Matthew 24:15
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus is not just warning about armies; he's pointing to a profound spiritual defilement. The "abomination" isn't merely a physical presence but signifies something that makes the sacred utterly repulsive and desolate to God. This phrase, intentionally cryptic, urges us to grasp that true desecration goes beyond outward events to the corruption of God's very presence and purpose.
Jesus has just told his disciples that the temple will be utterly destroyed. Now, he gives them a specific sign to watch for: the "abomination of desolation" mentioned by the prophet Daniel. This sign signifies a profound desecration of the holy place, triggering the urgent need for believers to flee Jerusalem.
Jesus mentions an 'abomination of desolation.' What does that really mean? It's a powerful phrase pointing to something deeply offensive to God.
The term 'abomination of desolation' goes beyond simple idolatry. It signifies something profoundly repulsive and offensive to God, leading to utter ruin.
A Deep Spiritual Repugnance
In the context of Matthew 24, this refers to actions and presences that desecrate the holy and invite God's judgment, leading to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.
Jesus doesn't invent this phrase. He points back to Daniel. Why is that significant?
Jesus deliberately connects His warning to the prophecy of Daniel. This isn't a new threat; it's the fulfillment of an ancient, specific divine prediction.
Connecting Past and Future
Understand the original words
bdelygma tēs erēmōseōs · Greek Noun phrase
A term used to describe a detestable, idolatrous object or practice that causes God's people to be forsaken or brought to ruin, often associated with desecration of the temple.
hagios topos · Greek Noun phrase
The temple or the area surrounding the temple in Jerusalem, which was set apart as the uniquely sacred dwelling place of God's presence among His people.
Jesus' warning about the 'abomination of desolation' points directly to the Roman army's desecration of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70, a fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy that signaled the end of the Jewish age and the destruction of their sacred center.
c. 167 BC
Temple Desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs. This event is often considered the first 'abomination of desolation' prophesied in Daniel.
c. AD 66
Jewish Revolt Begins
The First Jewish-Roman War began, a major rebellion against Roman rule in Judea. This marked the start of the period of intense conflict that Jesus foresaw.
c. AD 68
Cestius Gallus's First Siege of Jerusalem
The Roman general Cestius Gallus besieged Jerusalem but inexplicably withdrew his forces. This unexpected retreat allowed Christian inhabitants to flee the city, as Jesus had warned.
c. AD 70— this verse
Roman Army Enters Jerusalem and Temple
The Roman army under Titus breached Jerusalem's defenses and entered the holy city, eventually setting fire to the Second Temple. The presence of Roman legions and their standards in the sacred precincts fulfilled Jesus' prophecy.
This is the primary Old Testament passage that Jesus is referencing, directly linking the 'abomination of desolation' to the cessation of sacrifices and the ultimate destruction of the temple.
Daniel 11:31This verse describes a future king who will desecrate the sanctuary and stop the regular burnt offerings, directly paralleling the 'abomination of desolation' Jesus mentions.
Luke 21:20Luke's parallel account describes this event as seeing Jerusalem surrounded by armies, which is interpreted by many scholars as the fulfillment of the 'abomination of desolation' by the Roman forces.
2 Thessalonians 2:4Paul refers to 'the man of lawlessness' who will 'oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped,' a concept that resonates with the idea of a blasphemous defilement of God's holy place.
This historical account describes how 'altars were built in Jerusalem and set up in the cities of Judah,' and how 'sacrifices were offered' to foreign gods, illustrating the kind of desecration that would be considered an 'abomination' in the holy place.
vincentMatthew 24:15: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"
Abomination of desolation (βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως)The cognate verb, βδελύσσομαι, means to feel a nausea or loathing for food: hence used of disgust generally. In a moral sense it denotes an object of moral or religious repugnance. See 2 Chronicles 15:8; Jeremiah 13:27; Ezekiel 11:21; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31. It is used…
bensonMatthew 24:15: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"
Matthew 24:15 . When ye shall see, &c. — The preceding verses foretold the signs of the destruction of Jerusalem, that is, the circumstances which were to be the forerunners and attendants of that great event: we now proceed to those verses which respect what happened during the siege, and after it. Never was a prophecy more p…
Jesus is not just warning about armies; he's pointing to a profound spiritual defilement. The "abomination" isn't merely a physical presence but signifies something that makes the sacred utterly repulsive and desolate to God. This phrase, intentionally cryptic, urges us to grasp that true desecration goes beyond outward events to the corruption of God's very presence and purpose.
Jesus has just told his disciples that the temple will be utterly destroyed. Now, he gives them a specific sign to watch for: the "abomination of desolation" mentioned by the prophet Daniel. This sign signifies a profound desecration of the holy place, triggering the urgent need for believers to flee Jerusalem.
Jesus has just told his disciples that the temple will be utterly destroyed. Now, he gives them a specific sign to watch for: the "abomination of desolation" mentioned by the prophet Daniel. This sign signifies a profound desecration of the holy place, triggering the urgent need for believers to flee Jerusalem.
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Jesus adds a peculiar phrase: '(let the reader understand)'. What's the big deal?
This parenthetical remark is a powerful call to discernment. Jesus isn't just delivering information; He's urging His listeners and future readers to actively grasp the profound significance of what's happening.
A Call to Discernment
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Romans completely destroyed the Second Temple, a catastrophic event that ended centuries of sacrificial worship and marked the end of the Jewish nation as it had existed.
"“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)," — Jesus is not just warning about armies; he's pointing to a profound spiritual defilement. The "abomination" isn't merely a physical presence but signifies something that makes the sacred utterly repu…
