ACC ~ Matthew 24 v34

THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS

CHRYSOSTOM: “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.” All these things. What things? Those about Jerusalem, those about the wars, about the famines, about the pestilences, about the earthquakes, about the false Christs, about the false prophets, about the sowing of the gospel everywhere, the seditions, the tumults, and all the other things which we said were to occur until his coming. What does he refer to when he says “this generation”? He is speaking not of the generation then living but of the age of believers. For he is prone to distinguish a generation not by times only but also by the mode of their religious service and practice, as when he says, “Such is the generation of those that seek him.” [1] He said “all these things will take place,” and yet “the gospel will be preached.” These two are not inconsistent. The generation of the faithful shall remain through all things that will surely come to pass. The faithful will not be cut off by any of the things that have been mentioned. For both Jerusalem shall be destroyed and a large part of the Jews shall be decimated, but over this generation—the faithful—shall nothing prevail, not famine, not pestilence, not earthquake, not the tumults of wars, not false Christs, not false prophets, not deceivers, not traitors, not those that cause to offend, not the false brothers, nor any other such temptation whatever. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.1. [2]

[1] Ps 24:6 (23:6 LXX).

[2] PG 58:701-2; NPNF 1 10:462-63.

MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Uncertainty always makes a person careless. We prepare ourselves earnestly only for what we truly believe will happen to us. Therefore, lest his disciples initially prefer certain danger to uncertainty and then, having doubts about its advent, allow themselves to become complacent, the Messiah strengthened his teaching with an oath, saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” Great danger requires great preparation. Great preparation requires diligent admonition and caution. It must be recognized then that Christ did not intend to show his disciples that the coming trial was already beginning but rather that it was altogether in the future. He wasn’t addressing only those who had already been born by that time, therefore, but the entire family. [1]

“This generation” refers both to those who suffer temptation and to those who cause it. It refers to sinners among men and to the demons who are at work in them. For neither group will cease being in the world until its consummation. For Christ said, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” [2] Moreover, it is necessary that the source of temptation be preserved as long as there is faith which needs testing. It is also possible, however, that “this generation” refers to those mortal Christians who would not pass over into eternal life and be made immortal and impassible “until” all the events about which Christ was speaking had taken place.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” because heaven and earth were created to serve you, but my words were uttered to govern you. Both heaven and earth are subject to vanity, as the apostle said, “Creation is subject to vanity.” [3] Truth, however, is by nature unable to deceive and can never die. HOMILY 49. [4]

[1] The author means that Jesus spoke of generatio ista, including in it not only all the men (and the demons) of his time but their descendants as well.

[2] Mt 25:41.

[3] Rom 8:20.

[4] PG 56:920-21.