Matthew 24 - Introduction (easy framework to understand) 

Easy framework to understand Matthew 24:

Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 about things to come. There can be an easy framework to start looking at them:

Matthew 24:1-2: Jesus prophesied that the temple His disciples were showing Him will be torn down.

➜ Jesus said that around AD 30.

Matthew 24:3: His disciples asked: "When?".

Matthew 24:4-33: Jesus described events leading up to it.

Matthew 24:34: Jesus concluded that all these events will take place within this generation. 

➜ The temple that His disciples were showing Him ended up being torn down around AD 70.

This can be a framework to look further into what Jesus prophesied. When Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:4-33 about events leading up to the temple that they were showing Him being torn down, we may look at events that happened within around AD 30 leading up to around AD 70.

1st century audience:

Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 about things to a 1st century audience, addressing that audience directly, as after being asked "when" in Matthew 24:3 by His 1st century disciples, it is then written that in Matthew 24:4: "Jesus said (to) THEM, “BE-WATCHING-OUT (that) no one may-deceive YOU.". Jesus then continued, saying: 

Matthew 24:6: "And YOU-will-be-about (to) hear (of) wars and rumors (of) wars. See (that) YOU are not alarmed"

Matthew 24:9: "At-that-time they-will-hand YOU over to affliction, and they-will-kill YOU. And YOU-will-be being-hated by all the nations because-of My name."

Matthew 24:15: "Therefore when YOU-see the abomination (of) desolation"

Matthew 24:20: "And BE-PRAYING that YOUR flight may not take-place (in) winter, nor (on a) Sabbath."

Matthew 24:23: "At-that-time if someone says (to) YOU, ‘Behold, here (is) the Christ,’ or ‘Here’, DO NOT BELIEVE (it)."

Matthew 24:25: "Behold, I-have-foretold YOU."

Matthew 24:26: "Therefore, if they-say (to) YOU, ‘Behold, He-is in the wilderness’, DO NOT GO-OUT"

Matthew 24:33: "So also YOU, when YOU-see all these (things), YOU know that (it) is near, at (the) doors."

Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) YOU that this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place."

Matthew 24:42: "Therefore KEEP-WATCHING, because YOU do not know (on) which day your Lord is-coming."

Matthew 24:44: "For this reason YOU also BE PREPARED (ones), because the Son (of) Man is-coming (at an) hour which YOU-do not expect."

1st century setting:

Jesus prophesied in the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21) about things to come. There are things described that can be consistent with the description of a 1st century setting. For example:

Matthew 24:17: "Let the (one) UPON THE HOUSETOP not go-down to-take the (things) out-of his house." 

➜ In the 1st century setting, a lot of roofs would have been flat and people could be on them.

Matthew 24:20: "be-praying that your flight may not take-place (in) winter, nor (on a) SABBATH". 

➜ This can imply a 1st century setting with restrictions of traveling on the 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.

Matthew 24:41: "two (women) GRINDING AT THE MILL, one is-taken, and one is-left.". 

➜ In a 1st century setting, it could have been common to find women GRINDING AT THE MILL.

 

Luke 21:24: "And they-will-fall (by the) edge (of the) SWORD". 

➜ Here Jesus mentioned a SWORD as weaponry, which is consistent to the weaponry of a 1st century setting.

1st century imminence:

Jesus prophesied in the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21) about things that could have been apprehended as imminent in the 1st century. For example, Jesus said to His 1st century disciples:

Matthew 24:6: "YOU-WILL-BE-ABOUT (to) hear (of) wars and rumors (of) wars". 

➜ The Greek word for "YOU-WILL-BE-ABOUT" [melló 3195 in Greek] is a verb that can be translated as "IS-ABOUT-TO".

Matthew 24:34: "Truly I-say (to) you that THIS GENERATION BY-NO-MEANS WILL-PASS-AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE (THINGS) TAKE-PLACE."

Luke 21:36: "be-sleepless in every season, praying that you-may-prevail to-flee-from all these (things) BEING-ABOUT to-take-place". 

➜ The Greek word for "BEING-ABOUT" [melló 3195 in Greek] is a verb that can be translated as "IS-ABOUT-TO".

1st century historical events:

Jesus prophesied around AD 30 in Matthew 24 about things to come. 

Historical events from around AD 30 leading up to around AD 70 match a lot of His descriptions. 

For more information:

Matthew 24 & 1st century events in chronological order:
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