Matthew 24:1-14
The Beginning of Birth Pains
Read the passage
1As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings.
2“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
5For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
11and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.
12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus leaves the temple, and his disciples point out its buildings. Jesus tells them that not one stone will be left upon another. Later, on the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask when this will happen and what sign will show his coming and the end of the age.
Jesus warns them not to be led astray. Many will come in his name, claiming to be the Christ, and many will be deceived. They will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but Jesus tells them not to be alarmed; these things must take place, but they are not yet the end.
He speaks of nation rising against nation, famine, earthquakes, persecution, betrayal, hatred, false prophets, and lawlessness. The pressure will be real, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. The gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, and then the end will come.
Jesus does not give his disciples a timetable for turning every headline into a prediction. He gives them warnings that protect them from panic, deception, hatred, and spiritual exhaustion. Birth pains are painful, but they are not the same thing as the final birth.
The call to endure is not a command to remain in a dangerous situation without help. Faithful endurance may include fleeing violence, protecting children, seeking refuge, and continuing to bear witness through practical love.
How We Know
Read with the chapters around it, this unit shows Matthew's deliberate use of history and Scripture. He places Jesus within Israel's story and gives readers enough narrative context to test what is being claimed about his words and works. The Jerusalem material in Matthew 24:1-14 is also represented in Mark and Luke. Psalm 118, Zechariah 9, and Daniel 7 supply important points of comparison for Matthew's claims about the King, the temple, judgment, and the Son of Man.
Questions
1 What does Jesus call the beginning of birth pains?
AnswerJesus prepares his disciples for upheaval without panic, deception, hatred, or false certainty, calling them to endure and bear witness.
2 Why does Jesus name both turmoil and deception?
AnswerJesus names false messiahs, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, betrayal, and false prophets, then says these are beginnings rather than the end.
3 How can alertness avoid becoming alarm or cruelty?
AnswerIt invites alertness without alarm, perseverance without cruelty, and confidence that the gospel will continue to be proclaimed amid turmoil.
4 Which fear-producing claim should our household verify carefully?
AnswerThe household can check one fear-producing source, discuss how to verify claims, and choose a steady act of prayer or service instead of panic.
What This Means for Us
Jesus knows that frightened people are vulnerable to confident voices. His first warning is not “calculate the date” but “see that no one leads you astray.” We should be cautious with predictions, sensational claims, and teachers who use crisis to demand unquestioned loyalty.
The passage does not tell us to ignore suffering. Wars, hunger, earthquakes, persecution, and betrayal are grievous realities. We can respond with compassion and responsible action without declaring that we know exactly what each event means in God's timetable.
Endurance is active faithfulness. It may look like telling the truth, refusing hatred, caring for displaced neighbors, protecting a child, or remaining rooted in Jesus when public pressure rewards fear. Safety and wise escape are not failures of faith.
Ask, “What response to today's uncertainty would be faithful rather than frantic?” Choose one grounded action and take it.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, keep us alert without making us afraid. Protect us from deception and hatred, strengthen those who suffer, and help our household endure with truth, compassion, and steady hope. Amen.