Matthew 24:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He describes two types of warfare: one from deceivers and the other from foes; however, the deceitful will be far more vicious, manifesting in times of turmoil and fear. Indeed, during that time, confusion reigned as the Romans began to thrive, cities fell under siege, and military forces mobilized, while many held onto their beliefs naively. The wars He references pertain specifically to those in Jerusalem, not elsewhere in the world. What relevance would the broader conflicts have for the disciples? Furthermore, it would be redundant for Him to mention troubles occurring globally, as wars and strife had always existed. Instead, He speaks of the strife among the Jews, which was imminent, as the Jewish populace was already anxious due to the Romans' victories. Recognizing that this would be enough to alarm them, Christ foretells these events. To demonstrate His stance against the Jews, He mentions not just battles but also defeats, plagues, diseases, and earthquakes that God would bring upon them, indicating that He would permit these wars to unfold. These occurrences would not result from random chance or sudden events but would happen with clear signs under divine wrath. He clarifies that the Jews could not blame the believers of that time for these calamities, as He reveals the true cause for their misguidance. "Amen, I say to you," He declares earlier, "all these things shall come upon this generation" (Matthew 23:36), in light of their grievous sin. To assure them of the complete fulfillment of His prediction amidst the multitude of impending disasters, He adds: "See that you are not frightened, for all these things must take place, all that I have foretold, and the coming of trials will not obstruct the accomplishment of My words. Even with disturbances and turmoil, they will not undermine My prophecies." Moreover, since Christ stated to the Jews, "You will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:39), and the disciples mistakenly thought that the destruction of Jerusalem also signified the end of time, He clarifies their misunderstanding by saying, "But that is not the end." Their thoughts aligned with His assertions, as evidenced by their inquiry. What did they ask? "When will these things happen?" referring to the destruction of Jerusalem, and "What will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age?" However, Christ did not immediately respond to this question but first addressed what was essential to understand beforehand. He refrained from discussing Jerusalem or His return right away; instead, He focused on the tribulations that were imminent. Thus, He admonishes the disciples to remain alert, saying, "Take heed that no one leads you astray." Many will come in My name, claiming, "I am the Christ." After initially capturing their attention with this admonition and urging vigilance regarding false messiahs, He then speaks of the disasters affecting Jerusalem, reinforcing His message based on the inevitability of what has occurred and the certainty awaiting the foolish and obstinate.

There will be civil unrest, conflict, and violent wars; nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; famine, plagues, and earthquakes will exacerbate the turmoil; signs will manifest in the heavens; and many, witnessing these occurrences, will insist that the end of the world is at hand. Do not believe them!

Turning to historical accounts regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the temple, the Jews, who identified themselves as subjects solely of God, held a bitter resentment toward the Romans and were continually prepared to revolt against their oppressors. The Roman governors aggravated this animosity through their cruelty and avarice. Under Florus, the conditions for the Jews became particularly harsh. They appealed to the Roman emperor to remove Florus, and when their request was denied, they revolted, killing all Roman soldiers stationed in Jerusalem to maintain order, subsequently seizing power. Other cities soon followed suit, with the rebellion spreading across Palestine. The Romans dispatched troops to quell the uprising, particularly under Vespasian’s command in Galilee. This marked the initiation of the Jewish War, vividly chronicled by Josephus Flavius, a Jewish historian and eyewitness to these events.

Bearing in mind Jesus’ warning—“Beware lest anyone deceive you, for many will come in my name” (Matthew 24:4)—the Apostles were not swayed by the false prophets or pretenders that proliferated during that period. According to Josephus, the land was rife with deceivers and magicians who led people into the wilderness, performing wonders as if by divine intervention. Notable among these charlatans were Dositheus the Samaritan, who proclaimed himself as the Christ, Simon the Magician, also a Samaritan, who claimed to be the son of God, as well as Theudas, Menander, an Egyptian, among others. The Jews, having rejected Christ, were so zealously anticipating the Messiah as a conqueror that they readily embraced any impostor that arose. All these events preceded the destruction of Jerusalem; it was essential that these occurrences transpired first, and so they did.

Many false prophets will emerge, seeking to lead others astray through deceit and intimidation; yet, it is essential to remain firmly rooted in faith in Christ, enduring all challenges for His sake. Those who persevere until the end shall be redeemed.

Below lay the Garden of Gethsemane, and beyond it stretched the deep valley of Jehoshaphat, traversed by the Brook Kidron; on the opposite side rose the walls of the city and the structures of the temple, extended further by the city that encapsulated the entire history of God's people. Peter, James, John, Andrew, and the other disciples seized a moment to seek a private revelation from the Lord regarding the future plans of God. They approached Him and inquired, “Teacher, when will these things occur? What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age when all these things are to conclude?” The God-Man, engaging in a prophetic teaching that spanned from imminent events to the farthest reaches of the world's end and His glorious return for the final judgment, imparted wisdom to His disciples with such clarity that it provided answers to their deepest concerns. They received an impressively precise response regarding the temple's destruction; however, with respect to the end of the world and Christ's return for judgment, the answer offered was sufficient not to satisfy mere curiosity but to inspire fervent spiritual vigilance, prayer, and commitment to the divine will of the heavenly Father.