Matthew 24:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "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.

NIV: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

NASB: Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

CSB: "Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.

NLT: Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

KJV: Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

NKJV: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

The disciples have asked Jesus about when judgment will come on Jerusalem and what signs will indicate the end of the age (Matthew 24:3–4). Jesus' response so far has focused on what the disciples should not interpret as signs of the end of the age. Tales of war, conflict, natural disasters, or violence are not automatic signals of the end (Matthew 24:6–8).

Scholars are split on what time frame Jesus has in mind here. Some believe what Jesus depicts here is a prophecy for the twelve apostles. In that case, the "they" referred to here would be Jewish religious leaders and those they influence. Those authority figures will persecute and murder Jesus' disciples (John 16:1–4). All nations—Israel, then Rome, and eventually countries beyond—will hate them because they are connected to the name of Jesus. It is certainly true that nearly all the Twelve were persecuted and killed for their association with Christ, as they refused to stop preaching the gospel of His kingdom.

Some believe the prior verses depict general history leading up to the events depicted in the book of Revelation.

Others see those troubles as part of the final seven years prior to Christ's millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4), a period called the "tribulation." In most cases, those far-future-looking interpretations meet here. This verse is normally assumed to be a description of the actual "end times." The context of this line of thought ends with a specific statement "and then the end will come." That suggests Jesus means this segment to apply to the time immediately prior to His second coming (Revelation 19:11–15).

Matthew 24:1–14 follows Jesus and the disciples out of the temple. This comes after His devastating criticism of the scribes and Pharisees in chapter 23. Christ predicts a moment when the temple will be destroyed without one stone left on another. Later, His disciples ask for more information about these future events. Jesus describes a season in which the world will be in turmoil but that alone will not be proof that the end has come. His disciples will be persecuted, killed, and hated for His name's sake. False prophets will rise and some with them will fall away from the faith.

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.