independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The temple's fall foretold and the disciples' double question 24:1–3
vv. 1–2 — the temple admired and doomed
1
Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐπορεύετο,independent — the final departure — the internal ἐξελθών kept in line; the glory quitting the house before its doom (cf. Ezek 10–11)
καὶ προσῆλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦindependent — προσέρχομαι — Matthew's reverential approach-verb
ἐπιδεῖξαι αὐτῷ τὰς οἰκοδομὰς τοῦ ἱεροῦ.purpose — purpose infinitive — Herod's famously massive complex admired on the way out
2
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the answering oracle — Semitic ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν speech-frame
Οὐ βλέπετε ταῦτα πάντα;content — οὐ expecting yes — the counter-question; βλέπω, soon the discourse's watchword
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν,content — the ἀμήν-formula — oath-strength asseveration over the doom
οὐ μὴ ἀφεθῇ ὧδε λίθος ἐπὶ λίθονcontent — οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive — the strongest Greek denial; fulfilled A.D. 70
ὃς οὐ καταλυθήσεται.relative — καταλύω — dismantled stone from stone
v. 3 — the double question on the Mount of Olives
3
Καθημένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶνparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on προσῆλθον; the teacher seated over against the doomed shrine (Zech 14:4)
προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ κατ’ ἰδίαν λέγοντες·independent — κατ’ ἰδίαν — the insiders' schoolroom; the speech-participle carries the question
Εἰπὲ ἡμῖνcontent — the request whose two halves frame the whole discourse
πότε ταῦτα ἔσται,content — the first question — πότε: timing; ταῦτα, the temple's fall
καὶ τί τὸ σημεῖον τῆς σῆς παρουσίας καὶ συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος;content — the second question, verbless — Matthew alone fuses παρουσία and συντέλεια τοῦ αἰῶνος: temple-fall and world-end asked in one breath
The Olivet discourse — birth pangs, the abomination, the Son of Man, and the watch 24:4–51
vv. 4–5 — the keynote: see that no one deceives you
4
Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the discourse's single narrative frame — all forty-eight verses hang on εἶπεν
Βλέπετεcontent — the keynote imperative — deception, not war, the first danger named
μή τις ὑμᾶς πλανήσῃ.content — μή + subjunctive of apprehension — πλανάω, the section's keyword (vv. 4, 5, 11, 24)
5
πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μουcause — the ground of the warning — impostors trading on his name
λέγοντες·participial — speech-participle — the deceivers' one line
Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ χριστός,content — the claim made explicit — Matthew adds ὁ χριστός to Mark's bare Ἐγώ εἰμι
καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν.cause — πολλοί deceiving πολλούς — the feared verb of v. 4 made a prediction
vv. 6–8 — wars and famines: the beginning of birth pangs, not the end
6
μελλήσετε δὲ ἀκούειν πολέμους καὶ ἀκοὰς πολέμων·content — μέλλω + infinitive — the destined preliminaries, heard before seen
ὁρᾶτε,content — the second watch-verb — ὁράω beside βλέπετε
μὴ θροεῖσθε·content — θροέομαι — panic forbidden to the forewarned
δεῖ γὰρ γενέσθαι,cause — the apocalyptic δεῖ — necessity inside God's plan (Dan 2:28 LXX δεῖ γενέσθαι)
ἀλλ’ οὔπω ἐστὶν τὸ τέλος.cause — οὔπω, the great delaying word — wars are preliminaries, not the signal
7
ἐγερθήσεται γὰρ ἔθνος ἐπὶ ἔθνος καὶ βασιλεία ἐπὶ βασιλείαν,cause — on τὸ τέλος — why it is not yet: Isa 19:2 / 2 Chr 15:6, the scripted convulsions
καὶ ἔσονται λιμοὶ καὶ σεισμοὶ κατὰ τόπους·cause — coordinate in the ground — distributive κατὰ τόπους
8
πάντα δὲ ταῦτα ἀρχὴ ὠδίνων.content — verbless verdict — the messianic ὠδῖνες: onset of labor, not delivery
vv. 9–14 — handed over: apostasy, false prophets, cooling love — and the end's one precondition
9
τότε παραδώσουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς θλῖψινcontent — παραδίδωμι — the verb of Jesus' own passion, now the disciples' future; θλῖψις sounds the keynote of v. 21
καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν ὑμᾶς,content — Matthew sharpens Mark's floggings to killing
καὶ ἔσεσθε μισούμενοι ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου.content — future periphrastic — a standing state of hatred; the name of v. 5, now the offense
10
καὶ τότε σκανδαλισθήσονται πολλοὶcontent — σκανδαλίζω — persecution sifts the community
καὶ ἀλλήλους παραδώσουσινcontent — the passion-verb turned inward — betrayal inside the brotherhood
καὶ μισήσουσιν ἀλλήλους·content — the world's hatred (v. 9) replicated within
11
καὶ πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐγερθήσονταιcontent — the second wave of deceivers — prophets now, not only messiahs
καὶ πλανήσουσιν πολλούς·content — πλανάω again — the refrain of vv. 4–5, now aimed at the church
12
καὶ διὰ τὸ πληθυνθῆναι τὴν ἀνομίαν ψυγήσεται ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν πολλῶν.content — διὰ τό + infinitive kept in line — ἀνομία up, ἀγάπη cooling: Matthew's own bleak equation
13
ὁ δὲ ὑπομείνας εἰς τέλος οὗτος σωθήσεται.content — resumptive οὗτος — endurance, not escape, the promised way
14
καὶ κηρυχθήσεται τοῦτο τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ εἰς μαρτύριον πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν,content — the missionary precondition — the οἰκουμένη evangelized before the end; the nations that hate (v. 9) must first hear
καὶ τότε ἥξει τὸ τέλος.content — τὸ τέλος of v. 6 finally dated — not by calendar but by mission
vv. 15–22 — the abomination of desolation: flee, for the tribulation is unequaled
15
Ὅταν οὖν ἴδητε τὸ βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Δανιὴλ τοῦ προφήτου ἑστὸς ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ,conditional — fronted ὅταν (typed cnd) — leaning forward across the parenthesis on φευγέτωσαν; Dan 9:27/11:31/12:11 named outright, and the neuter ἑστός (against Mark's masculine ἑστηκότα) keeps the desolator a thing in the holy place
ὁ ἀναγινώσκων νοείτω,independent — the parenthesis crux — anchored to the frame's εἶπεν as the Evangelist's nudge to his reader, though Matthew's explicit 'Daniel' lets some keep it inside the speech as Jesus' pointer to the reader of the prophet
16
τότε οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ φευγέτωσαν εἰς τὰ ὄρη,content — the apodosis — τότε answers the ὅταν; flight, not defense, is commanded
17
ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος μὴ καταβάτωcontent — the rooftop — straight down the outside stair and away, not into the house
ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ,purpose — purpose infinitive — possessions forfeited to speed
18
καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσωcontent — no turning back (cf. Gen 19:26 — Lot's wife the standing warning)
ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ.purpose — purpose infinitive — the cloak laid off for field-work, left where it lies
19
οὐαὶ δὲ ταῖς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις καὶ ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις.content — verbless woe — compassion, not curse: the burdened cannot run
20
προσεύχεσθε δὲcontent — continual prayer commanded over the flight's timing
ἵνα μὴ γένηται ἡ φυγὴ ὑμῶν χειμῶνος μηδὲ σαββάτῳ·content — ἵνα-content of the prayer — swollen wadis against escape, and Matthew alone adds the Sabbath: a community still keeping it
21
ἔσται γὰρ τότε θλῖψις μεγάληcause — the ground of flight and prayer — θλῖψις μεγάλη (Dan 12:1; cf. Rev 7:14)
οἵα οὐ γέγονεν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς κόσμου ἕως τοῦ νῦνrelative — correlative οἵα — unprecedented affliction, measured against the whole of history
οὐδ’ οὐ μὴ γένηται.relative — the piled negatives οὐδ’ οὐ μή — the affliction singular, unrepeatable
22
καὶ εἰ μὴ ἐκολοβώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι ἐκεῖναι,conditional — contrary-to-fact protasis — forward-leaning on οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη; κολοβόω, 'dock, curtail': the aorist views the decree as already taken
οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ·cause — the apodosis, continuing the ground — πᾶσα σάρξ … οὐ, the Semitic 'no one at all'
διὰ δὲ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς κολοβωθήσονται αἱ ἡμέραι ἐκεῖναι.cause — the mercy — οἱ ἐκλεκτοί enter the discourse (vv. 22, 24, 31): the shortening is for them
vv. 23–28 — false christs in the crisis: the Parousia will be as public as lightning
23
τότε ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ·conditional — protasis inside quoted speech — leans forward across the cries on μὴ πιστεύσητε; τότε: in the tribulation itself
Ἰδοὺ ὧδε ὁ χριστός,content — the locating cry, verbless — the deceiver's pointing finger
ἤ· Ὧδε,content — the rival cry clipped to one word — christs multiplied by geography
μὴ πιστεύσητε·content — the apodosis — flat prohibition: the only defense is disbelief
24
ἐγερθήσονται γὰρ ψευδόχριστοι καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται,cause — the ground — ψευδόχριστος, a word coined for the occasion
καὶ δώσουσιν σημεῖα μεγάλα καὶ τέραταcause — counterfeit credentials — the σημεῖον demanded at v. 3 arrives, faked (Deut 13:1–3)
ὥστε πλανῆσαι, εἰ δυνατόν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς·purpose — ὥστε + infinitive of aimed result — εἰ δυνατόν concedes it is finally not possible: the elect are kept (v. 22)
25
ἰδοὺ προείρηκα ὑμῖν.content — perfect προείρηκα — the forewarning stands on record; prophecy as protection
26
ἐὰν οὖν εἴπωσιν ὑμῖν·conditional — the application's protasis — forward-leaning on μὴ ἐξέλθητε
Ἰδοὺ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐστίν,content — the desert rumor — where would-be messiahs gathered their crowds (cf. Acts 21:38)
μὴ ἐξέλθητε·content — the first apodosis — do not even go look
Ἰδοὺ ἐν τοῖς ταμείοις,conditional — the elliptical second protasis — '[if they say] Look …'; the hidden-chamber rumor, opposite of the desert; forward-leaning on μὴ πιστεύσητε
μὴ πιστεύσητε·content — the second apodosis — the refrain of v. 23
27
ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ ἀστραπὴ ἐξέρχεται ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶνcomparative — the ὥσπερ half, forward-leaning on its οὕτως — the first of the chapter's paired comparisons
καὶ φαίνεται ἕως δυσμῶν,comparative — horizon to horizon — visible to all at once
οὕτως ἔσται ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου·cause — the ground of disbelief — the true παρουσία will need no informant
28
ὅπου ἐὰν ᾖ τὸ πτῶμα,conditional — indefinite local protasis (typed cnd) — forward-leaning on συναχθήσονται
ἐκεῖ συναχθήσονται οἱ ἀετοί.content — the proverbial seal — as vultures mark a carcass, the coming will be unmistakable wherever judgment is due
vv. 29–31 — after the tribulation: the sign, the mourning tribes, the trumpet and the gathering
29
Εὐθέως δὲ μετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται,content — Isa 13:10 — Matthew's εὐθέως presses the sequel hard against the tribulation: the seam between the horizons
καὶ ἡ σελήνη οὐ δώσει τὸ φέγγος αὐτῆς,content — Isa 13:10 — the second luminary quenched
καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες πεσοῦνται ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ,content — Isa 34:4 — the host dropping from the sky
καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται.content — the celestial powers convulsed — the old order dissolving before the theophany
30
καὶ τότε φανήσεται τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν οὐρανῷ,content — Matthew alone answers the σημεῖον of v. 3 — the sign perhaps the Son of Man himself (epexegetic genitive), perhaps a standard or the cross; left open
καὶ τότε κόψονται πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆςcontent — Zech 12:10–14 — the mourning universalized from Israel's clans to πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαί
καὶ ὄψονται τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ μετὰ δυνάμεως καὶ δόξης πολλῆς·content — Dan 7:13–14 — the climax; supplementary ἐρχόμενον kept in line: the advent watched in progress, visible to all
