And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
Jesus spoke this word while sitting on the Mount of Olives in answer to Peter, James, John and Andrew when they asked when these things would be and what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the world. The answer does not take up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming but mingles the description of the two events. This mingling was in mercy because the disciples could not have endured the sight of future events as He beheld them, and they were left to study out the meaning for themselves.
What is spoken about the destruction of Jerusalem reaches beyond that event to the final conflagration in the day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish the world for iniquity. The entire discourse, including this verse, was given not for the disciples only but for those who shall live in the last scenes of this earth's history. When the abomination of desolation stands where it ought not, the warning sign of Jerusalem's coming destruction, those in Judea must flee to the mountains at once without delay. Anyone working in the field must keep going and not turn back for clothing.
The garment is an outer garment laid aside while working in the heat of the day, and going back for it would waste time and risk being caught in the destruction, since the danger and affliction require immediate flight. The command matches the command not to go down from the housetop or enter the house to take goods. The warning teaches readiness and urgent action, because the foretold crisis may break forth suddenly and the time is short.
The warning about the temple's destruction and its signs connects to God's coming judgments on sinful cities, when earthquakes, fire and floods will destroy them and human efforts to secure buildings and possessions will fail. When the coming crisis breaks there will be no time to turn aside for possessions because people will be driven into the mountains, and the warning applies to the time just before us. This is why parents with children in the large cities should leave the cities now for places with room and land to cultivate. They are to educate their children to keep the Sabbath, commit the family to God whenever leaving the house, and keep Christ before them as the Saviour who gave His life for the life of the world.
Jesus spoke this word while sitting on the Mount of Olives in answer to Peter, James, John and Andrew when they asked when these things would be and what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the world. The answer does not take up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming but mingles the description of the two events. This mingling was in mercy because the disciples could not have endured the sight of future events as He beheld them, and they were left to study out the meaning for themselves.
What is spoken about the destruction of Jerusalem reaches beyond that event to the final conflagration in the day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish the world for iniquity. The entire discourse, including this verse, was given not for the disciples only but for those who shall live in the last scenes of this earth's history. When the abomination of desolation stands where it ought not, the warning sign of Jerusalem's coming destruction, those in Judea must flee to the mountains at once without delay. Anyone working in the field must keep going and not turn back for clothing.
The garment is an outer garment laid aside while working in the heat of the day, and going back for it would waste time and risk being caught in the destruction, since the danger and affliction require immediate flight. The command matches the command not to go down from the housetop or enter the house to take goods. The warning teaches readiness and urgent action, because the foretold crisis may break forth suddenly and the time is short.
The warning about the temple's destruction and its signs connects to God's coming judgments on sinful cities, when earthquakes, fire and floods will destroy them and human efforts to secure buildings and possessions will fail. When the coming crisis breaks there will be no time to turn aside for possessions because people will be driven into the mountains, and the warning applies to the time just before us. This is why parents with children in the large cities should leave the cities now for places with room and land to cultivate. They are to educate their children to keep the Sabbath, commit the family to God whenever leaving the house, and keep Christ before them as the Saviour who gave His life for the life of the world.