“Truly!
I say to you!
‘All this will come
Upon this generation.’”
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἥξει ταῦτα πάντα ἐπὶ τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην.
This is a saying unique to Matthew. Jesus said to these Pharisees and Scribes with a solemn pronouncement (ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν) that all these things would happen to this generation (ἥξει ταῦτα πάντα ἐπὶ τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην), right away, before any of them died.
“The great day of Yahweh
Is near,
Near,
Coming fast.
The sound of
The day of Yahweh
Is bitter.
The warrior
Cries aloud there.
That day will be
A day of wrath,
A day of distress,
A day of anguish,
A day of ruin,
A day of devastation,
A day of darkness,
A day of gloom,
A day of clouds
A day of darkness,
A day of trumpet blast,
A day of battle cry,
Against the fortified cities,
Against the lofty battlements.”
The day of Yahweh was to be a day of wrath and doom, as can be found also in Amos, chapter 5 and Isaiah, chapter 2. This great day for Yahweh was coming right away, very soon. This bitter sound was in the air, as the warriors cried out loudly with their battle cry against the fortified cities and their secure fortresses. This was a day of wrath, distress, anguish, ruin, devastation, darkness, gloom, clouds, and a trumpet blast, certainly not a happy day. Thus, the natural connection to death formed the inspiration for the medieval funeral hymn, Dies Irae, Latin for the day of wrath.
“The word of Yahweh
Came to me.
‘Son of man!
The house of Israel
Is saying.
‘The vision
That he sees
Is for many years
Ahead.
He prophesies
For distant times.’
Therefore say to them.
‘Thus says Yahweh God!
None of my words
Will be delayed
Any longer.
But the word
That I speak
Will be fulfilled.’
Says Yahweh God.”
Once again, the word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel, the son of man. The house of Israel had this saying that the visions that the prophets saw was for many years in the future. However, Yahweh said that none of his words would be delayed any longer. Whatever Yahweh said, it would be fulfilled right away, no doubt about that.
“Answer me!,
Yahweh!
Your steadfast love is good.
According to your abundant mercy,
Turn to me!
Do not hide your face from your servant!
I am in distress!
Make haste to answer me!
Draw near to me!
Redeem me!
Set me free
Because of my enemies!”
Now there is a change in tone. No longer is David waiting for a response. Now he wanted an answer right away. He pleaded to the goodness of God, his love for him, and his great mercy. He was in distress. He did not want God to hide his face from him. He wanted a hasty response. He wanted God close to him. He wanted God to see him so that he could be freed from his enemies. He wanted to be redeemed.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 