A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
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 to them, See ye not all theſe things? Verily I ſay to you, There ſhall not be left here one ſtone upon another that ſhall not be thrown down.
1.2. All this ſhall be caſt down for the Sin of this People.
3. And as he ſate on the mount of Olives, his diſciples came to 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.
3. They deſired him that had ſo oft told them, that he muſt be Crucifyed, and Riſe again, and yet come again, to tell them the meaning, and ſigns of this his coming, which they did not well underſtand. Some Expoſitors of this hard Chapter think, That the Queſtion meaneth no more, than [what ſhall be the Signs of thy Coming to Deſtroy Jeruſalem; and of the end of their Policie. Others think, That they expected that Chriſt ſhould preſently come, and Reign at Jeruſalem and ſet up a Kingdom ſo excellent, as ſhould be the beginning of a New Age, or World; as Noahs after the Deluge, when all the World of wicked men ſhould ſubmit to him or be deſtroyed. Others ſay, That theſe queſtions are put of different things, and times, and accordingly Anſwered, 1. When the Temple ſhould be Deſtroyed? 2. When Chriſt would ſet up his Viſible Kingdome. 3. When the World ſhould End? The two firſt undoubtedly they meant; but by his Coming I do not think they meant, either his ſending the Roman Army, nor his Coming at the Day of Reſurrection and Judgment; but his Coming to be a Viſible Monarch, and Declaring himſelf King, and Reigning accordingly. And 3. By the End of the World, whether they meant the utter Deſolation at laſt, or the End of the Unreformed, Age, or World, which his Kingdom ſhould overthrow, I am not certain. And though Chriſt do not preſently blame their miſ-expectations, his Anſwers approve them not, but tend to rectifie them.
4. And Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5. For many ſhall come in my name, ſaying, I am Chriſt, and ſhall deceive many.
4.5. Its true, that this Temple ſhall be deſtroyed, and my Kingdom ſhall be ſet up, and the world of Enemies be ſubdued, (and that of Nature be diſſolved.) But for your Queſtion of the time, let me firſt admoniſh you to be fortified by Patience and Faith, againſt many Deceivers, that will for tryal be permitted to pretend, that not I, but they are the true Meſſiah: (ſuch were Simon, Doſitheas, Theudas,) and look not for a Viſible Monarch.
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.
6. There will be fearful Commotions, Riſings, and Wars, before theſe things come to paſs; Let not that diſturb you.
7.8. For nation ſhall riſe againſt nation, and kingdom againſt kingdom, and there ſhall be famines, and peſtilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All theſe are the beginning of ſorrows.
7.8. Wars by ſedition among your ſelves, and Wars of other Nations, with other Plagues and Commotions, and Signes, ſhall be but fore-runners of that ſorrowful time.
9. Then ſhall they deliver you up to be affl…cted, and ſhall kill you: and ye ſhall be hated of all nations for my Name ſake.
9. And before that day fore-know, what ſhall befall your ſelves: Perſecution, Murder, and common Hatred, for my Name ſake.
10. And then many ſhall be offended, and ſhall betray one another, and ſhall hate one another.
10. And the temptations of thoſe days ſhall prevail againſt many that profeſſed Faith, and ſhall pervert them, and draw them to betray, and hate my true Diſciples, and ſhew their unfaithfulneſs.
11. And many falſe prophets ſhall riſe, and ſhall deceive many.
11. And many that make themſelves the Maſters of Sects and Hereſies, ſhall pretend Inſpiration, and Revelation for Lies, and pernicious Doctrines; and many ſhall be deceived and follow them.
12. And becauſe iniquity ſhall abound the love of many ſhall wax cold.
12. And iniquity ſhall ſo far abound, both in the World aſſaulting the Church, and in the declining of Church Members (by Worldlineſs, Fleſhlineſs, Pride, and Hereſie,) that the firſt fervours of Chriſtian Love ſhall be abated.
13. But he that ſhall endure to the end, the ſame ſhall be ſaved.
13. But he that overcometh theſe Temptations, and keepeth his Integrity, and perſevereth in his Fidelity, ſhall attain the end of his Faith, and be Saved.
14. And this goſpel of the kingdom ſhall be preached in all the world, for a witneſs to all nations, and then ſhall the end come.
14. And the Jews driving you away by Perſecution, you ſhall Preach the Goſpel to the Heathen Nations, who by receiving it, ſhall condemn the Jews: And then ſhall come the deſolation of their State, and the ending of their Law and Policie.