31
καὶ ἀποστελεῖ τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ μετὰ σάλπιγγος μεγάλης,content — Isa 27:13 — the eschatological trumpet; the Son commands the angels as his harvesters
καὶ ἐπισυνάξουσιν τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ἀνέμων ἀπ’ ἄκρων οὐρανῶν ἕως τῶν ἄκρων αὐτῶν.content — Deut 30:4 / Zech 2:6 — the ingathering: the advent's one stated purpose is rescue, and judgment goes unmentioned
vv. 32–35 — the fig tree: near, at the doors; this generation; the abiding words
32
Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς συκῆς μάθετε τὴν παραβολήν·content — the fronted συκῆ — the late-leafing fig, Palestine's calendar, turned teacher
ὅταν ἤδη ὁ κλάδος αὐτῆς γένηται ἁπαλὸς καὶ τὰ φύλλα ἐκφύῃ,conditional — the double protasis (typed cnd) — forward-leaning on γινώσκετε
γινώσκετεcontent — gnomic present (or imperative) — the parable's inner apodosis
ὅτι ἐγγὺς τὸ θέρος·content — verbless ὅτι-clause — ἐγγύς, the nearness-word the application will reuse
33
οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς,content — the suspended subject — held across its protasis until γινώσκετε
ὅταν ἴδητε πάντα ταῦτα,conditional — the ὅταν of the application (typed cnd) — forward-leaning on γινώσκετε; ταῦτα, the askers' own word (v. 3)
γινώσκετεcontent — the application's verb — imperative or indicative, as in v. 32
ὅτι ἐγγύς ἐστιν ἐπὶ θύραις.content — the subject unexpressed — the Son of Man, or the end; ἐπὶ θύραις, on the threshold
34
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the ἀμήν-formula — the oath of v. 2 returns over the timing
ὅτι οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἡ γενεὰ αὕτηcontent — ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη — the crux of reference: most naturally Jesus' contemporaries; 'the Jewish people' and 'the final generation' are the rival escapes, named and declined
ἕως ἂν πάντα ταῦτα γένηται.conditional — backward ἕως ἄν (typed cnd; anchored) — πάντα ταῦτα: the sign-complex of v. 3, or everything through v. 31; left open, the tension with v. 36 unharmonized
35
ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσεται,content — the cosmos conceded transient — singular verb over the paired subjects
οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρέλθωσιν.content — οὐ μή — absolute denial; Isa 40:8, said of God's word, claimed for his own
vv. 36–41 — the unknown day: as the days of Noah — one taken, one left
36
Περὶ δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ὥρας οὐδεὶς οἶδεν,content — περὶ δέ turns the topic — the WHEN withheld in the same breath that swore the THAT (v. 34)
οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι τῶν οὐρανῶν οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός,phrase modifier — οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός — printed with א* B D against the Byzantine omission: the Son's confessed ignorance, the chapter's hardest word, kept
εἰ μὴ ὁ πατὴρ μόνος.phrase modifier — exceptive εἰ μή with Matthew's added μόνος — the day rests in the Father's sole authority (Acts 1:7)
37
ὥσπερ γὰρ αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ Νῶε,comparative — the ὥσπερ half, verbless and forward-leaning on its οὕτως — Gen 6–7 as the type of the unready world
οὕτως ἔσται ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.cause — the οὕτως half, grounding the unknown day — παρουσία again (vv. 3, 27, 39)
38
ὡς γὰρ ἦσαν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ταῖς πρὸ τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ τρώγοντες καὶ πίνοντες, γαμοῦντες καὶ γαμίζοντες,comparative — the comparison replayed in detail — periphrastic imperfect of heedless normalcy: nothing named is sinful, only oblivious
ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας εἰσῆλθεν Νῶε εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν,conditional — backward ἄχρι (typed cnd; anchored) — the relative attracted into the ἧς ἡμέρας idiom
39
καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσανcomparative — coordinate in the ὡς-half — the flood generation's one epitaph: they did not know
