Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Matthew 24:17-18

When the abomination of desolation was to appear, Jesus advised his disciples:
17     ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος μὴ καταβάτω ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ,
18     καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ.

He who is on the roof, let him not go down to take the things of his house, and he who is in the field, let him to return back to take his clothes. (Matthew 24:17–19)
Two cultural points stick out. The first is the flat roofs (see also 2 Samuel 11:2). The second is the tendency to lay aside outer clothing to work in the fields. In this scenario, quick action is required and when it is time to go, it is time to go immediately. In some emergencies delay is deadly and Jesus says that this is one of them.