“This counsel was remembered and wisely followed by the Christians
afterwards. Eusebius and Epiphanius say, that at this juncture,
after Cestius Gallus had raised the siege, all who believed in
Christ left Jerusalem and fled to Pella, and other places beyond
Jordan.”
The flight of the Christians of Judea to the mountains would be attended
with difficulties. And their subsequent condition would be that of
hardship and suffering. The Lord knew this, and gave them the instructions
and warnings necessary. The statement of verse 19 was given to save them
from the sorrows of unnecessary woe. That was a time of trouble.
Jesus recognizes the existence of the Sabbath, in verse 20, as late as the
destruction of Jerusalem, as verily as he does the seasons of the year.
_The Sabbath_, is the uniform term of both Testaments to designate the
very day on which Jehovah rested after the creation, the day upon which he
put his blessing, and which he set apart for man. Not only in this
instance does our Saviour show his regard for the sacred day of rest, but
in his life he kept it (see Luke 4:16); in his teaching he upheld it, and
taught its true character (Matt. 12:12); and when he lay in the tomb, the
devout women reverently rested “according to the commandment.” He himself
is Lord of the Sabbath, and he declares that it was made for man. Mark
2:27, 28. Jesus does not speak of the Sabbath as being only a seventh part
of time, or one day in seven, and no day in particular. The Sabbath is the
term used, referring to the last day of the first week of time, and to the
last day of each subsequent week.
It is thus that Jesus answered the question, “When shall these things be?”
He now proceeds to answer the second great question.