What did Jesus tell the Jewish remnant fleeing Jerusalem to do about their clothes?
Jesus instructed the Jewish remnant fleeing Jerusalem not to stop and take clothes out of their closets, and not to return from the field to take their clothes. They were to leave immediately, not taking time for possessions, because time would be of the essence.
Les explains that Jesus addressed this to the remnant of Jews in the exodus out of Jerusalem. He told them, 'don't you bother to stop and take your clothes out of the closet.' Les notes this would especially test the wealthy, well-to-do who owned expensive dresses and suits and might be tempted to retrieve them, but Jesus said not to take time for it because time would be of the essence. In verse 18, Jesus also said, 'neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes.' Les identifies this as the working class, younger people doing everyday tasks. To them Jesus said, don't turn back to take anything out of your house or your clothes. Wherever they were working, when they heard the temple had been defiled, they were to move out to the mountains if they wanted to escape.