Matthew 24:17
Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The instruction to not go "down to take what is in his house" emphasizes that escape should be immediate and from the roof itself, utilizing connecting rooftops as escape routes rather than entering the house where precious time could be lost. This detail highlights the sheer panic and urgency of the situation, where even a moment's hesitation to grab belongings could mean death.
Jesus is describing the signs of the end times and the destruction of Jerusalem, urging his followers to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation." This immediate context emphasizes the urgency and danger, commanding those on rooftops to escape along the roofs rather than descend into their homes, and those in fields to keep moving away from the city without returning for their belongings.
Imagine a city under siege. The sounds of chaos echo, and danger lurks everywhere. Where do you go? Jesus points to an unexpected escape route.
In ancient Jerusalem, houses often had flat roofs that were connected. This created what was sometimes called 'the road of the roofs.'
Disaster strikes without warning. Jesus' words aren't just advice; they're a stark command about the speed and totality of your response.
The command to flee is absolute, leaving no room for hesitation or the retrieval of possessions. This urgency points to the severity of the coming tribulation.
Understand the original words
dōma · Greek Noun
The flat roof of a Near Eastern house, which served as a social, domestic, and sometimes spiritual space.
Jesus' instruction to flee without gathering possessions highlights the desperate, immediate danger faced by Jerusalem's inhabitants during the Roman siege, a stark contrast to ordinary times and a fulfillment of prophecy.
c. 167 BC
Antiochus IV Desecrates the Temple
King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire forces Hellenistic practices upon the Jews and desecrates the Second Temple in Jerusalem, an event Daniel prophesied as an 'abomination of desolation.' This sets a precedent for future desecrations and the concept of divine judgment upon Jerusalem.
c. 66 AD
Jewish Revolt Begins
The First Jewish-Great Revolt against the Roman Empire erupts in Judea. This rebellion leads to widespread conflict and ultimately the Roman siege of Jerusalem.
c. 68 AD— this verse
Roman Armies Surround Jerusalem
Roman legions under Titus encircle Jerusalem, beginning a brutal siege. This military action directly fulfills Jesus' prophecy of the 'abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place, signaling the imminent destruction of the city.
c. 69 AD
Internal Strife and Famine Ravage Jerusalem
As the Roman siege continues, violent factions within Jerusalem fight each other, exacerbating the suffering caused by famine and disease within the city walls.
This passage echoes the same urgency, instructing those in the field to not turn back to get their belongings, paralleling the immediate flight required in Matthew 24:17.
Genesis 19:17The instruction for Lot to flee without looking back mirrors the desperate haste commanded in Matthew 24:17, emphasizing survival over possessions.
Jeremiah 45:5This verse speaks of seeking 'great things' for oneself but being told by God to merely save one's life as a 'prey,' highlighting that in times of crisis, mere survival is the greatest gain.
Deuteronomy 28:53This Old Testament passage describes the dire consequences of siege and famine, underscoring the extreme hardship that makes the hurried flight in Matthew 24:17 a matter of life and death.
vincentMatthew 24:17: "Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:"
Him which is on the house-top (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος)From roof to roof there might be a regular communication, called by the Rabbis "the road of the roofs." Thus a person could make his escape passing from roof to roof, till, at the last house, he would descend the stairs on the outside of the house, but within the exterior court. The urgency of the flight is enhanced by the fact that the stairs…
barnesMatthew 24:17: "Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:"
Him which is on the house-top - The roofs of the houses in Eastern countries were made flat, so that they were favorable places for walking and retirement. See the notes at Matthew 9:1-8 . The meaning here is, that He who should be on the house-top when this calamity came upon the city "should flee without delay;" He should not even take time to secure any article of apparel from his house. So su…
The instruction to not go "down to take what is in his house" emphasizes that escape should be immediate and from the roof itself, utilizing connecting rooftops as escape routes rather than entering the house where precious time could be lost. This detail highlights the sheer panic and urgency of the situation, where even a moment's hesitation to grab belongings could mean death.
Jesus is describing the signs of the end times and the destruction of Jerusalem, urging his followers to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation." This immediate context emphasizes the urgency and danger, commanding those on rooftops to escape along the roofs rather than descend into their homes, and those in fields to keep moving away from the city without returning for their belongings.
Jesus is describing the signs of the end times and the destruction of Jerusalem, urging his followers to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation." This immediate context emphasizes the urgency and danger, commanding those on rooftops to escape along the roofs rather than descend into their homes, and those in fields to keep moving away from the city without returning for their belongings.
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August 70 AD
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army breaches Jerusalem's defenses and destroys the Second Temple, a cataclysmic event that marks the end of an era for Judaism and the Jewish people.
"Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house," — The instruction to not go "down to take what is in his house" emphasizes that escape should be immediate and from the roof itself, utilizing connecting rooftops as escape routes rather than entering…
