Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 24:20

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.

Mark saith nothing of the Sabbath day, Ch. 13. Luke hath not what Matthew hath, v. 20. Woe to them in this Text, is only a Phrase testifying our Saviours Compassion on such, and indicative of the addition it would make to their Misery, as it would retard their Flight. Upon this account also, he bids them pray their Flight might not be in the Winter, neither on the Sabbath day. The Winter would Naturally retard their motion, through the cold, and moisture of it. The Sabbath would be a Moral hindrance in regard of the Superstitious opinion they had of the Sabbath, that they might not upon that Day defend themselves, nor Flee from their Enemies beyond the length of a Sabbath Days Iourney, which was but two Miles, our Saviour hinteth them, that their Flight must be further. When our Saviour spake this, the Iewish Sabbath was the Day of holy Rest, and he knew that altho by his Resurrection, he should Sanctify a new Sabbath, yet the Jews would not for a time understand that the old Sabbath was Abolished. Here is therefore no Establishment of the old Sabbath, to be observed after his Resurrection; The praying that their Flight might not be upon the Sabbath Day respected only either their remora to their Flight, which the Sabbath would give them (in case they should keep it as an Holy Rest) or the addition of trouble it would make in their Spirits, when they considered that was the Day in which they were wont to go to the house of Prayer, keeping it a Day of Holy Rest unto God.