CHAPTER XXIV. ND a Jesus went out, and departed from the temple; and his disciples came to him

h Ps.118.26. c.21.9. a Mar.13.1. Lu.21.5.

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

b 1Ki.9.7. Je.26.18. Lu. 19.44.

that cometh. "He that should come," as John's disciples termed the Messiah. It was a title by which the predicted Messenger of the Covenant was known. See Mal. 3. 1.

OBSERVE (1.) The sins of religious teachers are most odious before God. (2.) Ostentatious hypocrisy is abomiǹable in God's sight, and shall be visited with terrible woes, here and hereafter. "Behold the goodness and severity of God" (Rom. 11. 22).

Mark.

Luke. 21.5-19

John.

1-14 1. And Jesus went out. This departure from the temple, expressed in immediate action, what should more fully and fearfully come to pass. He had "come to His temple," as the prophet had said, and now He was about to leave it to destruction. He was passing now out of the city to the Mount of Olives. This temple was of most costly and solid structure. The several buildings included courts, towers, walls, porches, &c. Mark speaks of the stones as being pointed at by the disciples. Luke also speaks of their calling attention to the massive and magnificent materials. Some of these stones were forty cubits long, six wide, and five high-or about sixty feet in length, about nine in neight, &c. Some such enormous

Matt.

Mark. 1 Luke. John: 12.41-44 21. 1-4

:

12.20-36

12.37-50

blocks are thought to have remained in the north-east wall toward Olivet, since Solomon's time. They regarded this building as beyond possible destruction. And it was the boast and glory of the Jewish nation. 2. Verily I say unto you. He now takes occasion to foretell the utter ruin of the temple, buildings, &c. The massive structure should be levelled with the ground. This was literally fulfilled to such an incredible extent. The Roman conqueror Titus sought to spare the temple, but the Jews would not come to terms. He even gave orders to extinguish the flames. And after its fall, the foundations were actually ploughed up, in search of the treasure that so abounded in the furniture and vessels. See Josephus-Alexander's Evidences. It is estimated that in the erection of the first temple (Solomon's), 183,000 men were employed seven years-48,000 tons of gold and silver used, computed at $35,520,000, besides immense quantities of brass, iron and stone.

3. The Mount of Olives-is one of "the mountains round about Jerusalem." It overlooked the city, and was about 625 paces east. Between lay the valley of Jehoshaphat-the brook Cedron-and the garden of Gethsemane. Mark mentions Peter, James, John, and Andrew, as inquiring of Christ. They went to Him privately as Nicodemus did, because they were amazed, and in the dark, and full of secret misgivings and doubts which they would have Him relieve. They asked of the signs of His coming and of the end of the world, because they had always believed that the temple would stand till the world should end. His coming here refers to the last verse of the last chapter, where He had hinted of such an event. The answer is such as applies both to the destruction of Jerusalem and to the end of the world.

4, 5. Take heed, &c. Beware of deceivers. Many should come in His name—that is, claiming to be Christ, and bearing His name. As the Messiah was generally looked for at that time, and as Jesus was disbelieved by the Jews, many deceivers would naturally claim to be the true Messiah. Josephus tells us that this was actually the case, and that many went after them and followed their false teachings. See

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and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars, f 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

f Da.ch.11. g Hag.2.21,22. h Lu.21.12. Alexander's Evidences.T In my name. Not by my authority, but claiming it.

6-8. Wars, &c. The world was now at peace, therefore this marked change in affairs should be a sign. And though wars and commotions, were not peculiar to any age or clime, yet men should remark these things as precursors of the end. They were mentioned here, rather to show that such commotions must be met firstthat these were not the end-that the disciples must not be soon shaken in mind, nor troubled at such agitations as though the end had come (2 Thess. 2. 2). But they must prepare for the rest and worst, that should follow. Wars and rumors (or reports) of wars abounded throughout the Roman empire, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. (See Josephus and Tacitus.)

-T The end is not yet. Luke has it, "is not by and by," that is, not immediately, as the phrase meant.

The

7. Famines and pestilences. terms and things are often connected. Comp. Acts 11. 28. In Greece, and Rome, and Palestine, there were famines prior to the end. -↑ Earthquakes. Pompeii was nearly destroyed by an earthquake, and several cities are mentioned in Asia Minor as being overthrown-also in Greece. Earthquakes presaged time of distress. (See Joel 3. 16; 2. 10.

you up to be afflicted, and shall kill i you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many bei offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

i Jno.16.2. Ac.7.59. j c.13.21.

8. Sorrows. This term signifies the pangs of childbirth, to which severe afflictions and judgments are frequently compared in the scriptures -also in other writers.

9. Then. Luke has it, "before these things." The persecutions of the Christians commenced shortly after Christ's ascension, and continued after the city's destruction.¶ Deliver you up, &c., i. e. to the authorities. Mark has it, "to councils" or the Sanhedrim. To be afflicted, literally to tribulation, to be tried and punished-" and ye shall be beaten in the synagogues, and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake," &c.; and all this shall be for a testimony in behalf of the gospel and against the persecutors (Mark 13. 9). These things happened after our Lord's resurrection, and are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Peter and John suffered imprisonment (Acts 4. 3). So did Paul and Silas (Acts 16. 24), and they were beaten (16. 23). James was killed by Herod (Acts 12. 2). Peter was put to death in the persecution under Nero, before the destruction of Jerusalem, as Christ forewarned (John 21. 18). It was also considered a crime to be a Christian, and adherence to Christ was a sufficient cause for persecution to death.

10. Shall be offended. Many shall be turned away from this religion, because of its trials, and many who had professed to follow Christ should fall away and desert His cause.————— ¶ Betray one another. Tacitus states that in Nero's persecution, several were seized at first who confessed, and by their information a multitude of

others were convicted and slain. Such shall be the bitterness and severity that shall prevail. Many, to save themselves, will prove treacherous to their fellow-professors-not only deserting them, but handing them over to their persecutors. Luke says “ that this shall be done by parents and brethren, and kinsfolk and friends." And the hatred against Christians would be such as to destroy all natural affection. Phygellus and Hermogenes forsook Paul (2 Tim. 1. 15). Hymeneus and Philetus were apostates (2 Tim. 2. 17, 18).

11. Many false prophets. Of such also, Josephus is found to testify. Many such appeared during the siege, predicting help from God, to embolden the Jews, and make them obstinate.

12. And because iniquity. A caution to the disciples. This is mentioned in this way to show that those times of persecution should be calculated to overthrow the faith of some, and, if possible, destroy the love and trust of the very elect. The general prevalence of iniquity (literally lawlessness,) would be such as to discountenance Christianity, and it would have a fearful effect upon the love of many, which would wax (or grow) cold on this account. So the fear of persecution and of desertion by friends, would cool the ardor of Christians.

13. He that shall endure, &c. No Christian professor could expect salvation unless he endured to the end. Luke adds encouragements and exhortations. "There shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls." This however is a principle of universal appli