{This generation} (h(8820)genea haut(885c)). Naturally people then
living. {Shall not pass away} (ou m(8820)parelth(8869)). Second aorist
active subjunctive of parerchomai. Strongest possible negative
with ou m(885c). {Till all things be accomplished} (he(9373) an panta
gen(8874)ai). Second aorist middle subjunctive of ginomai with
he(9373), common idiom. The words give a great deal of trouble to
critics. Some apply them to the whole discourse including the
destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, the second coming and
the end of the world. Some of these argue that Jesus was simply
mistaken in his eschatology, some that he has not been properly
reported in the Gospels. Others apply them only to the
destruction of Jerusalem which did take place in A.D. 70 before
that generation passed away. It must be said for this view that
it is not easy in this great eschatological discourse to tell
clearly when Jesus is discussing the destruction of Jerusalem and
when the second coming. Plummer offers this solution: "The
reference, therefore, is to the destruction of Jerusalem regarded
as the type of the end of the world."