Jesus' Warning About Fleeing during Tribulation
Jesus' Warning About Fleeing during Tribulation
Jesus' instruction to his disciples to "flee to the next town" when persecuted (Matthew 10:23) [2] has been interpreted in various ways across Christian traditions, particularly in relation to fleeing during times of tribulation.
The disagreement centers on whether Jesus' command is a general principle for Christians facing persecution or a specific instruction for the apostles during their mission to Israel. The interpretation of this verse is closely tied to the understanding of the surrounding context and the broader biblical narrative.
Position 1: Fleeing as a General Principle
One tradition interprets Jesus' instruction as a general principle for Christians facing persecution. According to this view, fleeing is not cowardice but a prudent response to avoid unnecessary suffering and to continue serving God elsewhere. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that the exhortation is not to avoid persecution altogether but to flee to another location to continue spreading the Gospel [6]. This interpretation is supported by the examples of Jesus and the apostles, who often withdrew to other areas when faced with hostility (Matthew 12:15-19; Luke 9:52-56) [4].
Position 2: Fleeing as a Specific Instruction
Another tradition views Jesus' command as a specific instruction for the apostles during their mission to Israel, rather than a general principle for all Christians. According to this interpretation, the instruction was given to ensure the continuation of the Gospel message among the Jewish communities. Augustine, as quoted in the NPNF, argues that this instruction was specifically for the preachers of the Gospel and not for heretics or schismatics [7]. This view is supported by the context of Matthew 10, where Jesus is sending out the twelve apostles to preach to the lost sheep of Israel.
Shared Ground
Despite the differences in interpretation, all positions agree that Jesus' instruction is rooted in a deep concern for the well-being of his followers and the advancement of the Gospel. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the face of persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) [5]. The examples of fleeing in the Old Testament, such as Lot's escape from Sodom (Genesis 19:17) [1] and the Israelites' flight from Babylon (Jeremiah 51:6) [3], demonstrate that fleeing can be a legitimate response to danger.
Why Traditions Diverge
The divergence in interpretation stems from differing hermeneutical approaches and understandings of the biblical context. Some traditions emphasize the literal application of Jesus' words, while others consider the historical and cultural context in which they were spoken. The prior doctrinal premises of each tradition, such as the role of the apostles and the nature of persecution, also influence their interpretation of Jesus' instruction.
The historical context of the early Christian church and the apostolic mission also plays a significant role in shaping the interpretation of Jesus' command. The understanding of the "tribulation" and its relation to the end times varies across traditions, with some seeing it as a future event and others as a present reality.
Sources
- Genesis “It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” -- Genesis 19:17”
- Matthew “Matthew 10:23 (BSB) — When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 51:6 (BSB) — Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 10:22: But when they persecute you in this city,.... Or any city into which they went, and preached the Gospel; and would not suffer them to go on in their work, they were not to desist, but to go elsewhere, where they might hope for a better reception, and a longer continuance, and so of doing more good: flee ye into another; not so much for their own safety, though this, according to the circumstances of things, is lawful, but for the further spreading of the Gospel. The exhortation is not to take methods to avoid persecution, or to make an escape from it, but to perse”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — CHAP. 19.--42. PETILIANUS said: "The Lord Jesus Christ commands us, saying, 'When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another; and if they persecute you in that, flee yet into a third; for v (part 1): 43. AUGUSTIN answered: To flee from one state to another from the face of persecution has not been enjoined as precept or permission on heretics or schismatics, such as you are; but it was enjoined on the preachers of the gospel, whom you resist. And this we may easily prove in this wise: you are now in your own cities, and no ma”