Matthew 24:15-16
“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)
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Jesus highlights that this "abomination" isn't just a symbolic concept, but a tangible sign that would defile the holy place and signal a devastating end, urging attentive readers to grasp its grave significance. The phrase itself carries a deep sense of loathing and disgust, pointing to something profoundly offensive to God and utterly destructive.
Jesus is explaining the signs that will precede the end of the age and the destruction of the temple, moving from general upheavals to a very specific, ominous event. This "abomination of desolation" is a sign rooted in Old Testament prophecy, and Jesus emphasizes its significance, urging his listeners to pay close attention to its meaning and fulfillment. The instruction "let the reader understand" highlights the crucial importance of recognizing this sign as a direct signal for action.
What makes something an 'abomination'? It’s more than just something gross; it’s something that deeply offends God and leads to ruin.
Jesus uses the phrase 'abomination of desolation,' a term he borrows directly from the prophet Daniel.
What is an 'Abomination'?
What Does 'Desolation' Mean?
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In this context, Jesus is warning about a specific future event that would bring immense destruction. The 'abomination' was a sign that God's judgment of desolation was imminent.
Imagine the most sacred spot you can think of. Now imagine it being utterly corrupted. Jesus points to a desecration of God's own space.
Jesus specifies where this abomination will stand: 'in the holy place.' This phrase has layers of meaning that point to a profound crisis.
What is the 'Holy Place'?
The Impact of Defilement
Jesus doesn't just predict disaster; he equips his followers with the ability to understand and respond.
The phrase 'let the reader understand' isn't just a literary note; it's Jesus' urgent call to his disciples—and to us—to exercise spiritual discernment.
The Urgency of the Sign
Understanding Leads to Action
This immediate call to understanding and action highlights that Jesus' teaching isn't just about future events but about faithful living in light of divine revelation, even when it demands radical 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.
Jesus' warning points to the Roman army's desecration of the Temple in AD 70 as the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, a stark sign for his followers to escape the impending destruction.
c. 167-164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrates the Temple
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, defiles the Jerusalem Temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs. This event is seen as a major fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy of an 'abomination of desolation'.
c. AD 60-62
Paul writes to the Thessalonians
While not directly related to Matthew 24, Paul's letters, particularly to the Thessalonians, discuss themes of apostasy and the 'man of lawlessness' in the temple, which scholars connect to Jesus' prophecy.
AD 66
First Jewish Revolt begins
The Jewish revolt against Roman rule erupts, leading to escalating conflict and eventually the Roman siege of Jerusalem.
c. AD 68
Cestius Gallus' initial siege of Jerusalem
The Roman general Cestius Gallus lays siege to Jerusalem but unexpectedly withdraws. This event is considered by some scholars to be the initial 'abomination' and a warning sign for Christians to flee the city.
AD 70— this verse
Roman army besieges and destroys Jerusalem
The Roman army under Titus returns, besieges Jerusalem, and eventually breaches the walls. They desecrate the Temple, bringing their standards ('abominations') into the holy place, and utterly destroy the city and the Temple.
This is the primary Old Testament passage Jesus is referencing, directly mentioning an 'abomination' that brings desolation and the cessation of sacrifices, setting the stage for the prophecy. It provides the foundational prophetic language Jesus is invoking.
Daniel 11:31This verse describes forces desecrating the sanctuary and ceasing the regular burnt offering, providing further detail on the actions that constitute the 'abomination of desolation' that Jesus alludes to.
Luke 21:20This parallel account in Luke emphasizes the 'armies surrounding Jerusalem' as the sign, directly linking the 'abomination of desolation' to the physical presence of the Roman military, which the commentaries highlight.
2 Thessalonians 2:4Paul uses the phrase 'the man of lawlessness, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship' and 'takes his seat in the temple of God.' This echoes the concept of a sacrilegious presence in a holy place, though applied to a future eschatological figure.
Isaiah 1:9While not directly about an 'abomination,' this passage speaks of God leaving only a 'remnant' after judgment, reflecting the theme of desolation and the selective preservation of the faithful, which Calvin notes as a parallel to God shortening the days for the elect's sake.
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 highlights that this "abomination" isn't just a symbolic concept, but a tangible sign that would defile the holy place and signal a devastating end, urging attentive readers to grasp its grave significance. The phrase itself carries a deep sense of loathing and disgust, pointing to something profoundly offensive to God and utterly destructive.
Jesus is explaining the signs that will precede the end of the age and the destruction of the temple, moving from general upheavals to a very specific, ominous event. This "abomination of desolation" is a sign rooted in Old Testament prophecy, and Jesus emphasizes its significance, urging his listeners to pay close attention to its meaning and fulfillment. The instruction "let the reader understand" highlights the crucial importance of recognizing this sign as a direct signal for action.
Jesus is explaining the signs that will precede the end of the age and the destruction of the temple, moving from general upheavals to a very specific, ominous event. This "abomination of desolation" is a sign rooted in Old Testament prophecy, and Jesus emphasizes its significance, urging his listeners to pay close attention to its meaning and fulfillment. The instruction "let the reader understand" highlights the crucial importance of recognizing this sign as a direct signal for action.
"“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 highlights that this "abomination" isn't just a symbolic concept, but a tangible sign that would defile the holy place and signal a devastating end, urging attentive readers to grasp its grave…
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