Matthew 24:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

NIV: Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

NASB: Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

CSB: Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.

NLT: Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

KJV: For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

NKJV: For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

Jesus has been clarifying to His disciples that His return, the second coming, will not be a secret. They should not believe lies from false prophets and false teachers that He has come back and is hiding out somewhere. He doesn't want them to be led astray by anyone claiming to be Him or the "real" Messiah (Matthew 24:23–26). Instead, Jesus has said that His return will be as public and unmistakable as a blast of lightning across the sky. Everyone will see, everyone will know. They will not be left to wonder or investigate (Revelation 19:11–15).

The proverb Jesus quotes here might seem bizarre, given the context. However, the point is entirely in line with His overall message. You can't hide a fallen body in the open, especially in a wilderness environment, where the presence of vultures circling would quickly it give it away. In the same way, there will be obvious evidence that Jesus has returned to make it clear to everyone that He is back.

The short version of Jesus' message about His return is this: if there is any doubt, then He has not yet returned.

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.

Accessed 4/29/2024 12:12:43 PM