Matthew 24:18
and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Matthew 24:18
and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about grabbing a forgotten jacket; it's a stark command to shed all attachments to the past. The "cloak" here represents any comfort or possession, however minor, that could slow down the urgent, immediate flight from impending destruction. It teaches us that in moments of spiritual crisis, clinging to worldly comforts can mean forfeiting our salvation.
Jesus is warning his disciples about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, describing signs and tribulations that will precede it. He urges them to flee Judea immediately upon seeing the "abomination of desolation" and emphasizes the need for immediate, unhindered flight, leaving all possessions behind. This urgent call to escape highlights the swiftness and severity of the coming judgment.
Imagine you’re working in your field, and suddenly you have to run for your life. What do you grab?
Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 24 are stark and direct. To the person working in the field, the command is clear: 'do not turn back to take his cloak.' This isn't about forgetting something trivial; it's about understanding the urgency and the terrifying reality of the situation Jesus is describing.
The Enemy Is Here
This warning is tied to seeing 'the abomination of desolation' (Matthew 24:15), a sign pointing to the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. When this sign appears, the time for preparation or gathering possessions is over. The enemy is at the gates, and any delay means certain capture or death.
Leaving it All Behind
The 'cloak' or 'clothes' here refers to an outer garment, often laid aside for work or in a hurry. Jesus is saying that even this essential item must be left behind. The priority is immediate escape, not comfort or material possessions. This speaks to the severity of the tribulation, a time so dire that even basic necessities must be abandoned for the sake of survival.
Why the specific mention of a 'cloak'? Could it represent more than just clothing?
While the instruction to leave the cloak behind is a literal command for urgent escape, it also carries symbolic weight. The outer garment, often removed for labor or quickly shed when running, represents anything that could slow us down or tie us to the past when God calls us to move.
Entanglements of Life
Jesus wasn't just speaking about physical clothing. He was speaking to a deeper human tendency to hold onto what is familiar and comfortable, even when it becomes a hindrance. The 'cloak' can symbolize our jobs, our security, our possessions, or even our relationships when they become idols that prevent us from following God's call.
Radical Obedience
This command calls for a radical obedience that prioritizes God's direction above all else. It’s a powerful reminder that in moments of divine urgency, our attachment to earthly things can be a dangerous liability. The true safety and provision come from obeying God's call to flee, not from clinging to what we might lose anyway.
Understand the original words
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' instruction to flee without looking back highlights the extreme urgency and immediate danger faced by his followers during the Roman siege of Jerusalem, a direct fulfillment of his prophecy about the city's destruction.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports Jewish nobility and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile. This event sets a precedent for future exiles and foreign domination of Jerusalem.
c. 587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This catastrophic event fulfills prophecies of judgment and marks a profound crisis for the Jewish people.
c. 167-164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Profanation
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrates the Jerusalem Temple, demanding the worship of Greek gods. This event, referred to as the 'abomination of desolation' in Daniel, foreshadows future desecrations and judgments.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Olivet Discourse
Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse on the Mount of Olives, prophesying the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the signs of the end times. He instructs his followers to flee when they see the 'abomination of desolation.'
This passage echoes the urgency of Matthew 24:18 by commanding people not to go back to their homes when the Son of Man is revealed, emphasizing that the moment of crisis demands immediate departure, not a return for possessions.
Jeremiah 48:6This verse provides an Old Testament parallel to the urgency of leaving possessions behind during a crisis, warning the Moabites to flee and leave their goods, illustrating that fleeing for life often means abandoning worldly belongings.
Genesis 19:17The flight from Sodom illustrates the principle of not looking back for possessions or loved ones when escaping divine judgment, mirroring the instruction in Matthew 24:18 to leave everything behind for survival.
Isaiah 10:22This passage speaks of a remnant being saved when judgment falls upon Israel, highlighting that even amidst widespread destruction, a select few will be preserved, resonating with the idea that immediate, decisive action is crucial for survival, as seen in Matthew 24:18.
barnesMatthew 24:18: "Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes."
Return back to take his clothes - His clothes which, in "working," He had laid aside, or which, in fleeing, he should throw off as an encumbrance. "Clothes" here means the "outer" garment, commonly laid aside when men worked or ran. See the notes at Matthew 5:40 . These directions were followed. It is said that the Christians, warned by these predictions, fled from Jerusalem to Pella, and other places beyond…
calvinMatthew 24:15-28: "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:)"
- When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which is described by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let him that readeth understand,) 16. Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17. Let not him who is on the housetop go down to carry anything out of his house; 18. And let not…
This isn't just about grabbing a forgotten jacket; it's a stark command to shed all attachments to the past. The "cloak" here represents any comfort or possession, however minor, that could slow down the urgent, immediate flight from impending destruction. It teaches us that in moments of spiritual crisis, clinging to worldly comforts can mean forfeiting our salvation.
Jesus is warning his disciples about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, describing signs and tribulations that will precede it. He urges them to flee Judea immediately upon seeing the "abomination of desolation" and emphasizes the need for immediate, unhindered flight, leaving all possessions behind. This urgent call to escape highlights the swiftness and severity of the coming judgment.
Jesus is warning his disciples about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, describing signs and tribulations that will precede it. He urges them to flee Judea immediately upon seeing the "abomination of desolation" and emphasizes the need for immediate, unhindered flight, leaving all possessions behind. This urgent call to escape highlights the swiftness and severity of the coming judgment.
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AD 66-70
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by Rome
The Roman army under Titus besieges Jerusalem. The city suffers immensely from famine, internal strife, and brutal warfare, culminating in the destruction of the Temple. Many Jews flee, while Christians who heeded Jesus' warning escape to Pella.
c. AD 70
Flight of Christians to Pella
Following Jesus' prophecy, Christians in Jerusalem and Judea flee to the gentile city of Pella, east of the Jordan River, escaping the horrors of the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem. This act of obedience preserved the early Christian community.
"and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak." — This isn't just about grabbing a forgotten jacket; it's a stark command to shed all attachments to the past. The "cloak" here represents any comfort or possession, however minor, that could slow do…