ἕως ἦλθεν ὁ κατακλυσμὸςconditional — backward ἕως (typed cnd; anchored) — knowledge arrived only with the water
καὶ ἦρεν ἅπαντας,conditional — αἴρω — ἅπαντας, none excepted; the verb of the field-hand's forfeited cloak (v. 17) now carries off a world
οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.cause — the οὕτως half repeated verbatim — the refrain closes the Noah comparison
40
τότε δύο ἔσονται ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ,content — the division dramatized — alike in occupation, divided at the coming
εἷς παραλαμβάνεταιcontent — futuristic present — παραλαμβάνω: taken to the Lord (as at v. 31), or taken as the flood took (v. 39); the layout leaves the fates undecided
καὶ εἷς ἀφίεται·content — ἀφίημι — the stark alternation without explanation
41
δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ μύλῳ,content — verbless — the parallel pair at the hand-mill, the day's shared work
μία παραλαμβάνεταιcontent — the feminine pair — the division cuts through every occupation
καὶ μία ἀφίεται.content — the refrain sealed — suddenness individualized
vv. 42–44 — watch: the thief comes at an unknown hour
42
γρηγορεῖτε οὖν,content — the controlling imperative of the close — γρηγορέω, drawn as the οὖν-conclusion from Noah and the pairs
ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατεcause — the ground — the disciples share the ignorance of v. 36
ποίᾳ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν ἔρχεται.content — indirect question — ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν: the master-language that will carry the servant parable
43
ἐκεῖνο δὲ γινώσκετεcontent — the fronted ἐκεῖνο — attention drawn to the thief-argument
ὅτι εἰ ᾔδει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότηςconditional — contrary-to-fact protasis (the ὅτι carried with it) — forward-leaning on ἐγρηγόρησεν ἄν
ποίᾳ φυλακῇ ὁ κλέπτης ἔρχεται,content — indirect question — the thief for the Lord: an audacious image the epistles inherit (1 Thess 5:2; Rev 3:3)
ἐγρηγόρησεν ἂνcontent — the apodosis — ἄν + aorist: contrary to fact; the parable's γρηγορέω echoes v. 42
καὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ.content — διορύσσω — breaching the mud-brick wall; foreknowledge would have meant vigilance
44
διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑμεῖς γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι,content — the application — γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι: readiness as a standing state, since the hour cannot be known
ὅτι ᾗ οὐ δοκεῖτε ὥρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται.cause — the ground — the attracted relative ᾗ … ὥρᾳ kept in line; the unexpected hour is the point of everything since v. 36
vv. 45–51 — the faithful and the wicked servant
45
Τίς ἄρα ἐστὶν ὁ πιστὸς δοῦλος καὶ φρόνιμοςcontent — the probing question — ἄρα draws the inference: watching means stewardship
ὃν κατέστησεν ὁ κύριος ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκετείας αὐτοῦrelative — the trust defined — καθίστημι, the appointment verb the reward will repeat (v. 47)
τοῦ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς τὴν τροφὴν ἐν καιρῷ;purpose — τοῦ + infinitive of purpose — feeding the household ἐν καιρῷ: fidelity measured in mealtimes
46
μακάριος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνοςcontent — verbless beatitude — the discourse's one μακάριος
ὃν ἐλθὼν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει οὕτως ποιοῦντα·relative — εὑρήσει … ποιοῦντα — found at his task: the whole eschatological ethic in one participle
47
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the ἀμήν-formula over the reward
ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ καταστήσει αὐτόν.content — the promotion — from the pantry to the whole estate (cf. 25:21, 23)
48
ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃ ὁ κακὸς δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ·conditional — the dark foil's protasis — forward-leaning across vv. 48–49 on ἥξει; ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ: the speech is inner
