Matthew 24:15-28
(Mark 13:15-23; Luke 21:20-24)
Suggested further reading: Daniel 9:20-27
One main subject of this part of our Lord's prophecy is the taking
of Jerusalem by the Romans. That great event took place about
forty years after the words we have now read were spoken. A full
account of it is to be found in the writings of Josephus. Those writings
are the best comment on our Lord's words. They are a striking proof
of the accuracy of every minute part of his predictions. The
horrors and miseries the Jews endured throughout the siege of their
city exceed anything on record.
It surprises some to find so much importance attached to
the taking of Jerusalem. They would rather regard the whole chapter
as unfulfilled. Such persons forget that Jerusalem and the temple
were the heart of the old Jewish dispensation. When they were
destroyed the old Mosaic system came to an end. The daily sacrifice, the
yearly feasts, the altar, the holy of holies, the priesthood were all
essential parts of revealed religion till Christ came, but no longer. When
he died upon the cross their work was done. They were dead and it
only remained that they should be buried. But it was not fitting that
this should be done quietly. The ending of a dispensation given with
as much solemnity as at Mount Sinai might well be expected to
be marked with peculiar solemnity. The destruction of the holy
temple, where so many saints had seen shadows of the good things to
come, might well be expected to form a subject of prophecy. The
Lord Jesus especially predicts the desolation of the holy place. The
great High Priest describes the end of the dispensation which had been
a schoolmaster to bring men to himself.
Flight from danger may sometimes be the positive duty of a
Christian (v. 16). The servant of Christ undoubtedly is not to be a
coward. He is to be willing to die if needs be for the truth. But
the servant of Christ is not to run into danger unless it comes in the
line of duty. He is not to be ashamed to use reasonable means to
provide for his personal safety when no good is done by dying at his
post. We must avoid being rash, as well as being cowards, avoiding
the stopping of our usefulness by being over-hot and well as being
over-cold!
For meditation: God destroys that which fails to fulfil its
function.
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