In Matthew 24:35, Jesus tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” When we read these words of Jesus, we might feel puzzled or even unsettled by their meaning. Does this mean the physical world we live in will someday cease to exist? Is Jesus referring to the end of the universe or something more symbolic? Understanding this statement can seem challenging, as it touches on deep theological concepts about the nature of creation, the permanence of God's Word, and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.
In this article, we are going to explore the context and deeper meaning behind Jesus’ statement in the Gospel of Matthew. By examining the surrounding verses and drawing insights from biblical interpretation, we’ll unpack what Jesus was teaching about the temporary nature of the world compared to the eternal and unchanging power of His words. Let’s dive in to better understand this powerful declaration.
Heaven and Earth Will Pass Away
Before we can understand a verse, it is always best to understand the passage’s context. When Jesus says, “Heaven and Earth will pass away,” He is referring to the End Times. The complete context of Matthew 24:35 contains verses 33-37: "Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
By this statement, Jesus is telling us that in the future, the present heaven and earth that we have today will pass away, yet His Words will never pass away. In other words, the present heaven and earth that we have today will not always be here. We read in 2 Peter 3:10; "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."
Isaiah prophesies about the New Heaven and New Earth in two key passages that offer a vision of hope and renewal. In Isaiah 65:17, God declares, "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." This verse speaks of a future where God will completely renew creation, erasing the pain and suffering of the past and ushering in a new beginning. Similarly, in Isaiah 66:22, God promises, "As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure." Here, God emphasizes the eternal nature of His promise, assuring His people that just as the new creation will last forever, so will His covenant relationship with them. These prophecies lay the foundation for later New Testament references, particularly in Revelation 21:1, where John echoes Isaiah’s vision, describing the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to renew and perfect all of creation, eliminating sin, death, and sorrow forever.
In the future, after the Rapture, the seven-year Tribulation, and the thousand-year reign of Christ, God will destroy the present heaven and earth, and He will create the New Heaven and New Earth. This is explained in a John's vision in Revelation 21:1-27, "Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." The New Heaven and New Earth will be perfect, and there will no longer be any more pain, crying, or death. Revelation 21:4 tells us ,"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
While Jesus is pointing to the end times when he says, “Heaven and Earth will pass away,” His focus is on the second half of his statement, “but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35b). Through this statement made by Jesus, we can know that His words are the most important thing and that by following them, we will be truly obeying Him.
Also, from Jesus' statement in Matthew 24:35, we can ascertain that the present earth is nothing to become obsessed with as we are constantly warned throughout Scripture that we should not conform to the patterns of the world (Romans 12:2).
The Apostle John tells us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
The present desires of the world will fade away, but Jesus’ words will always remain. The Lord’s words will never fade or become obsolete.
The Future Heaven and Earth
As established, the present heaven and earth as we know it will pass away, but God will create a New Heaven and New Earth in the future. While it may seem sad that our present heaven and earth will pass away, the New Heaven and New Earth will be perfect.
As Christians, we can eagerly look forward to this day. We do not need to be afraid of this day because the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth will be when God restores the world to what it was originally meant to be before the Fall of Man.
The New Heaven and New Earth will be amazing, and there will no longer be any sin. Since sin will be gone, the New Heaven and New Earth will be glorious and filled with complete joy and happiness.
Each of Jesus’ words is important and crucial to our growth as Christians. We cannot expect to grow as Christians if we do not read, study, and obey Jesus’ words. Jesus’ words expound further than only His red letters written throughout the New Testament as the entire Bible is the Word of God.
Since Jesus is the second member of the Trinity, He is God (John 10:30). This means that the entire Bible is included when Jesus says, “My words will never pass away.” The Bible has stood the test of time and has been around for many thousands of years.
This further demonstrates to us that Jesus’ words will never pass away. Even within countries that restrict Bibles, God has worked through individuals to help bring the gospel and the entire Bible to the lost.
The power of the words of Jesus is powerful, and they are truly mighty to save. Throughout the past, the present, and the future, Jesus’ words will continue to change people’s lives.
A New Perspective
Since we know that the present heaven and earth will pass away, it should cause us to gain a new perspective on life. This earth is not our home.
The Apostle Peter tells us, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Peter 3:11-12).
Just as Peter says in this passage of the New Testament, we should live lives that bring glory to God. Our time here is short, and since we know Jesus as our Savior, we need to dedicate our lives to following Him and serving Him.
By knowing that our present earth is going to be destroyed, we should know not to grow too attached to the things of this world. All of the things in this world will be destroyed.
Many beautiful things will be destroyed, such as the amazing architectural developments, historical buildings, and the captivating scenes of nature.
While it is nice to enjoy these things, we need to be aware that these things will not endure forever. The ground we are standing on today will not exist forever. This shows us that our present time on earth is short, and we need to use our time here to focus, serve, and glorify God.
The world tries to tell us to place our focus on getting the “right” job, being successful, and making tons of money, but from this passage of Scripture, we are challenged to put our eternal purpose in focus.
The jobs, achievements, and money we make in this world will not matter in eternity. What will matter is what we did to serve Christ through our lives. The present heaven and earth are already in the process of deteriorating.
Since we cannot fix these things on our own, we can eagerly look forward to the day when God will create the New Heaven and New Earth.
The day that we will step on the New Heaven and New Earth will be an amazing day when everything will finally be made right, and God will reign over us forevermore.
Thus, when Jesus says, “Heaven and Earth will pass away,” He is referring to the future event of eschatology when God will make the New Heaven and New Earth, but He is also referring to the fact that even though the present heaven and earth will pass away, His words will never pass away. They are eternal, unchanging, and trustworthy. When I think about the uncertainties and fleeting nature of life, it brings me comfort to know that Jesus' promises are my anchor. While everything around us may shift, His words stand firm, reminding us that His truth and love are always reliable.
This truth calls us to live with both a sense of hope for the future and confidence in the present. Jesus is inviting us to trust Him—not just for the day when all things are made new but right now, as we navigate the ups and downs of life. His words are a foundation we can stand on, no matter what changes or challenges we face. What a gift it is to know that while everything else may fade, His promises to us remain forever.
For further reading:
What Does the Bible Say about the New Heaven and the New Earth?
What Do We Know about the Second Coming of Jesus?
What Is the Significance of End Times Prophecies?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Rost-9D
