Matthew 24:20 kjv
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Matthew 24:20 nkjv
And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
Matthew 24:20 niv
Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
Matthew 24:20 esv
Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
Matthew 24:20 nlt
And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
Matthew 24 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 24:16 | "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." | Direct command to flee in this discourse. |
| Mk 13:17-18 | "How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not happen in winter." | Mark's parallel emphasis on winter. |
| Lk 21:20-21 | "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies...then let those who are in Judea flee..." | Luke's parallel warning and command to flee. |
| Matt 24:21 | "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been..." | The intensity of the tribulation described. |
| Ex 20:8-10 | "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God." | Foundation of the Sabbath command. |
| Neh 13:15-18 | "...people in Judah were treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain...I warned them..." | Shows strictness of Sabbath observance in practice. |
| Jer 17:21-22 | "This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem." | Emphasis on no carrying or commercial activity. |
| Matt 12:1-8 | "...disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain... 'Look, your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.'" | Jesus addressing Sabbath controversy and purpose. |
| Mk 2:27-28 | "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." | Jesus' reinterpretation of Sabbath's purpose. |
| Lk 13:10-17 | "The leader of the synagogue...indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath..." | Healing on the Sabbath causing offense. |
| Acts 1:12 | "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s journey from the city." | Mentions limited permissible Sabbath travel. |
| Dan 9:26-27 | "...the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary..." | Old Testament prophecy pointing to Jerusalem's fate. |
| Rev 12:13-14 | "...the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly into the wilderness to her place..." | Imagery of divine aid for escape during tribulation. |
| Ps 34:17 | "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." | God responds to the prayers of His people. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." | Exhortation to pray concerning all matters. |
| Jas 5:16 | "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." | Efficacy and power of prayer affirmed. |
| Gen 7:1-4 | "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Seven days from now I will send rain..." | Example of divine instruction to prepare for escape from impending doom (weather). |
| Acts 27:20 | "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a severe storm continued, we finally gave up all hope of being saved." | Illustrates the severe difficulties of travel in bad weather. |
| Isa 43:2 | "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." | God's promised presence and aid during distress. |
| Ps 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." | God as the ultimate source of help and refuge. |
| Zech 14:1-5 | "...The Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle...And on that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives..." | Prophetic events linked to a great, transformative day. |
| 1 Pet 4:12 | "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." | Tribulation is expected, believers endure it. |
Matthew 24 verses
Matthew 24 20 Meaning
Matt 24:20 is an instruction from Jesus for His disciples to pray that their desperate escape, when the predicted tribulation arises, will not occur during circumstances that would make it excessively difficult. Specifically, it highlights the severe challenges posed by harsh winter weather or the strict travel restrictions and communal inactivity associated with the Sabbath day. This prayer acknowledges God's sovereignty over the timing and conditions of human events.
Matthew 24 20 Context
Matthew chapter 24 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives to His disciples. The chapter primarily details prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (fulfilled in AD 70 by the Roman army) and signs pointing to the end of the age and Christ's second coming. This specific verse (24:20) is an immediate, practical warning to the disciples about conditions that would severely impede their escape during the onset of the tribulation period, particularly for those in Judea. It directly addresses the challenges faced by believers (especially Jewish Christians) who would need to flee the city when they saw the signs (Matt 24:15-19), balancing adherence to religious law with the imperative of physical survival. This prophecy has a dual fulfillment: an immediate one during the Jewish-Roman War and a future one concerning the Great Tribulation preceding Christ's return.
Matthew 24 20 Word analysis
- Pray (προσεύχεσθε - proseuchesthe): This is an imperative verb, emphasizing a direct command and a call to fervent, urgent supplication. It highlights the believer's active dependence on God even in the face of unavoidable circumstances. It's not a suggestion but a necessity for engaging divine power.
- that your flight (ἵνα μὴ γένηται ἡ φυγὴ ὑμῶν - hina mē genētai hē phygē hymōn): This clause expresses the purpose of the prayer: to avoid certain undesirable conditions for their escape. "Flight" (φυγὴ - phygē) implies an urgent, desperate running away or seeking refuge, not a planned departure.
