Matthew 24:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

NIV: Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

NASB: And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.

CSB: and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.

NLT: A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.

KJV: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

NKJV: And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

With startling language, Jesus is describing how quickly those in Jerusalem will need to flee when the temple is desecrated in fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27). The picture He paints suggests an army closing quickly on Jerusalem or about to begin a siege. Jesus has said that those on their rooftops should make a run for it without even going back into their homes to grab some possessions (Matthew 24:17). Now He adds that a person in the field should not run first toward the city to grab his cloak. There won't be time.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples some 35 or 40 years before the temple was desecrated and destroyed. Jewish hardliners killed moderate Jewish priests, spilling their blood in the temple. Soon, Roman troops set up a siege against the city, eventually destroying Jerusalem and the temple and raining down on violence on the citizens who were unable to escape Jerusalem in time. Those events have led some Bible teachers to believe those events completely fulfilled Jesus' warning in these verses.

Given the context of an end-of-days timeline (Matthew 24:14) and the world-threatening severity of these events (Matthew 24:21–22), it's more reasonable to see AD 70 as a precursor to a final fulfillment of Jesus' words at the end of the age.

Matthew 24:15–28 begins with a warning to all in Jerusalem to flee to the mountains when the abomination that will bring desolation to the temple stands in the holy place. This will be a terrible time, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable. That tribulation will be worse than anything ever, though another tribulation will come right before Jesus' return. It will be cut short to save some of humanity and for the sake of the elect, all those who truly believe in Christ. When He returns, everyone will know.

Jesus makes a dire prediction about the destruction of the temple. Immediately after this, while seated on the Mount of Olives, Jesus responds to a question from the disciples. They ask when judgment will come and what signs will signal His return. Christ describes a season of unimaginable world turmoil and persecution. He points to a specific moment of defilement of the temple, at which point people should run for their lives. Jesus speaks of world-threatening tribulation which will be cut short right before He returns as King and Judge. Since nobody can possibly know when He will return, His followers must live in readiness.

Jesus has just left the temple area, after delivering a blistering criticism of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23). After predicting that the temple would be destroyed, He answers their questions about the end times. He speaks of a period when He will be gone from earth and they will be persecuted and killed. The world will be in turmoil, but the gospel will be preached everywhere. Nobody knows exactly when Jesus' return will be completed, so his followers should constantly be prepared. Jesus continues to teach on these themes in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.