusalem were set up before the Sabbath, that I spoke, and they shut the gates; and I said that not to open them until after the Sabbath. Then I set from my servants at the gates, that not to be bringing burdens on (the) day of the Sabbath" (Nehemiah 13:19).
Another example, in Jeremiah: "Thus says the LORD: “Be keeping your souls under guard, and stop taking burdens on the day of the Sabbath, and stop going out in the gates of Jerusalem. And stop carrying burdens out of your houses on the day of the Sabbath, and all work you will not do" (Jeremiah 17:21-22) "if a hearing, you shall hear Me,” says the LORD, “to not to be carrying burdens through the gates of this city on the day of the Sabbaths" (Jeremiah 17:24).
Jewish leaders in the 1st century were strict in their application of restrictions on a Sabbath
In the 1st century, Jewish leaders were strict in their application of restrictions on a Sabbath.
For example: "Jesus went through the grainfields (on) the Sabbath. And His disciples were-hungry and began to-pluck heads and eat. And the Pharisees, having-seen (it), said (to) Him, “Behold — Your disciples are-doing what is not lawful to-be-doing on (a) Sabbath" (Matthew 12:1-2).
Another example: Jesus was in a "synagogue" (Matthew 12:9) and "(there was a) man having (a) withered hand. And they-questioned Him, saying, ‘Is it-lawful to-heal (on) the Sabbath?’ — in-order-that they-might-accuse Him" (Matthew 12:10).
Another example: "the man became healthy, and picked-up his cot and was-walking. Now it-was (a) Sabbath on that day. So the Jews were-saying (to) the (one) having-been-cured, “It-is (the) Sabbath, and it-is not lawful (for) you to-pick-up your cot”" (John 5:9-10), "The man went-away and reported (to) the Jews that Jesus was the (One) having-made him healthy. And for this reason, the Jews were-persecuting Jesus — because He-was-doing these (things) on (a) Sabbath" (John 5:15-16).
Another example: "it-was (a) Sabbath on the day Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Therefore the Pharisees also were-asking him again how he-received-sight. And the (one) said (to) them, “He-put mud on my eyes, and I-washed, and I-see”. Then some of the Pharisees were-saying, “This man is not from God, because He-does not keep the Sabbath”" (John 9:14-16).
All the restrictions combined may not have allowed the Christians to flee to a safe distance in order to obey that command from Jesus, and so Jesus would have told them to pray that their flight may not take place "(on a) Sabbath" (Matthew 24:20).
Early Christian author
An early Christian author would have written about this.
In the 4th century, a Christian author named Chrysostom wrote in "Homilies on Matthew":
Homily 76: "But wherefore neither in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day? Not in the winter, because of the difficulty arising from the season; not on the Sabbath day, because of the absolute authority exercised by the law. For since they had need of flight, and of the swiftest flight, but neither would the Jews dare to flee on the Sabbath day, because of the law, neither in winter was such a thing easy; therefore, Pray ye, says He;"
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