Ver. 1. What manner of stones, &c.] 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. Josephus writeth of these stones, that they were fifteen cubits long, twelve high, and eight broad. Quasi tota moles ex unico ingenti lapide in tantam magnitudinem consurgeret.
Ver. 2. There shall not be left one stone, &c.] 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.
Ver. 3. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:1”] [See Trapp on “Mt 24:2”] [See Trapp on “Mt 24:3”]
Ver. 4. 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.
Ver. 5. And Jesus answering them, &c.] Not directly to their question, but far better to their edification. This was ordinary with our Saviour.
Ver. 7. The end shall not be yet] Neither of the world, nor of the temple.
Ver. 8. The beginning of sorrows] The sorrows and throes of child birth, ωδινων, whi ch are nothing so bad at first, as in the birth.
Ver. 9. See Matthew 10:17 24:9. [See Trapp on “Mt 10:17”] [See Trapp on “Mt 24:9”]
Ver. 10. Among all nations] i.e. Among other nations than the Jews.
Ver. 11. Neither do ye premeditate] Con not your answers, as boys use to do their orations and school exercises, which the Greeks call μελετας, whereunto Beza thinks our Saviour here aludeth.
Ver. 12. See Matthew 10:21.
Ver. 13. And ye shall be hated of all men] Odio generis humani, as Tacitus (lib. 15), speaking of the Christians under Nero. St Luke adds, “But there shall not a hair of your heads perish,” for “the very hairs of your head are numbered,” saith St Matthew. (Matthew 10:30)
Ver. 14. The abomination of desolation] The Roman forces, therefore most abominable to God and his angels, because they desolated the pleasant land and abolished the true worship of God. See Revelation 17:4,5. Where it ought not] viz. In respect of the Romans, who did it only out of ambition and covetousness. See Isaiah 10:7.
Ver. 15. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:16”] [See Trapp on “Mt 24:17”]
Ver. 16. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:18”]
Ver. 17. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:19”]
Ver. 18. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:20”]
Ver. 19. For in those days shall be affliction] Gr. “Those days shall be affliction,” as if the very time were nothing else but affliction in itself. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:21”]
Ver. 20. Except the Lord had shortened] Mutilaverat, truncaverat, εκολοβωσε. Not in respect of the divine decree, but, 1. Of the long mi series that the people had deserved. 2. Of the enemies’ rage, that would have exceeded. See Zechariah 1:13.
Ver. 24. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:29”]
Ver. 25. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:29”]
Ver. 26. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:30”]
Ver. 27. [See Trapp on “Mt 24:31”]
Ver. 28. Now learn a parable of the fig tree] We should not rest content with a natural use of the creatures, as brutes do, but pick some spiritual matter out of every sensible object. Thus Reverend Master Deering, when the sun shone on his face now lying on his death bed, fell into a sweet meditation of the glory of God and his approaching joy. (Dr Hall’s Art of Divine Meditation.)
Ver. 30. Till all these things be done] Begun they were in the destruction of Jerusalem, carried on by the enemies’ rage against the Church, and to be ended with the last age of the Church, which begins at the coming of Christ in the flesh.
Ver. 34. The porter to watch] That the rest did their work.
Ver. 35. When the master cometh] But come he will to judgment, as sure as that he hath destroyed Jerusalem; this is a pledge of the other.
Ver. 37. Watch] What Cerbidius Scevola was wont to say of the civil law, holds more true of the divine law: Ius civile scriptum est vigilantibus, non dormitantibus. The law was written for those that observe to obey it. And that very good counsel that Bucer gives upon this text, Merito semper sonare auribus nostris debet haec vox, vigilate. This word watch should be ever sounding in our ears, running in our minds. Let it be our constant care, that death do not surprise us suddenly. No guest comes unawares to him that keeps a constant table.