But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it sounds like a simple promise of eventual rescue, this verse is actually a challenge to active perseverance, not just passive waiting. The Greek word for "endure" implies actively holding on through hardship, not just surviving it. It’s a call to steadfastness that guards our souls against falling away, especially when love grows cold and iniquity abounds.
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking to his disciples about future tribulations, including widespread persecution and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem. He's painting a picture of a world filled with deception, war, and a cooling of love, warning them not to be caught off guard by these intense trials. This verse offers a crucial promise of hope amidst the surrounding chaos: enduring faithfulness leads to salvation.
Jesus warns of intense suffering and persecution for His followers. Amidst it all, He offers a profound promise: endurance leads to salvation.
Jesus is painting a vivid picture of the trials His followers will face. He speaks of persecution, betrayal, false prophets, and a widespread cooling of love. In this context, Matthew 24:13 stands as a beacon of hope. It's not just a general statement about perseverance; it's a promise directly tied to the specific hardships Jesus is foretelling.
Two Layers of Salvation
Scholars suggest this verse has a dual fulfillment:
It's easy to hear "endure" and think of just gritting your teeth. But the Bible paints a richer picture of what it means to stay faithful when everything tries to push you away.
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Jesus' words in Matthew 24:13 aren't just about passively suffering; they call for an active, steadfast commitment to faith, love, and hope.
More Than Just Holding On
Understand the original words
hypomenō · Greek Verb
To remain firm under trial or affliction; to persist in faith despite persecution, hardship, or temptation.
sōzō · Greek Verb
Being delivered from the power and penalty of sin and reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ; it encompasses justification, sanctification, and future glorification.
This verse speaks both to enduring the intense persecution faced by early Christians, particularly in the lead-up to and during the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, and to the ultimate perseverance required for eternal salvation.
c. 4 BC
Herod the Great Dies
The death of Herod the Great, a client king of Rome, created a power vacuum and political instability in Judea, setting the stage for increased Roman intervention and Jewish unrest.
AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus' teachings, including prophecies about the temple's destruction, culminate in his crucifixion. This event is the catalyst for the disciples' questions about the end times.
c. AD 30-60
Early Christian Persecution
Following Jesus' death, his followers faced intense persecution from both Jewish authorities and Roman powers, leading to arrests, beatings, and martyrdom.
AD 66
First Jewish Revolt Begins
Jewish rebellion against Roman rule erupts, leading to widespread conflict and ultimately the Roman siege of Jerusalem.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman legions under Titus conquer Jerusalem, destroying the city and its Second Temple. This catastrophic event fulfills Jesus' prophecies and marks a major turning point for Judaism and Christianity.
This passage reassures believers that God provides a way of escape and will not let them be tempted beyond what they can bear, mirroring the encouragement to endure that's found in Matthew 24:13.
Hebrews 12:1-3This passage highlights the 'great cloud of witnesses' who endured hardship, urging believers to run with endurance the race set before them, much like the endurance called for in Matthew 24:13.
Romans 8:35-39This powerful declaration emphasizes that nothing can separate believers from God's love, including suffering and hardship, reinforcing the ultimate salvation promised to those who endure.
2 Timothy 2:12This verse states that if we endure with Christ, we will also reign with Him, directly linking perseverance through trials with future salvation and glory.
James 1:12This verse promises a 'crown of life' to those who persevere through trials, directly paralleling the promise of salvation to the one who endures to the end.
barnesMatthew 24:13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved - The word "end," here, has by some been thought to mean the destruction of Jerusalem, or the end of the Jewish economy, and the meaning has been supposed to be "he that perseveres in bearing these persecutions to the end of the wars shall be safe. God will protect his people from harm, so that not a hair of the head shall perish." Others, with more probabi…
calvinMatthew 24:9-14: "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."
- Then will they deliver you up to be afflicted, and will kill you; and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name. 10. And then will many be offended, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise, and will deceive many. 12. And because iniquity will abound, the love of many will be cool…
While it sounds like a simple promise of eventual rescue, this verse is actually a challenge to active perseverance, not just passive waiting. The Greek word for "endure" implies actively holding on through hardship, not just surviving it. It’s a call to steadfastness that guards our souls against falling away, especially when love grows cold and iniquity abounds.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples about future tribulations, including widespread persecution and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem. He's painting a picture of a world filled with deception, war, and a cooling of love, warning them not to be caught off guard by these intense trials. This verse offers a crucial promise of hope amidst the surrounding chaos: enduring faithfulness leads to salvation.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples about future tribulations, including widespread persecution and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem. He's painting a picture of a world filled with deception, war, and a cooling of love, warning them not to be caught off guard by these intense trials. This verse offers a crucial promise of hope amidst the surrounding chaos: enduring faithfulness leads to salvation.
"But the one who endures to the end will be saved." — While it sounds like a simple promise of eventual rescue, this verse is actually a challenge to active perseverance, not just passive waiting. The Greek word for "endure" implies actively holding o…
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Last reviewed October 2026