- will not take place (γένηται - genētai): Signifies "happen, occur, come to pass." The prayer is for the circumstances of their flight not to coincide with the difficulties mentioned.
- in winter (χειμῶνος - cheimōnos): This Greek word literally means "winter, stormy weather." In the ancient Near East, winter brought heavy rains, cold, flooding, muddy roads, and sometimes snow in elevated regions. These conditions would make travel agonizingly slow, dangerous, and expose fleeing individuals, particularly vulnerable groups like women and children, to hunger, illness, and greater vulnerability.
- or (μηδὲ - mēde): This conjunction introduces a second distinct, yet equally problematic, circumstance, ensuring that both are included in the scope of the prayer.
- on the Sabbath (σαββάτῳ - sabbatō): This refers to the seventh day of the week, consecrated by the Mosaic Law as a day of rest and cessation from work (Ex 20:8-11). Jewish tradition, as interpreted by the Pharisees, restricted travel beyond a certain distance (a "Sabbath day's journey," about 2,000 cubits or 0.6 miles). Fleeing in a hurry, perhaps even with burdens or seeking supplies, would present a profound religious and practical dilemma for Jewish believers. Gates to cities might be closed, assistance unavailable, or the devout would grapple with perceived desecration of the holy day versus saving their lives.
Words-group analysis
- "Pray that your flight will not take place": Jesus directly encourages His disciples to pray for the easing of physical and logistical burdens during times of severe tribulation. This reveals God's care not just for spiritual fortitude but also for the practical safety and well-being of His people. It indicates that while the tribulation itself is decreed, the accompanying hardships can be interceded for.
- "in winter or on the Sabbath": These two specific conditions represent two distinct categories of hindrance: the first (winter) refers to environmental and natural obstacles, universal in their impact; the second (Sabbath) refers to religious, cultural, and legalistic constraints, particularly acute for Jewish believers and the Jewish setting of Jerusalem. Jesus' specific mention of these illustrates His foreknowledge and practical concern for the challenges His followers would face.
Matthew 24 20 Bonus section
- Historical Fulfillment: Church historians, such as Eusebius, record that Christians in Judea heeded these warnings prior to the Roman siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 and fled to Pella, a city in the Decapolis, thereby avoiding the extreme suffering within the besieged city. Their foresight, guided by Jesus' prophecy, suggests that their flight occurred under more favorable conditions, possibly aligning with prayers similar to those instructed here.
- Dual Application: While directly applicable to the destruction of Jerusalem, this passage also carries profound implications for the end-time Great Tribulation, advising future generations of believers to prepare spiritually and practically for such times.
- Theology of Prayer: This verse provides an insightful glimpse into the theology of prayer, showing that God permits and even expects us to pray not only for spiritual growth but also for practical, logistical factors that can impact our physical safety and well-being. It illustrates divine providence interacting with human petition.
- God's Practical Care: Beyond theological warnings, Jesus demonstrates profound practical care for His followers' immediate, tangible needs during extreme hardship, not just spiritual salvation.
Matthew 24 20 Commentary
Matt 24:20 serves as a practical, compassionate instruction from Jesus to His disciples concerning the "great tribulation." It underscores that while the tribulation itself is unavoidable and part of divine prophecy, specific mitigating circumstances can be prayed for. The mention of "winter" highlights the physical hardships of extreme weather, making urgent flight perilous due to cold, rain, hunger, and difficult terrain. "Sabbath" emphasizes a unique challenge for Jewish believers in Judea, as their adherence to the Law would create an ethical and practical dilemma regarding flight: rapid movement, possibly carrying goods, would be considered a violation of Sabbath rest. The practicality of Jesus' advice underscores His profound understanding of human fragility and the pressures of faith. This verse also confirms the power of prayer in influencing practical outcomes within God's sovereign plan, enabling believers to appeal for easier passage through inevitable hardships.