Focused Passage

Matthew 24:15-28

The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness

Matthew 24 moves from Jesus leaving the temple to predicting its destruction, from the disciples’ question to warnings against deception, from global upheaval to persecution and gospel mission, from the abomination of desolation to urgent flight and great distress, from false messianic claims to the visible coming of the Son of Man, from fig tree signs to the certainty of Jesus’ words, from unknown timing to Noah-like suddenness, and finally from watchfulness to faithful household stewardship.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),

16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.

18 And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

19 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

20 Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

25 See, I have told you in advance.

26 So if they tell you, ‘There He is, in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction when Ὅταν G3752 Conjunction you see ἴδητε G3708 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural standing ἑστὸς G2476 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] holy ἁγίῳ G40 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular place τόπῳ G5117 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular the Τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular abomination βδέλυγμα G946 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of desolation ἐρημώσεως G2050 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular spoken of ῥηθὲν G2046 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular by διὰ G1223 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular prophet προφήτου G4396 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Daniel Δανιὴλ G1158 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular ({let} the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular reader ἀναγινώσκων G314 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular understand) νοείτω G3539 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • See Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11.
Verse 16

Original words

then {let} τότε G5119 Adverb those who are οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular Judea Ἰουδαίᾳ G2449 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular flee φευγέτωσαν G5343 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural mountains ὄρη G3735 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 17

Original words

[Let no one] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular housetop δώματος G1430 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - μὴ G3361 Adverb come down καταβάτω G2597 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular to retrieve ἆραι G142 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active anything τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural from ἐκ G1537 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular house οἰκίας G3614 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction [let no one] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular field ἀγρῷ G68 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - μὴ G3361 Adverb return ἐπιστρεψάτω G1994 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . ὀπίσω G3694 Adverb for ἆραι G142 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular cloak ἱμάτιον G2440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 19

Original words

How δὲ G1161 Conjunction miserable Οὐαὶ G3759 Interjection - ἐν G1722 Preposition those ἐκείναις G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Plural - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural days [will be] ἡμέραις G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural for ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural pregnant ἐχούσαις G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Plural . . . ἐν G1722 Preposition . . . γαστρὶ G1064 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural nursing [mothers] θηλαζούσαις G2337 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Plural
Verse 20

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction Pray προσεύχεσθε G4336 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular flight φυγὴ G5437 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb will not occur γένηται G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular in the winter χειμῶνος G5494 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [or] μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction on the Sabbath σαββάτῳ G4521 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 21

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction at that time τότε G5119 Adverb there will be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular great μεγάλη G3173 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular tribulation θλῖψις G2347 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular unseen οἵα G3634 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular . . . οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . γέγονεν G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἀπ’ G575 Preposition [the] beginning ἀρχῆς G746 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of [the] world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular until ἕως G2193 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular now νῦν G3568 Adverb [and] οὐδ’ G3761 Conjunction vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb never οὐ G3756 Adverb to be [seen again] γένηται G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 22

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction If εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb those ἐκεῖναι G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural days ἡμέραι G2250 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural had not been cut short ἐκολοβώθησαν G2856 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . οὐκ G3756 Adverb nobody πᾶσα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular . . . σάρξ G4561 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular vvv ἂν G302 Particle would be saved ἐσώθη G4982 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular But δὲ G1161 Conjunction for the sake of διὰ G1223 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural elect ἐκλεκτοὺς G1588 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural those ἐκεῖναι G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural days ἡμέραι G2250 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural will be cut short κολοβωθήσονται G2856 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 23

Original words

At that time Τότε G5119 Adverb if ἐάν G1437 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular says εἴπῃ G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Look Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular here [is] ὧδε G5602 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστός G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction There [He is] Ὧδε G5602 Adverb {do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb believe [it] πιστεύσητε G4100 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 24

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction false Christs ψευδόχριστοι G5580 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction false prophets ψευδοπροφῆται G5578 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural will appear ἐγερθήσονται G1453 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction perform δώσουσιν G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural great μεγάλα G3173 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural signs σημεῖα G4592 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction wonders τέρατα G5059 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to ὥστε G5620 Conjunction deceive πλανῆσαι G4105 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active even καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural elect ἐκλεκτούς G1588 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural if εἰ G1487 Conjunction that were possible δυνατὸν G1415 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Verse 25

Original words

See ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular I have told you in advance προείρηκα G4302 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 26

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction if Ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction they tell εἴπωσιν G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural There Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular He is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular wilderness ἐρήμῳ G2048 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular {do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb go out ἐξέλθητε G1831 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural [or], ‘Here Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular [He is,] in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural inner rooms ταμείοις G5009 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural {do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb believe [it] πιστεύσητε G4100 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 27

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction just as ὥσπερ G5618 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular lightning ἀστραπὴ G796 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular comes ἐξέρχεται G1831 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [the] east ἀνατολῶν G395 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction flashes φαίνεται G5316 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular as far as ἕως G2193 Preposition [the] west δυσμῶν G1424 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural so οὕτως G3779 Adverb will be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular coming παρουσία G3952 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Son Υἱοῦ G5207 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

Wherever ὅπου G3699 Adverb . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction there is G1510 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular a carcass πτῶμα G4430 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular there ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural vultures ἀετοί G105 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural will gather συναχθήσονται G4863 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.