But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

MATTHEW 24:20KJV
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Matthew 24:20 (KJV)

What does Matthew 24:20 mean?

Matthew 24:20 records Jesus telling his followers to pray that, when the time comes to flee from danger, it will not happen in the winter or on the Sabbath. This verse highlights concern for practical hardships and religious restrictions that could make escape more difficult.

Jesus is speaking privately to his disciples about future troubles, warning them of coming events when people in Judea will need to flee quickly. Mentioning winter points to harsh weather making travel hard, while the Sabbath refers to Jewish customs that limited travel and activity, making escape more complicated for observant Jews.

The Greek behind Matthew 24:20

  • ἡ φυγή (hē phygē, "flight"): This word means escape or fleeing. Jesus is not speaking about a metaphorical journey but a real, urgent need to leave for safety.
  • χειμῶνος (cheimōnos, "winter"): The Greek word points to the season of cold and rain in Israel, when travel would be slow and dangerous, underlining the practical concern in Jesus’ warning.
  • σαββάτῳ (sabbatō, "Sabbath"): This word refers to the Jewish day of rest, when travel was traditionally restricted. Jesus’ mention shows sensitivity to the religious practices of his listeners, recognizing that these customs could hinder a quick escape.

Why Matthew 24:20 matters

  • This verse clears up that Jesus cared about the real-life difficulties his followers might face, not just spiritual concerns.
  • Matthew 24:20 shows Jesus’ awareness of both the physical environment (winter) and religious culture (Sabbath laws) of his audience.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the coming trouble, encouraging practical preparation as well as spiritual readiness.

Where else these words appear

“flight” Greek G5437 · used in 2 verses

  • Mark 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

“winter” Greek G5494 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
  • Mark 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
  • Acts 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

“neither” Greek G3366 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  • Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

“day” Greek G4521 · used in 62 verses

  • Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
  • Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
  • John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.