Χρονίζει μου ὁ κύριος,content — the inner speech — χρονίζει: presumption on the delay, the very uncertainty of v. 36 turned into license
49
καὶ ἄρξηται τύπτειν τοὺς συνδούλους αὐτοῦ,conditional — the protasis continued — the trust of v. 45 inverted into tyranny over the σύνδουλοι
ἐσθίῃ δὲ καὶ πίνῃ μετὰ τῶν μεθυόντων,conditional — the third protasis verb — the Noah verbs (v. 38) now culpable: eating and drinking with the drunk
50
ἥξει ὁ κύριος τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνουcontent — the apodosis — ἥξει, the very verb of the end's arrival (v. 14)
ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ οὐ προσδοκᾷphrase modifier — the unexpected day — vv. 42, 44 replayed on the wicked servant
καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ᾗ οὐ γινώσκει,phrase modifier — day and hour — the pair of v. 36 closing the frame
51
καὶ διχοτομήσει αὐτὸνcontent — διχοτομέω — the horrific literal sense ('dismember'), likely hyperbole for utter cutting-off
καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτῶν θήσει·content — τὸ μέρος — his allotted lot with Matthew's archetypal ὑποκριταί (ch. 23 has just closed on them)
ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.content — the Matthean refrain (8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30) — the discourse's last word before the parables of ch. 25
Analysis. Matthew 24 is one frame and one speech. The narrative prelude (vv. 1–3) sets the terms: leaving the temple for the last time Jesus answers the disciples' admiring gesture with the doubled οὐ μή of the demolition oracle, and on the Mount of Olives their request — πότε ταῦτα ἔσται, καὶ τί τὸ σημεῖον τῆς σῆς παρουσίας καὶ συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος — already speaks Matthew's own vocabulary (παρουσία, συντέλεια), binding temple-fall and world-end into one question more tightly than Mark's parallel. Then the whole Olivet discourse hangs from a single εἶπεν (v. 4): forty-eight verses of coordinate blue cnt lines sharing the one anchor, so the page shows the discourse as Matthew wrote it — one unbroken answer. Against that column the speech's own grammar indents: fronted ὅταν/ἐάν protases lean forward anchor-less on their apodoses (vv. 15, 23, 26, 28, 32, 33, 43, 48–49), the γάρ-grounds hang cau beneath the commands they motivate (vv. 5, 7, 21, 24, 27, 37, 42, 44), and the chapter's paired comparisons — the lightning (v. 27) and the days of Noah (vv. 37–39) — lean forward cmp on their οὕτως halves, both landing on ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, the keyword of vv. 3, 27, 37, 39. The cruxes are taken openly. At v. 15 the parenthesis ὁ ἀναγινώσκων νοείτω is anchored to the frame's εἶπεν as a narrator's aside, though Matthew's added τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Δανιὴλ τοῦ προφήτου makes 'the reader of Daniel' a live alternative that would keep the line inside the speech; the tag concedes it. At v. 34 ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη is glossed with its natural sense — Jesus' contemporaries — the rival referents named and the tension with v. 36 left standing beside the sworn permanence of the words (v. 35); and at v. 36 οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός is printed with א* B D against the Byzantine omission, the Son's confessed ignorance kept as the harder reading it is. From v. 36 the discourse turns from signs to suddenness: the Noah pair with its periphrastic imperfect of heedless normalcy, the two in the field and the two at the mill (the futuristic presents παραλαμβάνεται/ἀφίεται left in their stark alternation, the layout not deciding which fate is the mercy), the thief, and the two servants — the wicked servant's inner speech Χρονίζει μου ὁ κύριος nesting under its own εἴπῃ inside the protasis — until the master arrives on the day-and-hour pair of v. 36 and the discourse's last word is the Matthean refrain of the weeping and the gnashing of teeth (v. 51), with γρηγορεῖτε and γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι (vv. 42, 44) left standing as the charge.