15. When ye therefore ſhall ſee the abomination of deſolation, ſpoken of by Daniel the prophet, ſtand in the holy place, (whoſo reade…h, let him underſtand.) 16. Then let them which be in Judea, flee into the mountaines. 17. Let him which is on the houſe top, 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.
15.16.17.18. When ye ſee the deſolating Heathen Army come to uſe their force and violence, againſt the Sacred Place of the Jews, anſwering that which Daniel ſaith of others, then ſtay not but be gon, and be glad if by Flight you can ſave your Lives, but ſtay not to ſave your Goods, or Cloathes.
19. And wo unto them that are with child, and to them that give ſuck in thoſe days.
19. And they that are made ſlow by impediments of children, &c. are like to loſe their Lives.
20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the ſabbath day:
20. It will increaſe the calamity of your Flight, if it ſhould fall out in the Winter, when the Weather will delay you; or on a Sabbath day, when the Jews ſcruple Journeying; or a Sabbath Year, when the Land Untilled beareth not Fruit.
21. For there 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 ſhortned, there ſhould no fleſh be ſaved: but for the Elects ſake, thoſe days ſhall be ſhortned.
21.22. N. This was moſt dreadfully fulfilled, as Joſephus who was then among them, hath fully written, 1100000 Killed, and 97000 Captives. 22. If theſe Slaughters by the Romans ſhould continue long, no Jews would be left alive. But God will ſo far preſerve the Believers, that their Armies ſhall ſtay but a little while.
23. Then if any man ſhall ſay to you, Lo▪ here is Chriſt, or there: believe it not. 24. For there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts, and falſe prophets, and ſhall ſhew great ſignes and wonders, inſomuch, that (if it were poſſible) they ſhall deceive the very elect. 25. Behold, I have told you before.
23.24.25. In this Deſolation it will add to their miſery, that Falſe Chriſts and Prophets ſhall riſe, and promiſe to deliver them, and lead them further into ſnares: And they ſhall do ſuch Signes and Wonders, as if God did not preſerve them, would deceive the very choſ… of God, the true Believers. But whatever ſame you hear of ſuch, believe it not: I have fore-warned you.
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.
26. Go not after any ſuch Deceiver, where ever they ſay he is, though he promiſe deliverance.
27. For as the lightning cometh out of the eaſt, and ſhineth even unto the weſt, ſo ſhall the coming of the Son of man be.
27. For as you muſt look for no other Saviour; ſo my coming will not be ſuch an appearance in Fleſh, but by Heavenly Light ſhining forth from the Eaſt unto the Weſterne Parts of the World, by my Word and Spirit, turning men from Darkneſs to Light; in preparation to my coming to Judgment, in which I will ſuddenly appear from Heaven in Glory to all the World; as Lightning doth in a moment in the Skies.
Note, Some Expoſitors rather think, it ſpeaketh of his ſudden Deſtroying Jeruſalem.
28. For whereſoever the carcaſe is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
28. And as for theſe forlorne Jews whoſe deſerved Deſtruction is decreed of God; they are as a carcaſe to the Eagles: the Roman Meſſengers of Gods Wrath will find them out.
Note, Others expound it, [where the Goſpel is Preached, thither will the People flock.]
29. Immediately after the tribulation of thoſe days, ſhall the ſun be darkned, and the moon ſhall not give her light, and the ſtars ſhall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens ſhall be ſhaken.
29 N. Some Expound this Metaphorically, of the overthrow of all the Jewiſh, State, Power, Policie. Others of the Roman Wars and concuſſions. Others, properly, of dreadful Prodigies that ſhall appear before Chriſts coming to Judgment, Joel 2.31. and 3.15.
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.
30. As ſome, [Then the Jews ſhall be convinced that their deſtruction was Chriſts Revenge for his Death, and Rejection; and all the Tribes of their Land ſhall Mourn, as if they had ſeen Chriſt coming himſelf againſt them in the clouds, with Power and Glory.] As others, [The ſign of the Croſs ſhall appear to Conſtantine in the Skie; and all the Heathen Nations ſhall Mourn, and be caſt down; and they ſhall ſee Chriſt ſetting up his Kingdom, by imperial Armes, with Power and Glory.] As others, [Then ſhall Chriſt ſuddenly appear from Heaven, to Judge the World, and come in the clouds with Power and Glory, to the grief and terrour of all the Wicked.] Suppoſing that Chriſt paſſed from the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, to ſpeak of his laſt coming.
