Matthew 24 | Devotional - Bible Reading and Prayer - One Chapter a Day

Matthew Chapter 24 | Best devotional materials, including: introduction, background, main content, Bible reading and prayer video, Scripture, and post-reading prayer to help you gain a deeper understanding of biblical truth.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to our One Chapter per day Bible reading time. 

By God’s grace, today we will read Matthew chapter 24.

In this chapter, Jesus speaks about the end times, warning His disciples of false prophets, wars, persecutions, and the coming of the Son of Man. He calls us to be watchful, discerning, and steadfast, reminding us that heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away.

This passage reminds us to stay spiritually awake and faithful, trusting in the Lord’s promises even when the world is uncertain or fearful. Let us listen with reverence and readiness to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew Chapter 24 Introduction:

Matthew chapter 24 is one of the most profound and prophetic chapters in the Gospel, often called the Olivet Discourse because Jesus delivered it on the Mount of Olives. In this chapter, Jesus speaks about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the signs of His second coming, and the end of the age. It reveals both the trials that believers will face and the hope of Christ’s ultimate return in glory. Matthew 24 calls every believer to be watchful, faithful, and ready for the coming of the Lord.

Main Content of Matthew Chapter 24:

1. Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple (verses 1–2)
As Jesus left the temple, His disciples admired its magnificent structure, but Jesus told them that not one stone would be left upon another. This prophecy was later fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, reminding us that earthly glory is temporary, but God’s word endures forever.

2. Signs of the End Times (verses 3–14)
When the disciples asked about the signs of His coming and the end of the age, Jesus warned them about false prophets, wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution. He taught that these events are the beginning of birth pains. Despite the chaos, the gospel would be preached to all nations before the end comes. This section emphasizes endurance, faith, and the call to remain steadfast amid tribulation.

3. The Great Tribulation (verses 15–28)
Jesus referred to the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by the prophet Daniel, urging His followers to flee when they see it happen. He described a time of unparalleled suffering and deception, but He assured believers that those days will be shortened for the sake of the elect. This passage reminds us of the seriousness of coming judgment and the importance of spiritual discernment.

4. The Coming of the Son of Man (verses 29–35)
After the tribulation, cosmic signs will appear—the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky. Then the Son of Man will come in power and great glory. Angels will gather the chosen from all corners of the earth. Jesus declared that His words will never pass away, affirming the certainty of His return.

5. The Call to Watchfulness and Readiness (verses 36–51)
Jesus made it clear that no one knows the day or hour of His return—not even the angels or the Son, but only the Father. Therefore, believers must stay alert and ready at all times. He compared His coming to the days of Noah, when people lived carelessly until the flood came. The faithful servant who stays prepared will be blessed, but the careless one will face judgment. This section urges us to live each day in faith, obedience, and expectation.

Spiritual Significance of Matthew Chapter 24:

Matthew 24 reminds us that history is moving toward God’s appointed fulfillment. Though times of turmoil and deception will come, Jesus’ promise remains certain: He will return. The chapter teaches us to live with discernment, faith, and hope—watching for the Lord’s coming, not with fear, but with confidence in His sovereignty. It also challenges us to share the gospel faithfully until every nation hears.

Through Matthew chapter 24, we are reminded that the world’s events are not beyond God’s control. Jesus’ words prepare us not only to understand what is to come but also to live each day faithfully, keeping our hearts awake and our eyes fixed on the hope of His glorious return.

Matthew Chapter 24 YouTube Bible Reading and Prayer Video:

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.