What is the meaning of Matthew 24:19?

How miserable

• Jesus voices a heartfelt lament: “How miserable…” (Matthew 24:19).

• The word choice signals real sorrow, echoing similar prophetic woes (Luke 6:24-26; Revelation 8:13).

• His compassion stands out; even while announcing judgment He grieves for the vulnerable (Matthew 23:37).

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those days

• The phrase links directly to the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21), beginning with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and foreshadowing the climactic end-time distress (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 7:14).

• Mark’s parallel text repeats the warning (Mark 13:17), and Luke adds, “For great distress will be upon the land and wrath against this people” (Luke 21:23).

• Scripture consistently portrays these days as unparalleled in intensity (Jeremiah 30:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

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will be

• Jesus speaks in the indicative, underscoring absolute certainty (Matthew 24:35).

• The doom is not hypothetical; it is a fixed element in God’s prophetic timetable (Isaiah 46:9-10; Acts 17:31).

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for pregnant and nursing mothers!

• Expectant and nursing women face obvious challenges in sudden flight:

– Limited mobility when every hour counts (Luke 21:21).

– Added responsibility of protecting fragile life (2 Kings 6:28-29; Lamentations 4:3-4 highlight past siege horrors).

• Their plight magnifies the severity of the crisis and reminds believers to pray for divine mercy on the weakest (Psalm 37:25-26; James 1:27).

• Jesus’ counsel to pray that escape might not occur in winter or on a Sabbath (Matthew 24:20) further reveals His concern for practical hardships.

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summary

Matthew 24:19 delivers a sobering yet compassionate warning. Jesus, foreseeing the crushing upheaval of both the first-century siege and the future global tribulation, grieves for mothers whose physical limitations heighten their peril. The verse underscores the certainty of God’s prophetic plan, the unparalleled severity of those days, and the Lord’s tender heart for the vulnerable. Believers today are reminded to trust His Word, remain watchful, and extend Christ-like care to those least able to protect themselves.