31. And he ſhall ſend his angels with a …reat ſound of a trumpet, and they ſhall ga…her together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
31. As ſome [He ſhall gather the Believers in all Jud…a whom he ſaveth from this Deſtruction.] As others [He ſhall ſend forth his Apoſtles with the Goſpel, as a Trumpet, to call his choſen out of the World, into his Church.] As others, [By Conſtantine and Chriſtian Powers, he ſhall through all the Empire ſet Chriſtians in Honour and Power over the Heathens.] As others, Literally, [He ſhall at his appearing, and Judgment, ſend his Angels, and gather all his Elect to himſelf.
32. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: When her 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.
32.33. By the ſimilitude of the Fig-tree, I tell you, that there muſt be time for theſe Changes; but when ye ſee the beginning of theſe Signes, Know that the accompliſhment is not far off.
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.
34.35. As ſome, [Some yet alive, ſhall ſee all fulfilled that I have hitherto ſpoken; that is, OnelyOnly of the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem.] As others, [That part that I have ſpoken of the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, ſome alive ſhall ſee.] (for it was but 38 years after.) As others, [ſome yet alive ſhall ſee the beginning of the performance of all that I have ſaid, and the reſt will follow; and a Thouſand years with the Lord, is but as one Day.] When Heaven and Earth paſſeth away, you ſhall ſee, that my Word is all Fulfilled: They ſhall ſee the Catholick Church.
36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father onelyonly.
36. The day and hour of the Jews Deſtruction, ſay ſome, Of the End of the World ſay others; none knows but God.
Note, 1. Whence the Ancient Doctors gathered, that Chriſt hath a two old Knowledge (Will and Operation.) One Humane and Imperfect, the other Divine and Perfect. 2. Angels may increaſe in knowledge.
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 entred 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.
37.38.39. As in the days of Noe they would not believe their danger, till it ſurprized them, but liv'd preſumptuouſly in their fleſhly pleaſure, and worldly buſineſs; ſo will it be with Sinners at my Coming; (Both at the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and at the day of Judgment.)
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.
40.41. [Then I will manifeſt my diſtinguiſhing Providence: One, that is, a Believer ſhall be taken to me, and be Saved; and the other left to their deluſion, and deſtruction in unbelief.
Note, The difficulty of moſt of theſe foregoing Texts, forbids me to be peremptory in determining, whether they ſpake onelyonly of the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, (as in Mark, the Queſtion ſeemeth to intimate;) Or alſo of the End of the World, (as ſome words in the Anſwer ſeem to intimate.) And I incline to think, that as the Types and Prophecies of the Old Teſtament, ſpake proximately of the things and perſons Typifying, but remotely and chiefly thereby of Chriſt, and the things Typifyed: ſo theſe Texts ſpeak, firſt of the deſtruction of Jeruſalem; and next, of the Calling of the Gentiles, and Catholick Church; but thereby finally and chiefly, of the End of the World: As if Chriſt ſaid, As it will be here now, ſo it will be then, parabolically.
42. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
This therefore is the neceſſary wiſdome of all, to be as men on their watch, never a ſleep, or mindleſs; but always ready, as expecting the Coming of your Lord: And then, though you underſtand not all Circumſtances before hand, you ſhall be ſafe.
43. But know this, that if the maſter of the houſe had known in what hour 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 you think not, the Son of man cometh.
43.44. Seeing men will watch againſt a Thief, if they knew when he would come, watch you for the preventing of ſurprize, becauſe you know not, but it may preſently be the time; and it muſt be a continual readineſs that muſt be your ſafety; not onelyonly as to the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, but as to every mans particular Judgment: (For Chriſt ſpake for the uſe of us all to the end; and not onelyonly for the few Jews that heard him.)
45. Who then is a faithful and wiſe ſervant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his houſhold, to give them meat in due ſeaſon. 46. Bleſſed is that ſervant, whom his lord when he cometh, ſhall find ſo doing.
45.46. And thoſe that are faithful and wiſe Teachers and rulers of his Church, to give them meet and ſeaſonable inſtruction, as food for their Souls, ſhall be found at their Lords coming Bleſſed Perſons, and ſhall be aboundantly gainers by their labours and their Sufferings.
47. Verily I ſay unto you, that he ſhall make him ruler over all his goods.
47. I tell you ſuch Miniſters, (how poor or deſpiſed ſoever now by the world,) ſhall be advanced to a far greater dignity than their preſent Paſtoral Office, even to a participation under Chriſt of the Univerſal Government.
