Matthew 24:1-51 King James Version

The Olivet Discourse – Focuses on the End Times, Signs of Jesus’ Second Coming, and The Final Judgement

Matthew 24:1-51 King James Version. Matthew Chapter 24 is often referred to as the “Olivet Discourse,” as Jesus delivers this prophetic teaching to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. The chapter primarily focuses on the end times, the signs of Jesus’ second coming, and the final judgment.

This chapter is a complex and challenging one that provides important teachings about vigilance, preparedness, and faithfulness in anticipation of the end times and Jesus’ return.

Matthew 24:1-51 King James Version
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Prediction of the Temple’s Destruction – Verses 1-2

Jesus begins by predicting the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which astonishes His disciples.

Critique of Pride and Showmanship – Verses 5-12

The religious leaders are criticized for their desire for public recognition and status. They seek honorific titles and places of prominence, valuing outward appearances over inner righteousness

Signs of the End Times – Verses 3-14

• Deception and False Messiahs: Jesus warns that many will come in His name, claiming to be the Messiah, and will deceive many (verses 4-5).
• Wars and Rumors of Wars: There will be conflicts and threats of wars, but these are just the beginning of the birth pains (verses 6-8).
• Natural Disasters and Famines: Earthquakes and famines will occur, contributing to the turmoil (verse 7).
• Persecution of Believers: Followers of Jesus will face persecution, hatred, and betrayal (verses 9-10).
• False Prophets and Lawlessness: The rise of false prophets and an increase in wickedness will cause many to turn away from their faith (verses 11-12).
• The Gospel Proclaimed Worldwide: Despite these challenges, the gospel will be preached to all nations before the end comes (verse 14).

The Great Tribulation – Verses 15-28

• The Abomination of Desolation: Jesus refers to the prophecy of Daniel about the abomination of desolation, indicating a time of severe tribulation (verses 15-21).
• Unprecedented Suffering: This period will be marked by unparalleled distress, and if not shortened, no one would survive (verses 21-22).
• Warnings Against False Christs and Prophets: Jesus warns not to be misled by false claims about His return, as His coming will be unmistakable and visible to all (verses 23-28).

The Coming of the Son of Man – Verses 29-31

• Cosmic Signs: There will be dramatic signs in the heavens, including the darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of stars (verse 29).
• The Return of Christ: Jesus will return with great power and glory, and His coming will be as visible as lightning (verse 30).
• Gathering of the Elect: Angels will gather the elect from all over the world (verse 31).

The Lesson of the Fig Tree – Verses 32-35

Jesus uses the fig tree as an illustration, saying that just as one can tell summer is near by the budding leaves, so can the signs He described indicate that His coming is near.

The Unknown Day and Hour – Verses 36-51

• No One Knows the Time: Jesus emphasizes that no one, not even the angels or Himself, knows the exact day or hour of His return, only the Father (verse 36).
• The Days of Noah: His coming will be sudden and unexpected, similar to the days of Noah when people were unaware until the flood came (verses 37-39).
• Be Watchful and Ready: Jesus encourages His followers to stay vigilant and ready, as they do not know when He will return (verses 42-44).
• Faithful and Wise Servants: Those who are faithful and wise, doing what they are supposed to when the master returns, will be rewarded (verses 45-47).
• Warning Against Complacency: Those who become complacent and neglect their duties will face severe consequences (verses 48-51).

Matthew 24:1-51 King James Version

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.