Bible Commentaries

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here !

What manner of stones, … — Huge stones, and so cunningly cemented, as it were inoculated, the one into the other, that a man would have thought, and sworn almost, that they had been all but one entire stone. Quasi tota moles ex unico ingenti lapide in tantam magnitudinem consurgeret. Josephus writeth of these stones, that they were fifteen cubits long, twelve high, and eight broad.

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And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

There shall not be left one stone, … — There is no trusting, therefore, to forts and strongholds; no, though they be munitions of rocks, as Isaiah speaketh. The Jebusites that jeered David and his forces were thrown out of their Sion. Babylon, that bore herself bold upon her twenty years’ provision laid in for a siege, and upon her high towers and thick walls, was surprised by Cyrus. So was this goodly temple by Titus, who left only three towers of this stately edifice unrazed, to declare unto posterity the strength of the place and valour of the vanquisher. But sixty-five years after, Aelius Hadrian inflicting on the rebelling Jews a wonderful slaughter, subverted those remainders, and sprinkled salt upon the foundation.

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And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

See Trapp on " Matthew 24:1 " See Trapp on " Matthew 24:2 " See Trapp on " Matthew 24:3 "

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Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Shall be fulfilled — or, have an end, συντελεισθαι , that is, be destroyed, as Matthew 13:2 . Which yet these apostles held not destroyable till the world’s destruction, as appears Matthew 24:1-51 .

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And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

And Jesus answering them, … — Not directly to their question, but far better to their edification. This was ordinary with our Saviour.

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For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ ; and shall deceive many.

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

The end shall not be yet — Neither of the world, nor of the temple.

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For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

The beginning of sorrows — The sorrows and throes of child birth, ωδινων , which are nothing so bad at first, as in the birth.

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But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

See Matthew 10:17 ; Matthew 24:9 . See Trapp on " Matthew 10:17 " See Trapp on " Matthew 24:9 "

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