48. But and if that evil ſervant ſhall ſay in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming. 49. And ſhall begin to ſmite his fellow ſervants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.
48.49. But if any Aſſume the Sacred Miniſtry, and ſhall ſay in his heart, It is long ſince Chriſt promiſed to come; and now his coming is either uncertain, or will not be in haſle; and thereupon ſhall indulge …his fleſhly Luſts, and ſhall turn a malignant abuſer of his fellow Servants, and Perſecute, Silence, and Oppreſs them, and give himſelf up to the pleaſure of his Appetite, in Feaſting, and Drunkenneſs.
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 ware of. 51. And ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, there ſhall be …eeping and gnaſhing of teeth.
50. The Lord of that Servant will ſurpriſe him in his Sin and Security, when he leaſt ſuſpecteth it; and will execute that Vengeance on him, which is due to ſuch as aggravate their wickedneſs, by Hypocriſie; and make him feel that as it is odious, ſo it is dreadful to prophane Holy things, and to fight againſt holineſs in the Name of Chriſt, and at once, to be a Miniſter, a Worldling, a Senſualiſt, and a Perſecutor.
Annotation, It is of great moment, for the underſtanding of this Chapter, and much of Chriſts Goſpel, to know the true meaning of Chriſts Kingdom, and his Coming. Tho oft he ſpake directly of his laſt coming to Judgment; yet ordinarily this ſeemeth his meaning. His Kingdom is that Reign in Heaven on Earth at once which he was to exerciſe as the Meſſiah, or God Incarnate, having Redeemed loſt Man. The little poor Nation of Iſraelites were his peculiar People before: Upon his Aſcenſion, the Gentile World was to be Called, and a Catholick Church gathered over the Earth, in a more excellent covenant of peculiarity; and this Catholick Church, is the Kingdom of the Meſſiah: His coming, is not his ſending his Enemies to deſtroy Jeruſalem; nor yet his Viſible Appearance in Perſon, (till Judgment,) but his ſetting up this his Kingdom: his coming to Reign, that is, to Erect this Catholick Church: This is plainly expounded, in Luke 17.20, 21, 23. The Phariſees demanded, when the Kingdom of God ſhould come? He told them, The Kingdom of God cometh not with obſervation, or outward ſhew, (by perſonal viſible Appearance of the King, in Pomp and Splendor with a Court, as Monarchs rule) nor ſhall they ſay, Lo here, or Lo there; (No Head, King, or Court ſhall be Viſible:) for behold, the Kingdom of God is in you, (or among you:) It is a Spiritual Reign in Souls, and in the Church; of which you have already ſome beginnings. 24. For as the Lightning that Lightneth out of one part under the Heaven, ſhineth to the other part under Heaven; So ſhall alſo the Son of man be in his Day: but firſt he muſt ſuffer and be rejected of this Generation, &c. that is, when he hath Suffered, and been Rejected, he will Riſe, Aſcend, and from Heaven ſend his Spirit and Word to enlighten the World from Eaſt to Weſt, and call a Catholick Church amongſt the Gentiles, and this is his Kingdom and Reign; And this Generation ſhall not paſs, till this Catholick Church be thus gathered, though not perfected: What elſe can be meant by Chriſts many Parables, that the Kingdom of God, is like a grain of Muſtard Seed. A little Leaven hid in Meal. A Field ſown, that after had Tares. A Net caſt inro the Sea, &c. When the Catholick Church was made, Chriſts Kingdom came, and when his Kingdom came, he came as King to Govern it, by his Spirit, Word, and Miniſters, Matth, 21.43. The Kingdom of God, (that is, the Church State of peculiarity) ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation (the Gentile word) bringing forth the Fruit thereof: But the Perfection of the Kingdom will be at laſt. And as to the Time of his Appearing for Judgment, it muſt ſpecially be obſerved, that he tells them, That it was not known either to Angels, or to himſelf. And if Chriſt knew it not, (as man,) how preſumptuous are they that foretel it. And whereas they ſay, It was but the Day and the Hour, and not the Year, that he knew not? I anſwer, That by Day and Hour, is meant in general The Time. And if Chriſt knew it not, no wonder if he foretold it not to his Diſciples, but told them, It ſhall be uncertain to you, that you may be always ready: Therefore, though it be falſe that Grotius ſaith, That Paul thought, that the Coming of Chriſt would be in his days; It is true, that Paul knew not but that it might be in his Days. They might know indeed, that it would not be, till certain Signes foretold, came to paſs; but after that, they were ſtill to expect it as uncertain.