Matthew 24 - Part 4

Our ongoing analysis of Matthew 24 has led us to verse 2, and in this study we want to address the last half of this verse:  “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

There Shall [aphiemi:G863] Not [ou me:G3364] be Left [aphiemi:G863]

The two terms that make up the phrase, “there shall be left” (aphiemi:G863) and “not” (ou me:G3364) only appear in the following passages, which are parallel to Matthew 24:2,

MarK 13:2, “And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall [aphiemi:G863] not [ou me:G3364] be left [aphiemi:G863] one stone upon another, that shall not [ou me:G3364] be thrown down.”

Likewise verse 35 of  Luke 13:34-35 reveals: “ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! {35} Behold, your house is left [aphiemi:G863] unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not [ou me:G3364] see me, until [the time] come when ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

One Stone [lithos:G3037] Upon [epi:G1909] Another [lithos:G3037]

The phrase, “one stone upon another” is comprised of just two words, and they appear together in a variety of different contexts, besides judgment beginning at God’s “house,” such as:  Satan tempting the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Rock,” and the “fiery trial” that many who claim to be God’s elect are experiencing in our present day of judgment, to see whether they are indeed “precious stones;” I’ll start with the three parallel passages that relate to Matthew 24:2,

Mark 13:2 declares: “And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone [lithos:G3037] upon [epi:G1909] another [lithos:G3037], that shall not be thrown down.”

Similarly, verse 44 of Luke 19:43-44  affirms: “For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, {44} And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone [lithos:G3037] upon [epi:G1909] another [lithos:G3037]; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

Likewise, verse 6 of Luke 21:5-6 asserts, “[As for] these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone [lithos:G3037] upon [epi:G1909]  another [lithos:G3037], that shall not be thrown down.”

Matthew 4:6 records part of Satan’s conversation with the Lord Jesus: “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [epi:G1909]  [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” [lithos:G3037]

Quoting Isaiah 28:16, Romans 9:33 acknowledges: “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone [lithos:G3037] and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on [epi:G1909]  him shall not be ashamed.”

Verse 12 of 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 outlines what is now taking place presently: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; {13} Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

That Shall [katalyo:G2647] Not [ou me:G3364] Be Thrown Down [katalyo:G2647] 

The last phrase in Matthew 24:2 is “...that shall not be thrown down,” made up of two Greek terms, one of which we have seen repeatedly, which is the word, “not.” Both terms only surface together in one other parallel citation in Mark 13:32, which was mentioned earlier: “And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall  [katalyo:G2647] not  [ou me:G3364] be thrown down.”  [katalyo:G2647]

Lord willing, we will continue our investigation of Matthew 24 next month.

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