John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 24:4 - 24:4

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John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 24:4 - 24:4


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Mat 24:4. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, κ.τ.λ., and Jesus answered and said, unto them, etc.) The disciples had asked without distinguishing their questions-(1) Concerning the time of the destruction of the temple; (2) Concerning the sign of the coming of the Lord and the end of the world, as if both events would occur simultaneously, and consequently have a common time and a common sign. Our Lord answers them distinctly [and separately]-(1) Concerning the destruction of the temple and the city, and the signs of this event, in Mat 24:4-5; Mat 24:15-16; (2) Concerning His coming and the end of the world, and the signs of that event, in Mat 24:29-31; (3) Concerning the time when the temple was to be destroyed, in Mat 24:32-33; (4) Concerning the time of the end of the world, in Mat 24:36. Thus is it also in St Mark, and St Luke, who in ch. Mat 21:11; Mat 21:25, distinguishes the signs of each event.-βλέπετε, see) i.e. take heed. We ought to inquire concerning future events, especially those of the last days, not for the sake of gratifying our curiosity, but from a desire to fortify ourselves. All things in this discourse must be referred to firmness in acknowledging and confessing Jesus Christ; for the drift and object of the prophecy is to enforce this duty: other matters, which we might make use of for mere knowledge, are mentioned abruptly and obscurely. A thesis on the perspicuity and perfection of Scripture might be suitably illustrated from this discourse of our Lord.-ὑμᾶς, you) This is said not so much to the apostles, who were shortly to receive the Holy Ghost, as to the whole flock of believers whom they then represented, lest they should be seduced by the greater perils to which they would be exposed. The beginning is Prudence; the end, Patience.