Matthew 10 23

Matthew 10:23 kjv

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 10:23 nkjv

When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 10:23 niv

When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 10:23 esv

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 10:23 nlt

When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.

Matthew 10 verses

Matthew 10 23 Meaning

Matthew 10:23 conveys Jesus' directive to His disciples regarding their missionary strategy amidst impending persecution: when faced with severe opposition in one location, they are to move to another. This instruction is coupled with a profound, authoritative declaration that the Son of Man's significant "coming" would occur before they completed their evangelistic task throughout all the cities of Israel, emphasizing the urgency and limited time of their initial, specific mission to the Jewish people.

Matthew 10 23 Context

Matthew chapter 10 records Jesus' charge to His twelve apostles before sending them out on their first independent mission. This "missionary discourse" provides essential instructions, warnings, and promises regarding their imminent work. The verses immediately preceding 10:23 emphasize the harsh realities they would face: being sent out "as sheep in the midst of wolves" (10:16), facing arrests, floggings, and even being "hated by all for My name's sake" (10:17-22). Against this backdrop of guaranteed persecution, verse 23 provides a practical and strategic directive. The historical context is crucial: this mission was exclusively "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (10:6), indicating a limited, focused outreach before the broader, Gentile-inclusive Great Commission post-resurrection. The mention of the "cities of Israel" specifically reinforces this initial focus, while the timing of "the Son of Man comes" points to a significant eschatological or salvific event within the lifespan of that generation.

Matthew 10 23 Word analysis

ul word: "When" (ὅταν - hotan)

• Implies an expectation, a certainty, not just a possibility, of persecution. Jesus is preparing them for what will undoubtedly happen.

ul word: "they persecute" (διώκωσιν - diōkōsin)

• From διώκω (diōkō), meaning "to pursue," "chase," "persecute," or "seek to obtain."
• Denotes active, aggressive, often hostile pursuit and opposition. It implies a sustained effort to harm or stop their ministry, rather than mere disagreement.
• This word is used elsewhere for intense spiritual striving (Phil 3:12, 14) but predominantly for severe mistreatment here (Matt 5:10, 11).

ul words-group: "you in one city, flee to another"

• This is a strategic command, not a permission for cowardice. It prioritizes the continuation of the mission and the preservation of the evangelists' lives over martyrdom at every turn.
• The disciples are not to cease ministering, but to relocate the ministry to receptive areas. This highlights flexibility and divine pragmatism in spreading the Gospel.
• This flight allows the "shaking off the dust" from the unreceptive city (Matt 10:14) and signals a move to offer the Gospel elsewhere, aligning with Jesus' practice of withdrawing from danger.

ul word: "For" (γάρ - gar)

• Connects the strategic advice of flight directly to the urgent timing given in the subsequent clause, indicating the reason or justification for their swift movement.

ul words-group: "assuredly, I say to you" (ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν - amēn legō hymin)

• This is a powerful, authoritative phrase uniquely used by Jesus throughout the Gospels. "Amen" (ἀμήν) denotes truth, certainty, and solemn affirmation.
• It signals that what follows is profoundly significant, trustworthy, and comes directly from Jesus' divine authority.

ul words-group: "you will not finish going through the cities of Israel"

• "Finish going through" (οὐ μὴ τελέσητε - ou mē telesēte): A double negative in Greek, emphasizing absolute certainty of non-completion within the specified timeframe.
• "The cities of Israel": Refers to the geographical scope of their initial mission, strictly to the Jewish population and territories within the historical land of Israel.
• This suggests a relatively short period for this specific mission phase, indicating the immediacy of the "Son of Man's coming."

ul words-group: "before the Son of Man comes" (ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - heōs an elthē ho huios tou anthrōpou)

• "Before" (ἕως ἂν - heōs an): Indicates a temporal boundary for their mission.

• "The Son of Man" (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου): Jesus' preferred self-designation, deeply rooted in Dan 7:13-14, conveying both His humanity and His divine authority, especially in judgment and kingly reign. It refers to Christ in His kingly, messianic, and judicial capacity.

