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Matthew 24:31-46

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his 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. 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. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 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 entered 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. 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. 42. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch 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 ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46. Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Matthew 24:31-46 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 24:31

Theological / Devotional

Send his angels. It is appropriate that the angels, who have ministered to the needs of those who have become “heirs of salvation” (Heb. 1:14), should participate in the events of that glorious morning. Now, for the first time, God’s people will have the privilege of seeing face to face these holy beings who have guarded them throughout this earthly pilgrimage.

Trumpet. When Jesus comes the “trump of God” calls from their graves all who have fallen asleep in Christ (1 Thess. 4:16; cf. 1 Cor. 15:52).

His elect. See on v. 24. These are the ones whom God has chosen to constitute His kingdom because they have chosen Him. “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels” (Mal. 3:17). Those who have been asleep in Jesus rise to join the living saints, and together they meet their Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; cf. John 11:24-26).

The four winds. That is, from all directions (cf. Dan. 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Rev. 7). In one of the Eighteen Benedictions of the synagogue service (see on Matt. 6:9) is found the petition, “Sound the great horn for our freedom; lift up the banner to gather our exiles, and gather us from the four corners of the earth.”

End of heaven. The “heaven” here referred to is not the abode of God and the angels, but rather the atmospheric envelope that surrounds the earth (see on Gen. 1:8). This expression thus designates the entire earth, in the sense that the earth is “under” the atmospheric heavens. For similar expressions see Deut. 4:19, 32; 30:4; Neh. 1:9; Jer. 49:36; Col. 1:23; etc.

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