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The Abomination of Desolation
…19How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!20Praythatyourflightwill not occurin the winteroron the Sabbath.21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.…

Treasury of Scripture

But pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

neither.

Exodus 16:29
See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Acts 1:12
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

FlightPrayerSabbathTimeWinterFlightPrayerSabbathTimeWinter1.Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
3.what and how great calamities shall be before it;
29.the signs of his coming to judgment.
36.And because that day and hour are unknown,
42.we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming.

Pray that your flight
This phrase emphasizes the importance of prayer in the life of believers, especially in times of distress or impending danger. In the context ofMatthew 24, Jesus is speaking about the coming tribulations and the need for His followers to be spiritually prepared. Prayer is a means of seeking divine guidance and protection. The act of fleeing suggests urgency and the need for immediate action, reflecting the suddenness of the events described in the surrounding verses.

will not occur in the winter
Winter in the region of Judea can be harsh, with cold temperatures and difficult travel conditions. This phrase highlights the practical difficulties that would be faced if the flight were to occur during this season. Historically, travel during winter would have been more challenging due to the lack of modern infrastructure and the potential for inclement weather. This concern for the physical well-being of His followers shows Jesus' compassion and understanding of human needs.

or on the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is a day of rest and worship in Jewish tradition, as commanded in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). Travel and work are traditionally restricted on this day, which would complicate any urgent need to flee. This phrase underscores the cultural and religious context of Jesus' audience, who would have been familiar with the Sabbath laws. It also reflects the tension between adhering to religious practices and responding to immediate threats. The mention of the Sabbath may also serve as a reminder of the importance of spiritual readiness, as the day is set apart for reflection and connection with God.

1.Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, providing prophetic teaching to His disciples about future events, including the destruction of the temple and the end times.

2.Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all believers who seek to understand His prophetic words.

3.Winter
A season mentioned by Jesus, symbolizing a time of hardship and difficulty, which could hinder escape or travel.

4.Sabbath
A day of rest in Jewish tradition, which could present challenges for travel due to cultural and religious restrictions.

5.Flight
Refers to the act of fleeing or escaping, particularly in the context of the coming tribulations Jesus describes.The Importance of Prayer
Jesus instructs His followers to pray about the timing of their flight, emphasizing the necessity of seeking God's guidance and intervention in times of crisis.

Understanding Cultural Context
Recognizing the significance of the Sabbath in Jewish culture helps us understand the practical challenges Jesus' audience would face, reminding us to consider cultural and historical contexts in Scripture.

Preparedness for Tribulation
Jesus' warning encourages believers to be spiritually and practically prepared for difficult times, trusting in God's provision and timing.

Sensitivity to God's Timing
The mention of winter and the Sabbath highlights the importance of being attuned to God's timing and the circumstances He allows, encouraging believers to remain flexible and responsive to His leading.

Balancing Rest and Readiness
While the Sabbath is a day of rest, Jesus' teaching reminds us that there are times when action is necessary, urging believers to balance rest with readiness to act when God calls.1.What is the meaning of Matthew 24:20?

2.How can we prepare for challenges mentioned in Matthew 24:20 during end times?

3.Why does Jesus emphasize "winter" and "Sabbath" in Matthew 24:20?

4.How does Matthew 24:20 connect with Old Testament Sabbath laws?

5.What practical steps can we take to honor the Sabbath today?

6.How does Matthew 24:20 encourage reliance on God's timing and provision?

7.Why does Matthew 24:20 emphasize praying about the Sabbath and winter?

8.How does Matthew 24:20 relate to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD?

9.What is the significance of the Sabbath in Matthew 24:20 for Christians today?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 24?

11.Did Constantine shift the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday?

12.Were the women informed about Jesus' body's fate? Yes, by a young man/angels (Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; Matthew 28:7). No, Mary found the tomb empty and was confused (John 20:2).

13.Matthew 12:9-14: Why does Jesus seem to disregard the command to rest on the Sabbath by healing someone, reportedly violating Exodus 20:8-10?

14.Where was the stone when the women arrived at the tomb?Pray

• Jesus says, “Pray that your flight will not occur…” (Matthew 24:20). Even in prophetic events that must unfold, He calls His people to intercede.

• Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will and can affect the circumstances that surround us, just as He urged the disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).

• Scripture consistently links prayer to peace in crisis—“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition…present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

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Your flight

• The “flight” points back to the warning two verses earlier: “then let those in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:16). It is a literal escape from a literal danger—the “abomination of desolation” (v. 15).

• God has often called His people to swift evacuation when judgment loomed:

– “Run for your lives! …Flee to the mountains” (Genesis 19:17, Lot leaving Sodom).

– “The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared by God” (Revelation 12:6).

• Such flight underscores God’s protective care and our responsibility to obey promptly (Luke 21:21).

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In the winter

• Winter travel in the Judean hills means cold nights, flooded wadis, and impassable routes. Ezra’s assembly “trembled…because of the heavy rain” (Ezra 10:9), illustrating how weather can paralyze movement.

• Paul warned sailors that “sailing was already dangerous” when winter approached (Acts 27:9–10).

• Jesus urges prayer that the timing spare His people these added hardships:

– fewer daylight hours

– greater exposure to cold

– supply shortages and difficult shelter

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On the Sabbath

• For observant Jews, the Sabbath restricts travel and commerce. The disciples knew exactly what “Sabbath day’s journey” meant (Acts 1:12).

• City gates were closed: “I ordered that the doors be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath” (Nehemiah 13:19). Such closures would trap residents at the worst possible moment.

• Exiting en masse on the Sabbath could also provoke outrage from hostile authorities zealous for Sabbath regulations (Exodus 20:10).

• By telling His followers to pray about this, Jesus affirms the continuing significance of the Sabbath for many end-time Jewish believers while showing compassionate concern for their safety.

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summary

• Jesus combines certainty—tribulation will come—with compassion—pray for merciful conditions.

• The call to prayer reminds us that God invites partnership even in fixed prophetic events.

• He anticipates practical obstacles: harsh weather and Sabbath restrictions can hinder escape.

• The verse urges readiness, dependence on God, and confidence that He cares about the details of our deliverance as much as the deliverance itself.

(20)Pray ye that your flight. . .--Rules were given for flight where the conditions lay within their own power. Other incidents which lay outside their will might lawfully be the subjects of their prayers. It is characteristic of St. Matthew, as writing for Jews, that he alone records the words "nor on the Sabbath day." Living as the Christians of Judaea did in the strict observance of the Law, they would either be hindered by their own scruples from going beyond a Sabbath day's journey (about one English mile), which would be insufficient to place them out of the reach of danger, or would find impediments--gates shut, and the like--from the Sabbath observance of others.

Verse 20. -Pray ye that, etc. (προσεύχεσθεἵνα). He bids them pray to and worship God, in order that he may give them a favourable time for flight. The clause introduced with the final particle does not directly denote the subject of the petition, as our version gives the impression, but rather the aim of the petitioners (Morison).Not in the winter. He spake of personal hindrances in the last verse; here he speaks of external circumstances over which man has no control, except by prayer. The weather in winter, which means the rainy season, might render the roads impassable, and would, of course, prevent any hope of obtaining food by the wayside from cornfield or fruit tree.The sabbath day, which precluded any work or the use of beast of burden, and restricted a journey to something less than a mile. We must remember that until the final catastrophe the Christians observed such Mosaic restrictions (seeExodus 16:29;Acts 1:12). A flight for such a short distance would have been of no avail under the imperious circumstances which rendered escape advisable.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Pray
προσεύχεσθε(proseuchesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4336:To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.

that
ἵνα(hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443:In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

your
ὑμῶν(hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

flight
φυγὴ(phygē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5437:Flight, fleeing. From pheugo; a fleeing, i.e. Escape.

will not occur
γένηται(genētai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096:A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

in the winter
χειμῶνος(cheimōnos)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5494:From a derivative of cheo, meaning a storm; by implication, the rainy season, i.e. Winter.

[or]
μηδὲ(mēde)
Conjunction
Strong's 3366:And not, not even, neither…nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor.

on the Sabbath.
σαββάτῳ(sabbatō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4521:The Sabbath, a week.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 24:20 Pray that your flight will not be (Matt. Mat Mt)