Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 34

 The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Matthew 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

This generation shall... The last generation living on earth at the time all these things will be fulfilled. Always used of a particular span of life and not a race of people (note, Mat. 11:16). This proves that all these things will be fulfilled in one generation only and not in several of them. This cannot refer to the generation living at that time of Christ, for all these things, the abomination of desolation (verse 15), the persecutions and judgments (verses 17-22), the false prophets (verses 23-26), the signs in the heavens (verses 27-29), Christ’s final return (verse 30), and the gathering of the elect (verse 31), did not “take place” in their lifetime.

It seems best to interpret Christ’s words as a reference to the generation alive at the time when those final hard labor pains begin. This would fit with the lesson of the fig tree, which stresses the short span of time in which these things will occur.

This is speaking of the generation in whose lifetime all these signs occur. That generation will not pass away until “all these things be fulfilled.” In other words, the previously listed signs will continue to multiply throughout the church age and reach their ultimate climax at the end of the age in the generation of those who will live to see the entire matter fulfilled in their lifetime.

On this principle Mat. 24:32-35 are quite simple and natural, as well as most impressive, and the statement of Mat. 24:34 is seen to be literally accurate.

The completion of all these events is yet future. The generation (genea) of people living in that future day will see the completion of all the events. Jesus was not referring to the generation listening to Him then, for He had already said the kingdom had been taken from that group (Mat. 21:43). That first-century generation would experience God’s judgment. But the generation that will be living at the time these signs begin to take place will live through that period and will see the Lord Jesus coming as the King of glory.