Matthew 24 · a question people ask

Who are "the chosen ones" in 24:22, 24:24 and 24:31?

In the text

Here is what the chapter says of them. "Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened." (24:22). False christs and false prophets will show great signs and wonders "so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones" (24:24). And Jesus says, "He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (24:31) (tap chosen). The chapter doesn't say who they are beyond these three verses. Christians read the words in more than one way, and these notes don't choose a reading. Favor identifies the chosen ones with no group, church, nation or people.

The verses

“Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.”
Matthew 24:22 · World English Bible
“For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”
Matthew 24:24 · World English Bible
“He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
Matthew 24:31 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 24

Matthew 24: Watch therefore

The word behind coming in the disciples' question, parousia, is in no other Gospel: Matthew has it four times, all in this chapter (24:3, 24:27, 24:37, 24:39). And Jesus's answer doesn't stop where the chapter does: in the WEB his words run on to the end of 25:46.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions