Matthew 24:6-7
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Jesus is telling his disciples not to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars because these are merely the "beginning of sorrows," not the final end. The crucial point is that these events must take place, signaling God's judgment rather than the immediate conclusion of history.
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awestruck comments about the temple, revealing its imminent destruction. He then shifts to their questions about the signs of his coming and the end of the age, warning them first against deception. The mention of wars and rumors of wars is one of the initial signs Jesus gives, not to cause panic, but to prepare them for ongoing turmoil before the ultimate end.
When headlines scream of conflict and unrest, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Jesus knew this would happen, and He gave us a clear instruction.
Jesus acknowledges the reality of 'wars and rumors of wars.' This isn't just about distant conflicts; it speaks to a pervasive sense of unrest and instability that can rock the foundations of society.
A Divine Permission
But notice Jesus' command: 'See that you are not alarmed.' This isn't denial; it's a call to a different perspective. He assures them that these events 'must take place.' This doesn't mean God orchestrates every battle, but rather that He permits these things within His sovereign plan. The world's turmoil doesn't catch Him by surprise.
The End is Not Yet
The crucial phrase here is 'but the end is not yet.' These disturbances are not the final act. They are signs, yes, but not the consummation. This distinction is vital for maintaining peace. When we see upheaval, remembering that it's not the end helps us resist the urge to panic and instead look for God's hand, even in difficult times.
Jesus describes unsettling events, but He draws a clear line between these signs and the final outcome. What's the difference?
The disciples were asking Jesus for signs, wanting to know when the temple would be destroyed and when His return would happen. Jesus gives them a series of signs, but He carefully distinguishes them from the final event.
Signs as Indicators, Not the Destination
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Wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes – these are all presented as 'the beginning of sorrows' (Matthew 24:8). They are like the early contractions a mother feels before giving birth. They indicate that something significant is coming, but they are not the birth itself.
Maintaining Perspective
Jesus warns against being alarmed because 'the end is not yet.' This is a vital theological and practical point. These events are necessary precursors, part of the unfolding of God's plan. However, they are not the culmination. Believers are called to discern these signs without succumbing to fear, understanding that their ultimate hope rests not in the absence of troubles, but in the sovereign God who is working all things towards His ultimate purpose.
Understand the original words
polemos · Greek Noun
Large-scale armed conflicts between organized groups or states, often representing divine judgment or the clash of human empires in biblical prophecy.
telos · Greek Noun
The final consummation of the age, the return of Christ, and the establishment of His kingdom. It refers to the completion of God's redemptive historical plan.
ethnos · Greek Noun
The grouping of people based on shared heritage, language, or territory; in biblical terms, often refers to the Gentile world or political entities that stand outside the covenant people.
dei · Greek Verb
A divine or providential necessity; something that must occur because it is part of God's sovereign, revealed, or decreed plan for human history.
Jesus' words about 'wars and rumors of wars' weren't just abstract predictions; they pointed to the real, turbulent decades leading up to Jerusalem's destruction, a period marked by Roman political instability and escalating Jewish resistance.
c. AD 37-41
Caligula's Statue Incident
Roman Emperor Caligula ordered his statue to be placed in the Jerusalem Temple, causing widespread fear and consternation among Jews, who feared an immediate war with Rome. The crisis was averted by Caligula's assassination.
c. AD 44-46
Famine in Judea
A severe famine struck Judea, as prophesied by Agabus, causing great suffering and likely contributing to the unrest and instability in the region.
c. AD 48-52
Jewish-Syrian Riots
Significant inter-ethnic violence erupted between Jews and Syrians in cities like Caesarea, leading to thousands of deaths and widespread conflict across the region.
c. AD 60-66— this verse
Roman Civil Wars and Jewish Unrest
The Roman Empire experienced internal turmoil with rapid successions of emperors (Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius) and civil wars. This instability coincided with escalating tensions and rebellions within Judea.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
The great Jewish revolt against Roman rule began, leading to widespread devastation, including the siege and destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.
This passage echoes Jesus' words about wars and commotions, framing them as signs that must occur before the end, but not indicating the immediate arrival of that finality.
Revelation 6:4This verse describes the rider on a red horse going out 'to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another,' directly paralleling the 'wars and rumors of wars' mentioned in Matthew 24:6.
2 Timothy 3:1-4This passage describes the difficult times and 'terrible times' that will characterize the last days, which includes behaviors that naturally lead to conflict and unrest among people, reflecting the 'wars and rumors of wars' Jesus predicted.
Jeremiah 5:12This verse speaks of those who 'denied the Lord' and said, 'It is not He. No harm shall come to us.' This connects to Jesus' warning in Matthew 24:6 not to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars, as such events would not necessarily signal the immediate end, implying a need for discernment beyond immediate fears.
barnesMatthew 24:6: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."
And ye shall hear of wars ... - It is recorded in the history of Rome that violent agitations prevailed in the Roman empire previous to the destruction of Jerusalem. Four emperors, Nero, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, suffered violent deaths in the short space of eighteen months. In consequence of these changes in the government, there were com…
bensonMatthew 24:6: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."
Matthew 24:6-8 . And ye shall hear of wars, &c. — This is the second sign. That there were wars and rumours of wars, appears by all the historians of those times, and above all by Josephus. To relate the particulars would be to transcribe a great part of his history of the Jewish wars. There were more especially rumours of wars when Caligula…
Jesus is telling his disciples not to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars because these are merely the "beginning of sorrows," not the final end. The crucial point is that these events must take place, signaling God's judgment rather than the immediate conclusion of history.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awestruck comments about the temple, revealing its imminent destruction. He then shifts to their questions about the signs of his coming and the end of the age, warning them first against deception. The mention of wars and rumors of wars is one of the initial signs Jesus gives, not to cause panic, but to prepare them for ongoing turmoil before the ultimate end.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' awestruck comments about the temple, revealing its imminent destruction. He then shifts to their questions about the signs of his coming and the end of the age, warning them first against deception. The mention of wars and rumors of wars is one of the initial signs Jesus gives, not to cause panic, but to prepare them for ongoing turmoil before the ultimate end.
"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in va…" — Jesus is telling his disciples not to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars because these are merely the "beginning of sorrows," not the final end. The crucial point is that these events must take…
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Last reviewed October 2026
