The big picture
Matthew 24 opens in verse 1 with “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 26 with “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold…”, and closes in verse 51 with “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall…” Repeated or prominent terms include coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Matthew · King James Version · 51Matthew 24:1-8
1–8: Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to…
Matthew 24:1–8 opens with “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him…” and reaches “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by Jesus, deceive, disciples.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Matthew 24:1-8
King James Version1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2And 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.
3And 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?
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6And 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.
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:9-16
9–16: Shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye…
Matthew 24:9–16 opens with “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all…” and reaches “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by nations, abomination, abound.
Context that brings the passage to life
“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Matthew 24:9-16
King James Version9Then 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.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Matthew 24:17-24
17–24: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of…
Matthew 24:17–24 opens with “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:” and reaches “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by days, false, shortened.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:” The line’s distinctive content terms include house, housetop, thing. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!” The line’s distinctive content terms include child, days, suck. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 24:17-24
King James Version17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24For 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.
Matthew 24:25-32
25–32: Behold, I have told you before.
Matthew 24:25–32 opens with “Behold, I have told you before.” and reaches “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by heaven, coming, angels.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Behold, I have told you before.” The line’s distinctive content terms include told. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Matthew 24:25-32
King James Version25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore 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.
27For 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.
28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29Immediately 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:
30And 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.
31And 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.
32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Matthew 24:33-40
33–40: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is…
Matthew 24:33–40 opens with “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” and reaches “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by coming, days, flood.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Matthew 24:33-40
King James Version33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38For 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,
39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matthew 24:41-48
41–48: Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the…
Matthew 24:41–48 opens with “Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” and reaches “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by lord, servant, cometh.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Matthew 24:41-48
King James Version41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43But 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.
44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Matthew 24:49-51
49–51: Shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the…
Matthew 24:49–51 opens with “And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;” and reaches “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 24 develops its own movement around coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, with particular weight carried by appoint, asunder, aware.
Matthew 24:49-51
King James Version49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50The 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,
51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Matthew 24:1 begins with “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.”
Where the chapter turns
Matthew 24:23 forms a natural hinge: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.”
The final note
Matthew 24:51 leaves the reader with “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words coming, days, heaven, lord, deceive, hour help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does Rebekah contribute beyond family eligibility?
Energy, hospitality and a direct decision to make the journey.
Why is the servant's retelling so long?
It presents the sequence to the family and explains why he sees divine guidance in it.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.