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Explanation for:
Matthew
24
:
13
But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Moreover, Christ reassures that those with courage and perseverance will not suffer harm. He states, “Do not be afraid or troubled. If you demonstrate proper patience, adversity will not prevail against you.” It is noteworthy to observe the strength of Christ and the boldness of the apostles, who proclaimed the Gospel during a period when the Jews faced extreme oppression from war and were viewed as instigators. At that time, Caesar issued decrees to expel them. Picture a scenario where tumultuous seas rage, darkness envelops the skies, and shipwrecks abound. Those aboard are frightened as monstrous creatures rise from the depths, consuming those who attempt to swim. Amidst storms, there are thieves, and discord among the crew as they plot against one another. In this chaos, inexperienced sailors, who have never even seen the ocean, are commanded to take the helm, engage in naval warfare, and with only a small vessel, capture enemies and thwart against a vast armada attacking with great force. \\n\\nThe apostles were despised by the Gentiles for being Jews and faced violence from their fellow Jews for opposing their customs, struggling without sanctuary. They encountered treacherous landscapes everywhere they went—in cities, villages, and homes—with opponents rising against them from every level of society. There was a whirlwind of turmoil that is beyond verbal expression. The Roman authorities loathed the Jewish people due to the numerous challenges they presented. Yet, none of this hindered their proclamation of the Gospel: even when the city fell to flames and countless woes plagued its residents, the apostles emerged from that destruction to introduce new laws and hold sway over the Romans. What extraordinary wonders! Although the Romans captured countless Jews, they could not overpower the twelve apostles, who took a stand against them unarmed. How can such a miracle be articulated? Two elements must coincide: they needed to possess confidence and the love of their disciples, while also ensuring that their teaching was appealing and the context free from disorder and wrath. Yet, the reality was quite the opposite. The apostles were seen as unreliable, with many misled away from those who seemed trustworthy; they were not only unloved but even despised, leading people away from cherished customs, homeland, and laws. Their teachings were met with reluctance, while preferred comforts remained enticing. \\n\\nBoth the apostles and their followers faced severe risks and potential death, all within a turbulent time filled with conflict and outrage. Any one of these factors could have led to chaos. Should we not then declare, “Whoever shall utter the might of the Lord, shall declare all his praises” (Psalms 105:2)? The tribes of Israel turned a deaf ear to Moses amid their burdens of brick-making; what then compelled those undergoing daily persecution and death to abandon their peaceful lives in favor of one fraught with peril and bloodshed, especially from those who preached such a message while being viewed as outsiders? Consider not just tribes and cities but the immense challenge of introducing an unwelcome messenger into a household, where residents harbor animosity. If this messenger sought to redirect loved ones away from their deepest attachments, would he not face violence even before speaking? In a household rife with conflict, he might face severe backlash just entering. And should he be reviled and demand restraint from those indulging in pleasure while standing against stronger opponents, would his downfall not seem inevitable? Yet, Christ accomplished in the entire world what could not be achieved even in a single home, guiding His followers through storms, furnaces, cliffs, and tumultuous seas marked by conflict. \\n\\nFor a clearer understanding of these events—famine, plagues, earthquakes, and other miseries—one might refer to Josephus for a detailed account. It is for this reason that Christ proclaimed, “Be not dismayed, for all these things must come to pass,” and “He that endureth to the end shall be saved,” as well as, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world.”"},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He does not withhold His love from everyone, but rather from many; for many are invited, yet few are selected. This is evident in the apostles and those who will endure, reflecting the love described in the scripture: Great waters cannot quench love (Psalm 8:7). Furthermore, the apostle states: Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, or famine do so? (Romans 8:35), among other trials."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"To whom does it refer when it states, 'But he who endures to the end'? Is it meant for those who persecute believers and entice the prophets? Certainly not. Just as medicine is meant for the ill rather than the healthy, solace is offered not to those who are secure but rather to those in peril. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the earth (Matt. 24:14). Mark distinctly adds: And in all nations the gospel shall first be announced (Mark 13:10). While wars were raging against Jerusalem, the proclamation of the gospel was just commencing and had not yet reached the entirety of the world. Yet, before the rise of heresies, the gospel was fulfilled. The knowledge of Christ permeated all, whether through a single messenger or through a nation bearing the gospel to another—continually, even unto a Christian ruler. Do you wish to confirm that everyone was aware of Christ by then? Consider the numerous wars waged by heretics over the struggle for the truest doctrine. As long as there is a calling, there is no room for choice; and where there is the possibility of choice, the calling is not without its challenges. In matters of vocation, choice serves as an impediment, just as vocation can obstruct the ability to choose."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"But the person who perseveres until the end, that is, who stands firm with courage and does not succumb to temptation, will be rescued like a soldier proven in combat."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Not everyone who perseveres will find salvation, but only those who remain steadfast in the path of the Lord. This is the life of perseverance, and everyone faces trials, enduring until the end. However, patience is fruitless if it is not directed towards the Lord and His holy gospel. Embrace the way of faith and adhere to the commandments of the Gospel; the reasons for patience will increase, and from that time on, patience will begin to yield abundant rewards, transforming what was previously barren into a rich harvest. What a deception clouds our vision, enemy, that only this endurance, which accompanies the journey of righteousness, seems heavy and unbearable, while that imposed by those who indulge in passions appears easy and insignificant, even though it is far burdensome and wretched than what those who confront their desires bear in resisting the enemy! And we are blinded to this truth... We toil, persevere, and wear ourselves out for the enemy, leading to our own ruin."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Difficult days are inevitable, yet you, my beloved, must strive to save your souls through perseverance: BUT HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. Those who maintain their faith amid all trials will be saved. Every prophecy of the Lord was realized in the apostles and early followers of Christ; however, these events will manifest again, even more profoundly, in the final moments of the world prior to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The phrase \\"until the end\\" can be interpreted in two ways: first, it may refer to the conclusion of the foretold tribulations, specifically until the fall of Jerusalem. In this context, the expression signifies that those who remain steadfast in their faith amidst the trials of these tribulations will attain safety and eternal salvation following their conclusion. Alternatively, it may pertain to the end of an individual's life, resulting in the bestowal of eternal salvation in the heavenly kingdom for their faithfulness."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"You will endure with patience all that comes upon you; through your perseverance, you shall be rescued from every trial. It is essential to understand that only those who bear their cross until the end will attain salvation, who fully partake in the cup of suffering that God has granted them. Amidst these tribulations, the Apostles, along with many other believers, remained steadfast. Upholding Christ's covenant to persevere to the end, they faced torture and death without fear. They courageously proclaimed the truth before the authorities of this world and spread Christ’s teachings throughout the known regions, with nearly all meeting death as martyrs, ultimately becoming worthy children of the Heavenly Father."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In illustrating the ominous signs of imminent distress, the Lord emphasized the futility of optimistic visions regarding the glorious establishment of an earthly kingdom, a notion to which even His closest disciples were not entirely indifferent (Matt. 16:22; Matt. 20:21). He frequently declared that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). Repeatedly, He directed His followers' attention away from the worldly gains they anticipated and toward the path of the cross and the call to self-denial (Matt. 16:24, 25), a path He treaded Himself, providing a redemptive example for them to follow (John 12:26). As He prepared for His impending departure, He sought to remind His disciples of His teachings from the beginning of His ministry (Matthew 10:17-22) while also encouraging them amidst the trials to come, assuring them of divine assistance. \\n\\n\\"Be vigilant; for before all these things, men will lay hands on you and deliver you to synagogues and prisons. You will be persecuted, brought before rulers and kings for My name's sake. But this will be your opportunity to bear witness. Therefore, settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer, for the Holy Spirit will speak through you. I will provide you a mouth and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or refute. In those days, many will be led astray, betraying one another and hating one another. Numerous false prophets will arise and lead many into error. Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold. You will be betrayed even by parents, siblings, friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but those who endure to the end will be saved\\" (Matt. 24:9-14). \\n\\nThis gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Persecution directed at the heralds of Christ's message will create divisions among believers and non-believers, fracturing even the closest familial bonds, weakening collective love, and increasing temptations from false prophets. These hardships would give rise to a new world—a Christian world—to emerge from the ruins of the ancient order. The Lord’s words closely connected to the fall of Jerusalem were indeed fulfilled with precision. In the time leading up to Jerusalem's destruction, four Roman emperors met violent ends; civil strife and external conflicts ravaged the landscape, while morality decayed amidst rampant vice. \\n\\nDuring this tumultuous period, Judea experienced severe famine (Acts 11:28), which Josephus records as claiming many lives in Jerusalem. Under Emperor Claudius, famine afflicted Rome, Greece, and Palestine multiple times. Tacitus also documented widespread pestilence during this era. Earthquakes devastated cities such as Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae, along with others including Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos. Josephus noted that the land was overrun with deceivers and sorcerers who led people into the wilderness to showcase supposed miracles, presenting themselves as figures of divine authority. Among such frauds were Dositheus the Samaritan, who proclaimed himself Christ, and Simon the Magician, also of Samaria, who claimed to be the son of God, along with others like Febla, Menander, and various Egyptian pretenders.\\n\\nThe Jews, rejecting Christ, were so eagerly anticipating a conquering Messiah that they were quick to embrace every charlatan. Josephus recounts foreboding signs preceding Jerusalem's siege: a star resembling a sword lingered above the city for a year; during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, bright illumination surrounded the altar at night; the temple gates, which required considerable effort to secure, swung open by themselves at night; during Pentecost, priests entering the temple were astonished to hear voices declaring, \\"Let us depart from here!\\" \\n\\nBefore Jerusalem's fall, substantial persecution against Christians had commenced. After the ascension of the Divine Master, His disciples faced opposition as they proclaimed the Gospel, encountering hostility from Jews and Gentiles, rulers, and authorities. The apostles were subjected to imprisonment (Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18; Acts 12:4), brought to trial (Acts 4:7; Acts 5:27), beaten (Acts 5:40), and in some cases, martyred (Acts 7:58; 12:2). Nevertheless, the message of the Lord spread extensively (Acts 13:49), and prior to Jerusalem's destruction, the holy Apostle Paul conveyed that the proclamation of the Gospel had reached the ends of the earth (Rom. 10:18) and all of creation under heaven (Col. 1:23). \\n\\nThe Gospel permeated the known world at that time, but many false prophets arose, prompting warnings from the holy apostles to the faithful (1 John 4:1; Jude 1:4). These signs, which foretold Jerusalem’s ruin, will reappear before the end of the age, as the Lord foretold, intertwining distant and imminent events. When the lawless one comes, he will be revealed with the power of Satan, accompanied by false signs and wonders, and every unrighteous deception directed at those who are perishing (2 Thess. 2:8-10). In those days, the successors of the apostles, the shepherds and teachers of Christ's Church, along with all devoted followers, will face intense persecution for their testimony of Jesus and the Word of God (Rev. 20:4)."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The impact of the impending tribulation will be notably reflected in the betrayal of believers in Christ by even their own family members, leading to a widespread animosity towards Christians. In this context, Matthew also conveys the warning that many will be led astray, meaning they will deviate from their faith, and that numerous false prophets will emerge within the Christian community, misleading many. Moreover, he foretells that due to the escalation of wickedness, the love of many will wax cold. However, our Lord provided a hopeful sign for the final days of Jerusalem and the world: the proclamation of the Gospel to all nations. A glance at church history reveals how profoundly these prophecies were realized within the apostolic era."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The warning issued (Matt. 23:37-39) weighed heavily on the hearts of the disciples, who trusted in its realization yet felt sorrow for Jerusalem, struggling to reconcile this with their understanding of the Messiah's reign. As they departed from the temple and made their way toward the Mount of Olives, where the temple’s splendor was particularly visible, the Lord disclosed to them that all this magnificence would be utterly destroyed. Eager for further understanding, they inquired about the timing of this catastrophic event when they were alone with Him on the Mount of Olives. Many had not yet witnessed the advent of the Messiah’s kingdom, as anticipated, and failed to recognize the signs signaling the end of the current order, which, according to Jewish thought, would be entirely transformed with the Messiah’s arrival. Hence, they collectively asked Him what signs would indicate the coming of His kingdom and the end of the age."}]}
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