In Matthew 24:34 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The meaning of Jesus’ statement seem obvious, but most Christians in America today think He was saying something else. How is the phrase, “this generation,” used by Jesus and others in the Bible? And what impact does that have on Jesus’ words in the Olivet Discourse?
Music
- Marion Williams, This Generation Shall Not Pass, from the Standing Here Wondering Which Way To Go album, 2007
Promoted Resources
- Unbelievable?, with Justin Brierley.
- Available on Premier Christian Radio in the United Kingdom, Saturdays 2:30-4:00pm.
- Also available in the Unbelievable? podcast (new episodes posted shortly after they air).
Episode 39: This Generation Shall Not Pass [ 1:07:42 | 62.02 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2610)
Matt 23:36 “Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”
In Matt 23:36, there is no Hypothetical. Matt 23:34-35 can be ascribed to history, i.e. that generation.
Matt 23:39 “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, TILL (Gr. heos an) ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
In Matt 23:39, the word “till”, but specifically (Gr.) heos an, carries a strong Hypothetical force. The verse may be worded in this manner:
“IF ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, THEN ye shall see Me henceforth.”
The if-then Conditional provided by the Hypothetical may be symbolized thusly:
P -> Q
If P, then Q
This is the same phraseology used in Matt 24:34, Mark 13:30, and Luke 21:32.
Matt 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, TILL (Gr. heos an) all these things be fulfilled.”
The verse(s) may be worded in this manner:
“IF all these things be fulfilled, THEN this generation shall pass.”
P -> Q
If we say, “But all of those things were not fulfilled, therefore their generation did not pass”, that is a Fallacy of Reasoning called Denying the Antecedent.
If we say, “But their generation did pass, therefore all those things were fulfilled”, that is a Fallacy of Reasoning called Affirming the Consequent.
The God of Peace be with you.