What is Jesus saying here? Matthew 24:34

[WaltLove]

I am very confused and struggling with what Jesus is saying here. Is he talking about the end of the world or the destruction of the temple? Which generation is he talking about? If he is talking about the end of the world He was obviously wrong and this presents a problem for me. Any advie or links would be great. This is bothering me that I can’t find the answer. What does the Church say? Sorry I am rambling. The reason I think it is an important verse is that it presents itself in all of the Synoptics.

Thanks again!

 

[CathFaith1]

Walt, here is the commentary for Matthew 24:34 from the Ignatius study Bible.

**The Greek denotes about a 40-year time span. Jesus’ words would thus be accomplished within the lifetime of some of the hearers (cf. 10:23; 16:28 ; 23:26 ) will not pass away. The identical expression in the following verse, implying a close connection between the termination of the Old Covenant era and the end of the visible world. Just as signs of chaos and catastrophe precede the collapse of the Old age and the coming of Christ’s kingdom (24:3-30) so similar signs are expected before the final days of the new age and Christ’s Second Coming.

Ignatius Catholic Study Bible**

 

[scaron]

I am very confused and struggling with what Jesus is saying here. Is he talking about the end of the world or the destruction of the temple? Which generation is he talking about? If he is talking about the end of the world He was obviously wrong and this presents a problem for me. Any advie or links would be great. This is bothering me that I can’t find the answer. What does the Church say? Sorry I am rambling. The reason I think it is an important verse is that it presents itself in all of the Synoptics.

It is a little confusing, as Our Lord is clearly speaking of both the relatively near term destruction of the Temple:

You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down

and well as the end of the world:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; 31 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

and some statements that clearly apply to BOTH:

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved.

I think when He speaks of the “generation”

34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.

He is also speaking of both things. Clearly the physical generation at the time had not passed away before the Temple was destroyed in AD 70.

St. John Chrysostom also speak (in reference to this passage) of the “Generation of the Faithful”, which will not pass from the Earth before the end of all.

For what He said above, “All these must come to pass,”8 and again, “the gospel shall be preached,”9 this He declares here also, saying, All these things shall surely come to pass, and the generation of the faithful shall remain, cut off by none of the things that have been mentioned. For both Jerusalem shall perish, and the more part of the Jews shall be destroyed, but over this generation shall nothing prevail, not famine, not pestilence, not earthquake, nor the tumults of wars, not false Christs, not false prophets, not deceivers, not traitors, not those that cause to offend, not the false brethren, nor any other such like temptation whatever.

This is from here → clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/bsu.htm#fp