Matthew 24:15-16
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Jesus includes a parenthetical remark, "let the reader understand," which isn't just a suggestion to pay attention to Daniel, but a directive to actively discern how this ancient prophecy, meant to warn against idolatry and desolation, is about to be fulfilled in their very midst, signaling a profound turning point. This isn't just about a future event, but about understanding God's judgment actively unfolding.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just described signs preceding the end times and the destruction of the Temple. Now, he pinpoints a specific, crucial event: the "abomination of desolation" mentioned by the prophet Daniel. This phrase signals that the destruction is imminent and that believers should flee Jerusalem immediately.
What exactly is this 'abomination' Jesus speaks of? It's not just something gross; it represents a profound betrayal and defiance of God.
The term 'abomination of desolation' (βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως) carries a deep spiritual weight. It signifies something utterly repugnant to God, leading to ruin and emptiness.
A Divine Loathing
The Greek word for 'abomination' conveys a sense of nausea or extreme disgust. It's not about mere dislike but a moral and religious repugnance. Think of it as something that triggers a visceral, God-given aversion.
Idolatry and Betrayal
Historically, this term was often associated with idolatry – the worship of false gods. It represents a turning away from the true God, a profound betrayal of His covenant. When this 'abomination' stands in the 'holy place,' it signifies God's dwelling being defiled by that which He most detests.
The Roman Army as the 'Abomination'
In the context of Matthew 24, Jesus is pointing to a future event: the Roman army and its idolatrous standards entering Jerusalem and the Temple. These armies, with their eagles and emperor worship, were a profound offense to Jewish monotheism, making them the literal 'abomination' in the 'holy place.'
Jesus adds a curious command: 'let the reader understand.' Why this specific instruction, and what are we meant to grasp?
The phrase 'let the reader understand' (ὁ ἀναγινώσκων νοείτω) is more than a casual remark; it's a critical instruction with profound implications for those who heard Jesus and for us today.
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A Prophetic Wink
Jesus is essentially pointing back to the prophecies of Daniel. He wants his listeners to connect the dots between Daniel's words and what they are about to witness. This isn't just a historical event; it's a divinely ordained sign with deep prophetic meaning.
The Urgency of Escape
Understanding this sign was not for mere academic interest. It was a call to immediate action. For Jesus' followers, seeing this 'abomination' in the 'holy place' was the trigger to flee Jerusalem and Judea. It signified that the judgment foretold by Daniel, and now by Jesus, had arrived, and safety lay in escape, not in clinging to the doomed city.
A Timeless Warning
While the immediate context points to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the principle remains: God's warnings, especially when connected to His Word, are meant to be understood and acted upon. The 'reader' then, and now, is called to discern the times and respond with faith and obedience.
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.
Ioudaia · Greek Noun
A region encompassing the historic homeland of the Jews, centered on Jerusalem; biblically significant as the land promised to the descendants of Abraham.
pheugetōsan · Greek Verb
A dynamic action of departing or escaping from a place of danger to a place of safety or refuge.
orē · Greek Noun
Elevated places often used for prayer, refuge, or concealment during times of divine judgment or historical catastrophe.
This prophecy points to the Roman army's actions around Jerusalem and the Temple, a stark fulfillment of Daniel's warnings about desecration and destruction that signaled a catastrophic end to the Jewish era.
c. 167 BC
Antiochus Epiphanes Desecrates Temple
King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire desecrates the Second Temple in Jerusalem, setting up an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs. This event is a significant historical backdrop for the concept of an 'abomination of desolation' in Jewish history.
c. AD 45-50
Book of Daniel Circulated
The Book of Daniel, containing prophecies of 'abominations' and desolation, is circulated and known among Jewish communities. Its prophecies would have been studied for signs of the times.
c. AD 62-64— this verse
Jesus Delivers Olivet Discourse
Jesus delivers His discourse on the Mount of Olives, predicting the destruction of the Temple and foretelling signs that His followers should watch for, including the 'abomination of desolation'.
AD 66
First Jewish Revolt Begins
The First Jewish–Roman War erupts, beginning a period of intense conflict and upheaval for Judea and its people. This marked the start of the events Jesus foretold.
AD 68
Roman Armies Besiege Jerusalem
Roman legions under Cestius Gallus advance on Jerusalem and encamp nearby. Their presence and subsequent withdrawal are seen by some as an initial fulfillment of the prophecy.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Roman army under Titus finally breaches Jerusalem's defenses, sacking the city and burning the Second Temple. This event is the primary fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy of desolation.
This passage directly mentions a 'prince who shall come' and a covenant confirmed for many, leading to the ceasing of sacrifices and offerings, which Jesus identifies as the 'abomination of desolation.'
Daniel 11:31This verse describes forces coming to desecrate the temple and remove the daily sacrifices, directly correlating with the 'abomination of desolation' Jesus speaks of.
Luke 21:20This parallel account from Luke describes seeing 'Jerusalem surrounded by armies' as the sign, which is understood by commentators to be the fulfillment of the 'abomination of desolation.'
2 Thessalonians 2:4This passage speaks of 'the man of lawlessness' who will oppose and exalt himself above God, sitting in the temple of God, which has conceptual similarities to an 'abomination' set up in a holy place.
Jeremiah 7:14In this prophetic passage, Jeremiah declares that God will deal with the 'house' (the temple) that bears His name 'as he had done' to Shiloh, implying a future destruction and desolation of the holy place due to unfaithfulness.
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 includes a parenthetical remark, "let the reader understand," which isn't just a suggestion to pay attention to Daniel, but a directive to actively discern how this ancient prophecy, meant to warn against idolatry and desolation, is about to be fulfilled in their very midst, signaling a profound turning point. This isn't just about a future event, but about understanding God's judgment actively unfolding.
Jesus has just described signs preceding the end times and the destruction of the Temple. Now, he pinpoints a specific, crucial event: the "abomination of desolation" mentioned by the prophet Daniel. This phrase signals that the destruction is imminent and that believers should flee Jerusalem immediately.
Jesus has just described signs preceding the end times and the destruction of the Temple. Now, he pinpoints a specific, crucial event: the "abomination of desolation" mentioned by the prophet Daniel. This phrase signals that the destruction is imminent and that believers should flee Jerusalem immediately.
"“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." — Jesus includes a parenthetical remark, "let the reader understand," which isn't just a suggestion to pay attention to Daniel, but a directive to actively discern how this ancient prophecy, meant to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
