What did Jesus tell the workers in the field to do when they heard the temple was defiled?
Jesus instructed workers in the field not to turn back to retrieve clothes or anything from their house. Instead, wherever they were working, upon hearing that the temple had been defiled, they were to move out to the mountains to escape.
Les explains that verse 18 addresses working people, probably younger people between 25 and whatever who are still out working every day, doing the common everyday tasks of life. To that class, Jesus says they should not turn back to take anything out of their house or their clothes. Wherever they happen to be working, when they hear the temple has been defiled, they are to move out to the mountains if they want to escape. This follows His instruction to the wealthy, well-to-do class not to stop for clothes in their closet, because time is of the essence. The setting is the coming exodus out of Jerusalem for that remnant of Jews.