Matthew 24 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Signs of Christ's Return

(Mar 13:1, 2; Luk 21:5, 6 )

Mat 24:1Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

Mat 24:2

Mat 24:2But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down."

(Mar 13:3–13; Luk 21:7–19 )

Mat 24:3

Mat 24:3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

Mat 24:4

Mat 24:4And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray.

Mat 24:5

Mat 24:5For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.

Mat 24:6

Mat 24:6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:7

Mat 24:7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places:

Mat 24:8

Mat 24:8all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.

Mat 24:9

Mat 24:9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

Mat 24:10

Mat 24:10And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another.

Mat 24:11

Mat 24:11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Mat 24:12

Mat 24:12And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold.

Mat 24:13

Mat 24:13But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Mat 24:14

Mat 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.

Perilous Times

(Mar 13:14–23; Luk 17:23, 24, 37; 21:20–24 )

Mat 24:15

Mat 24:15"So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Mat 24:16

Mat 24:16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains;

Mat 24:17

Mat 24:17let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house;

Mat 24:18

Mat 24:18and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle.

Mat 24:19

Mat 24:19And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days!

Mat 24:20

Mat 24:20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath.

Mat 24:21

Mat 24:21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

Mat 24:22

Mat 24:22And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Mat 24:23

Mat 24:23Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.

Mat 24:24

Mat 24:24For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Mat 24:25

Mat 24:25Lo, I have told you beforehand.

Mat 24:26

Mat 24:26So, if they say to you, 'Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out; if they say, 'Lo, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

Mat 24:27

Mat 24:27For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

Mat 24:28

Mat 24:28Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

The Glorious Return

(Mar 13:24–27; Luk 21:25–28 )

Mat 24:29

Mat 24:29"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;

Mat 24:30

Mat 24:30then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory;

Mat 24:31

Mat 24:31and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Parable of the Fig Tree

(Mar 13:28–31; Luk 21:29–33 )

Mat 24:32

Mat 24:32"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Mat 24:33

Mat 24:33So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mat 24:34

Mat 24:34Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.

Mat 24:35

Mat 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

(Mar 13:32–37; Luk 17:26, 27, 34, 35; 21:34–36 )

Mat 24:36

Mat 24:36"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Mat 24:37

Mat 24:37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

Mat 24:38

Mat 24:38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Mat 24:39

Mat 24:39and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

Mat 24:40

Mat 24:40Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left.

Mat 24:41

Mat 24:41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.

Be Ready for His Coming

Mat 24:42

Mat 24:42Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Mat 24:43

Mat 24:43But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.

Mat 24:44

Mat 24:44Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

(Luk 12:41–48 )

Mat 24:45

Mat 24:45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

Mat 24:46

Mat 24:46Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.

Mat 24:47

Mat 24:47Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Mat 24:48

Mat 24:48But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'

Mat 24:49

Mat 24:49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken,

Mat 24:50

Mat 24:50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,

Mat 24:51

Mat 24:51and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.

Downloaded from the Oxford Text Archive and used with permission. The following header is required to be posted:

Source: Transcribed from: The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. There should be enough in the rest of the description to identify the text.

Language: English