Matthew 24 18

Matthew 24:18 kjv

Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

Matthew 24:18 nkjv

And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

Matthew 24:18 niv

Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

Matthew 24:18 esv

and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

Matthew 24:18 nlt

A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 18 Meaning

This verse is a direct command from Jesus, emphasizing the absolute urgency required during the tribulation described, specifically tied to the "abomination of desolation." It instructs anyone who is working or present in the open field, far from the security of home or city, not to turn back even for essential possessions like clothes. The core meaning conveys that flight must be immediate, unencumbered by any material attachment, prioritizing life and obedience to the divine warning above all else. Delay for even a perceived necessity will prove fatal.

Matthew 24 18 Context

Matthew 24:18 is part of Jesus's Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), a pivotal teaching given on the Mount of Olives in response to the disciples' questions about the timing of the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Mt 24:3). The immediate context of verse 18 (vs. 15-20) details urgent instructions for flight following the appearance of the "abomination of desolation standing in the holy place," a prophecy rooted in Daniel 9:27. This specific section largely pertains to the historical destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in 70 AD, which served as a prototype and forewarning of future end-time events. Jesus warns against delay and attachment to possessions, advising rapid escape to the mountains. Culturally, leaving "clothes" would imply leaving one's most important outer garment or mantle, which served as a blanket at night and carried personal items. The intensity of this warning signifies the unparalleled danger of that specific tribulation, leaving no room for worldly attachments or self-preservation efforts beyond immediate escape.

Matthew 24 18 Word analysis

• and he who is in the field (`καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ`, kai ho en tō agrō):
  • καὶ (kai): Simple coordinating conjunction, linking this instruction to the previous ones (like not coming down from the housetop), indicating a continuing and related point of urgency.
  • ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ (ho en tō agrō): Literally, "the one in the field" or "the one in the country." This specifies individuals who are outside the city, likely working their land, herding sheep, or traveling. They are already exposed and further away from immediate shelter or belongings in their homes. This heightens the sense of desperation: no time to make it home for refuge or to collect anything.
• let him not return back (`μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω`, mē epistrepsatō opisō):
  • μὴ (mē): A strong Greek particle for negation with imperative verbs, indicating an absolute prohibition.
  • ἐπιστρεψάτω (epistrepsatō): This is an aorist imperative of epistrephō, meaning "to turn back, return." The aorist imperative emphasizes the decisive, immediate action. It's a sharp command to not even pause or consider turning around.
  • ὀπίσω (opisō): An adverb meaning "backwards" or "behind." Used with epistrepsatō, it creates an emphatic redundancy: not merely "don't turn" but "don't turn backwards," stressing absolute forward movement away from danger and not re-tracing steps. This echoes the warning concerning Lot's wife.
• to take his clothes (`ἆραι τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ`, arai ta himatia autou):
  • ἆραι (arai): Infinitive of airō, meaning "to take up, lift, carry away, remove." It denotes the action of collecting or securing items.
  • τὰ ἱμάτια (ta himatia): The plural noun for "garments, clothes," referring collectively to one's articles of clothing, but often in a specific context (like Mk 13:16) implies the outer cloak or mantle. This outer garment was crucial; it provided warmth at night (Ex 22:26-27), served as a carrying cloth, and sometimes valuables or money might be tied up within it. The command implies leaving even basic necessities and anything of perceived value.
  • αὐτοῦ (autou): "his." A simple possessive pronoun.

Words-Group Analysis

• and he who is in the field, let him not return back: This phrase powerfully describes the dire urgency of the situation. It highlights the vulnerability of those caught unprepared away from home. The absolute prohibition against turning back, even a step, underscores the immediacy of the peril. It contrasts seeking personal security through possessions with seeking it through immediate, obedient flight. The scene painted is one of sudden, life-threatening danger requiring an immediate, unburdened escape.
• to take his clothes: This concluding phrase identifies the specific temptation that must be resisted. "Clothes" here represent any personal belonging, no matter how necessary or seemingly innocuous, that might cause delay. It is not just about extreme wealth, but even simple, common possessions that become an ultimate test of obedience and priorities when life itself is at stake. The warning serves as a profound call for radical detachment in times of severe tribulation.

Matthew 24 18 Bonus section

This verse, like much of the Olivet Discourse, operates on a principle of dual fulfillment. While it applied literally and intensely to the Christian believers who fled Jerusalem just before its destruction in 70 AD, saving many, it also speaks to future periods of great tribulation for the Church. The imperative to "not return back" is not only a physical command but also carries spiritual implications for Christian preparedness, urging believers to not become entangled with the things of this world or look back longingly at what must be left behind when the Kingdom's call is paramount (similar to Lot's wife). The urgency emphasizes that delay, attachment, or double-mindedness can prove spiritually catastrophic, highlighting the need for complete trust and unwavering focus on Christ in the face of escalating tribulation. It implies a detachment from worldly goods, recognizing that life and faith are far more valuable than anything material.

Matthew 24 18 Commentary

Matthew 24:18 provides a vivid image of a severe, unprecedented tribulation where normal concerns for personal possessions must be entirely abandoned for the sake of survival. Jesus's command signifies the rapid onset and overwhelming nature of the coming judgment, initially on Jerusalem in 70 AD and subsequently on the world during the eschatological end times. The instruction is not merely practical advice for a natural disaster, but a divine imperative to heed the signs and flee instantly without distraction. To turn back, even for something as basic as clothes, would indicate a lack of faith in the warning, an attachment to temporal things, or a dangerous underestimation of the danger's speed and magnitude. This principle underscores a deeper spiritual truth: true discipleship demands a readiness to forsake all for the sake of the Kingdom and to prioritize divine instruction over worldly security.