Matthew 24:17-18
Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The urgency here isn't just about escaping; it's about not even pausing for possessions. The text highlights a specific architectural feature: continuous flat rooftops that allowed for immediate, roof-to-roof flight, emphasizing that even a moment's hesitation to grab belongings could be fatal.
Jesus is describing the signs leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, warning his followers to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" appear. This immediate context emphasizes the urgency of escape, stating that those on the rooftops should flee across neighboring roofs without even stopping to grab possessions inside their homes, and those in the fields should not return to retrieve anything.
Imagine the unthinkable happening in your city. What's the first thing you grab? Jesus gives a stark command that cuts through our natural instincts for possessions.
Jesus' words in Matthew 24:17 are a powerful call to immediate action in the face of imminent danger. The imagery of being 'on the housetop' highlights a person who is already somewhat removed from the immediate chaos within their home.
No Time for Possessions
This instruction teaches that in moments of divine judgment or severe crisis, clinging to earthly possessions is not only foolish but dangerous. Life itself is the ultimate treasure to be preserved.
We often equate our 'stuff' with our security. Jesus flips that idea on its head, revealing what truly matters when disaster strikes.
This verse confronts our modern-day attachment to material things. In Jesus' day, as now, people's homes held their most valued possessions.
The Cost of Delay
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.
agrō · Greek Noun
An agricultural space or open land, frequently used in the Bible as a setting for labor, judgment, or the harvest of the nations.
himation · Greek Noun
A loose-fitting outer garment worn by both men and women, essential for warmth, protection, and social identification in the ancient Near East.
Jesus' warning to flee without looking back speaks directly to the sudden and chaotic nature of the destruction of Jerusalem, urging immediate escape over material possessions.
c. 63 BC
Roman Influence in Judea Begins
Roman general Pompey intervenes in a dispute between Jewish leaders, ultimately bringing Judea under Roman control and installing a client king.
c. AD 6
Judea becomes a Roman Province
Following the deposition of Herod Archelaus, Judea is directly incorporated into the Roman Empire as a province, leading to increased Roman governance and taxation.
c. AD 26-36
Pontius Pilate's Governorship
Pilate serves as the Roman prefect of Judea, a period marked by unrest and tension between the Jewish population and Roman authorities.
c. AD 66— this verse
Outbreak of the First Jewish Revolt
Jewish resistance against Roman rule ignites into a full-scale rebellion, leading to widespread conflict and ultimately the destruction of Jerusalem.
This verse echoes the urgency of Matthew 24:17, stating, 'In that day let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one in the field not turn back.' It reinforces the idea of immediate flight without regard for possessions during a time of crisis.
Genesis 19:17The instruction in Matthew 24:17 is reminiscent of the hasty escape commanded for Lot from Sodom. In Genesis 19:17, Lot is told, 'Flee for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain. Flee to the hills, lest you be consumed.' Both passages emphasize immediate escape and leaving possessions behind.
Jeremiah 45:5This verse provides a similar sentiment to Matthew 24:17, with God telling Baruch, 'But you, seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster on all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all the places to which you may go.' It highlights that in times of judgment, one's life is the greatest prize, not material possessions.
Deuteronomy 28:53This passage from Deuteronomy paints a grim picture of siege and famine, stating, 'You shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and your daughters, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you.' It underscores the extreme desperation and loss that accompany such calamities, making the instruction to flee without belongings in Matthew 24:17 all the more critical.
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 urgency here isn't just about escaping; it's about not even pausing for possessions. The text highlights a specific architectural feature: continuous flat rooftops that allowed for immediate, roof-to-roof flight, emphasizing that even a moment's hesitation to grab belongings could be fatal.
Jesus is describing the signs leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, warning his followers to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" appear. This immediate context emphasizes the urgency of escape, stating that those on the rooftops should flee across neighboring roofs without even stopping to grab possessions inside their homes, and those in the fields should not return to retrieve anything.
Jesus is describing the signs leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, warning his followers to flee when they see the "abomination of desolation" appear. This immediate context emphasizes the urgency of escape, stating that those on the rooftops should flee across neighboring roofs without even stopping to grab possessions inside their homes, and those in the fields should not return to retrieve anything.
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Jesus is teaching us to discern what is truly valuable. In the ultimate sense, our lives, our souls, are what matter most. Possessions are secondary, and can become a dangerous distraction when life and eternal destiny are on the line.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman legions under Titus lay siege to Jerusalem, eventually breaching the walls, sacking the city, and burning the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy.
"Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak." — The urgency here isn't just about escaping; it's about not even pausing for possessions. The text highlights a specific architectural feature: continuous flat rooftops that allowed for immediate, roo…