• "Comes" (ἔλθῃ - elthē): The verb "to come" in this context is subject to much scholarly debate. Possible interpretations, considering the "cities of Israel" context and the immediacy:

  • His resurrection/Pentecost/the coming of the Holy Spirit: Signaling the dawn of the new covenant age and the establishment of the church, and the empowering for world mission.
  • His coming in judgment against Jerusalem in AD 70: Many scholars see this as a key interpretation, signifying the decisive end of the old covenant system and the pivot of the Gospel from Israel to the Gentiles. This would have indeed occurred before the Twelve fully traversed all the Jewish cities, as the Gospel soon expanded beyond purely Jewish areas (Acts). This "coming" would be in a sense of providential judgment and the demonstration of His Kingdom authority through historical events.
  • His spiritual presence/arrival in Kingdom power during their ministry: Less likely for "come," but could refer to the power of the Kingdom breaking forth.
  • His Second Coming (Parousia): While the ultimate coming of the Son of Man, the temporal "before you finish" in the cities of Israel strongly points to an event within that generation's scope relevant to the initial Jewish mission. The ultimate Parousia is universal, not tied to cities of Israel specifically.

  Given the context, the "coming" is likely a significant display of Christ's authority and judgment relevant to the Jewish nation, perhaps specifically the AD 70 judgment that would fundamentally alter the landscape of the mission, bringing an effective close to the exclusive "cities of Israel" phase for that generation. It speaks to the urgency and strategic nature of their task.

Matthew 10 23 Bonus section

• Divine Strategy in Persecution: This verse illustrates that faithfulness during persecution doesn't always mean staying to face certain death but can involve strategic movement to continue the mission. It is a divine principle of discernment, knowing when to endure and when to relocate for the Gospel's sake.
• The Weight of the 'Cities of Israel': The specific mention of the "cities of Israel" highlights the primary, but time-limited, focus of Jesus' early ministry and the apostles' initial commission. This direct charge foreshadows the later shift to the Gentile world as outlined in the Great Commission (Matt 28:19) and seen clearly in Acts. The Son of Man's coming marks a major transition point in God's redemptive plan regarding the Jewish nation.
• Urgency in Discipleship: Beyond the historical context, the verse imparts a timeless lesson on the urgency of God's Kingdom work. Time is finite, and opportunities to spread the Gospel are often fleeting. The impending "coming" for the first disciples serves as an enduring reminder for believers to be diligent in their calling.

Matthew 10 23 Commentary

Matthew 10:23 encapsulates both a practical instruction for evangelism and a profound eschatological declaration from Jesus. Faced with inevitable persecution, the disciples are given not a command for blind martyrdom, but a wise directive for strategic withdrawal. This "fleeing to another city" (frequently practiced by Paul, cf. Acts 14:6-7) is not a sign of fear, but an act of fidelity to the mission, preserving their lives to continue proclaiming the Gospel. The imperative ensures that the message has the widest possible reach, maximizing opportunities despite hostility.

The urgency underpinning this strategy is underscored by Jesus' solemn oath, "Assuredly, I say to you." The shocking pronouncement that they "will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes" has long been a focal point of theological debate. While some interpret "the Son of Man comes" as His ultimate Second Coming, the immediate geographical limitation ("cities of Israel") and temporal constraint ("before you finish") strongly suggest a significant, transformative event tied to the Jewish nation and that specific generation.

Many prominent biblical scholars connect this "coming" to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. This event, prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24, represented a definitive "coming" in judgment upon an unrepentant Israel and marked the close of the Old Covenant age. This historical catastrophe indeed occurred before the apostles, even given their lifetime dedication, could have comprehensively preached the Gospel to every single city of Israel. It signified a pivot, an end to the mission primarily concentrated within Jewish territory and the commencement of the broader, Gentile-inclusive mission (as seen in the book of Acts). Thus, the verse highlights the divine urgency of the task and the imminent vindication of Jesus' authority through historical events, empowering the early disciples to move swiftly and strategically. It's a reminder that God works within historical realities to advance His Kingdom purposes.