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Explanation for:
Matthew
24
:
17
And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:
10
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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":"It is beneficial, he states, if someone is saved even in a state of vulnerability. Consequently, he prohibits those atop the roof from going back into the house to retrieve their garments, illustrating the inescapability of wickedness and the profound calamity it entails, affirming that those who succumb to it are destined for ruin."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He who is on the rooftop... will not find salvation like before, for the Lord will lack compassion and regard for them."},{"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":"The term \\"abomination of desolation\\" can also refer to any corrupt doctrine. When we witness it standing in a sacred place, specifically within the Church, and revealing God's presence, we ought to flee from the earthly confines of Judea to seek refuge in the heights of eternity, where the radiance of God shines splendidly, as noted in Psalm 75:5: \\"Thou art glorious, mightier than the mountains of predation.\\" We should strive to dwell under that protective covering and in that holy abode that the fiery arrows of the adversary cannot penetrate, as stated in Psalm 115:5: \\"I will make my vows unto the Lord before all His people.\\" We must not descend to retrieve any remnants from our previous life nor yearn for what lies behind us. Instead, we should focus on planting seeds in the fertile ground of the spiritual Scriptures so that we may reap their rewards, abstaining from carrying additional garments, which is prohibited for the apostles. Regarding the abomination of desolation that was prophesied by Daniel, Porphyry has uttered many blasphemies against us within the thirteenth book of his writings. Eusebius, the bishop of Caesarea, confronted him in three of his works: the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth. Apollinaris also addressed this topic extensively, dedicating a thorough treatment to resolve the questions debated in countless verses."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The roof symbolizes the highest point of a home, representing the esteemed culmination of the entire structure. A house lacks existence without a roof. One who stands firmly upon the roof, representing the fulfillment of their being—renewed through spiritual rebirth, uplifted by the Holy Spirit, and perfected through the acceptance of divine grace—should resist the inner temptations of physical desires and avoid succumbing to the sinful longings for worldly pleasures, lest they fall from their elevated state. Likewise, the individual laboring in the fields should not look back to reclaim their old garments. This signifies that a person dedicated to obeying God's commandments must refrain from returning to former concerns or longing for physical attire, for doing so risks donning once more the tattered rags of sin that they had previously shed."},{"author-name":"Caesarius of Nazianzus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a176e0f4c3aeca7aee3_Caesarius%20of%20Nazianzus.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"If the conclusion of the age and the return of Christ is near, why does the Lord instruct, \\"Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are on the rooftop not go down to take anything from their house, and let those who are in the field not return to fetch their cloak\\"? He also advises, \\"But pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. Woe to those who are with child and to those who are nursing in those days.\\" Should the end come in summer, on a Sunday or Monday, can we truly hide or escape? Why does He mourn particularly for mothers and those with infants amid so many people gathering? Is it because they would find it especially challenging to care for their young, or because they might endure greater anguish? \\n\\nThe Lord, anticipating the impending flight, instructs the Jews to seek refuge in the mountains. After Vespasian, Titus fully devastated Jerusalem, ruthlessly slaughtering the Jews, mercilessly killing men, crushing infants, and violently attacking pregnant women, ultimately obliterating the faithful community. The siege began on the Sabbath, when many were at rest due to the holy day, and it was winter, preventing many from fleeing destruction. Those attempting to seek safety in upper rooms refrained from taking possessions from below, realizing that life itself is more valuable than material goods. Those in the fields did not return home; instead, they fled far when they witnessed the city engulfed in flames.\\n\\nInterpreting the words meaningfully, \\"Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,\\" Judea can symbolize those firm in their good faith. The high refuge, Christ, is where they should place their trust, maintained by their faith. Those on rooftops should not descend to retrieve worldly belongings; they should regard the values of this life lightly, having transcended earthly allure, purging themselves of passions and desires, not allowing joy, sorrow, indulgence, or memories of wealth to distract them from their ascent. \\n\\nWhen He mentions those in the field, they should not return for their outer garments. Having shed the old self and rejected the carnal, they are called to embrace the new self, renewed in the knowledge of God. Having been cleansed from all impurities, they are free from all evil, undeterred by confusion or distractions that could weaken their love for Christ. Christ teaches that those who are truly His mother and brothers do so through their obedience to the commands of salvation, emphasizing the superiority of the spiritual over the physical. Thus, His disciples abandoned their meals to pursue righteousness, embracing the Word not merely in speech but through their actions. Speaking well may be likened to the sound of an instrument, while doing good aligns one with the heavenly."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"In your letter, you requested an explanation of the signs indicating profound need at the end of the age, as revealed by the Lord for our understanding; now, grasp their significance. Those dwelling in Judea should escape to the mountains. Those grounded in righteousness, which signifies Judea, should seek the highest sanctuary and guard themselves with their faith. If someone is on the roof, they should not descend to retrieve belongings from their home. The individual who has turned away from their earthly abode, who has elevated their life by casting aside worldly passions, must not be swayed by fear, carelessness, vanity, or a love for wealth; such distractions lead one away from their elevated state. For those in the fields, they should not return to fetch their clothing. The person who has shed the old self and renounced the fleshly nature should embrace the New Self, which is renewed in the knowledge of God and cleansed from impurity. All who follow this will find safety amidst this great tribulation."},{"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":"Anticipating the certainty of impending trials, the Lord instructs His followers to escape without looking back, disregarding possessions, clothing, or any other items left behind in their homes. Some theologians interpret the term ‘the abomination of desolation’ as referring to the Antichrist, who will emerge during the time of universal desolation, the ruin of the churches, and who will also establish himself in the temple. In this light, the directive to flee is perceived as an exhortation for those who have ascended to the summit of virtue—signifying a spiritual elevation—not to descend to gather material belongings, since the body serves as the dwelling place of the soul. We are called to abandon the field, symbolic of secular concerns, since the field represents our earthly existence; likewise, we should not reclaim the garment, representing the ancient sins and transgressions from which we have learned to turn away."},{"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":"\\"Whoever is on the roof\\": In Palestine, as well as in the broader Eastern context, rooftops were flat and served as practical spaces for walking and for privacy. Access to the rooftops was often provided through internal staircases, as well as external stairways leading directly to the street, allowing for a swift escape if needed. When calamity strikes, those on the roof must immediately flee without even entering their home for any reason, as their safety hangs in the balance. For this same reason, it is also stated that anyone in the field should not return to retrieve their cloak, emphasizing that if those within the house are escaping, those outside should be even more decisive in their flight (Chrysostom). Eusebius records in his Ecclesiastical History that the Christians of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas, being aware of the Lord’s prophecies, abandoned their cities and villages and sought refuge in Pella and other secure locations east of the Jordan River, making it notable that no Christian is known to have perished during the destruction of Jerusalem."},{"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":"Let anyone who is on the roof not descend to retrieve anything from his home, even if it is the most essential garment; he should swiftly climb down the ladder from the roof to the ground; otherwise, his ruin is inevitable."},{"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":"Do not hesitate for even a moment to escape; do not pause to collect life’s necessities. If someone is on the roof, flee without entering the house to retrieve anything. Likewise, if one is working in the field and has removed their outer garment, run without taking it with you. Bear in mind that these are the days of the Lord's judgment upon a disobedient nation, as foretold by the prophets."}]}
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