Deciphering Matthew 24:34: Was Jesus Wrong About His Return?

The Embarrassing Verse?

Matthew 24:34, where Jesus states, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place," has long been a source of debate and ammunition for skeptics. Figures like Bertrand Russell have pointed to this verse as evidence of Jesus' fallibility, claiming it proves he incorrectly predicted his imminent return.

Even C.S. Lewis, a staunch defender of Christianity, acknowledged the verse's problematic nature, calling it "the most embarrassing verse in the Bible." Lewis highlighted the apparent contradiction between this verse and Matthew 24:36, where Jesus admits ignorance of the specific time of his return. This juxtaposition of apparent error and admitted ignorance has puzzled believers for centuries.

"The apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false...Their master had told them so...and he was wrong." - C.S. Lewis (as a hypothetical skeptic), The World's Last Night

The Divinity of Christ

Before tackling the meaning of "generation," we must address the question of Jesus' divinity. Skeptics like Bart Ehrman argue that Jesus' divinity was a later invention of the church, pointing to the absence of explicit self-proclamations of divinity in the Synoptic Gospels. This view, however, fails to account for the numerous implicit claims and titles attributed to Jesus throughout the New Testament, which strongly support his divine nature.

Interpreting "Generation"

The crux of the matter lies in understanding the Greek word *genea*, translated as "generation." While it can refer to a contemporary group of people, it can also mean a race, lineage, or a specific period of time – an "age." Given that the events described in Matthew 24 did not occur within the lifetimes of Jesus' immediate audience, the first interpretation seems unlikely.

Some theologians believe *genea* refers to the Jewish race, while others suggest it signifies the generation that will witness the events of the Great Tribulation. Both interpretations are plausible, but the key takeaway is that Jesus was not necessarily referring to his contemporaries in the first century.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

The apparent contradiction between Matthew 24:34 and 24:36 can be understood in light of the Incarnation. Philippians 2:7 tells us that Jesus "emptied himself," taking on human form and limitations. This *kenosis* included a voluntary relinquishing of certain divine attributes, including omniscience during his earthly ministry. Jesus himself stated that he spoke only what the Father revealed to him (John 8:28, 12:49). Therefore, his ignorance of the specific time of his return during his earthly ministry does not negate his divinity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the seeming contradiction in Matthew 24 is not an indication of error or fallibility on Jesus' part. Rather, it reflects the complexities of the Incarnation and the different meanings of "generation." A careful examination of the text, combined with an understanding of Jesus' divine nature and earthly limitations, resolves the apparent contradiction and affirms the reliability of Scripture.