23. woe unto--"alas for."
with child, &c.--from the greater suffering it would involve; as
also "flight in winter, and on the sabbath," which they were to "pray"
against
(Mt 24:20),
the one as more trying to the body, the other to the soul. "For then
shall be tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world,
nor ever shall be"--language not unusual in the Old Testament for
tremendous calamities, though of this it may perhaps be literally said,
"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be
saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened"
(Mt 24:21, 22).
But for this merciful "shortening," brought about by a remarkable
concurrence of causes, the whole nation would have perished, in which
there yet remained a remnant to be afterwards gathered out. Here in
Matthew and Mark
(Mt 24:24;
Mr 13:22)
are some particulars about "false Christs," who should, "if
possible"--a precious clause--"deceive the very elect." (Compare
2Th 2:9-11;
Re 13:13.)
JFB.
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