So when you see “the abomination of desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the one who reads understand),
Here Jesus recalls Daniel’s prophecy connected with the vision of the “abomination of desolation,” which foretold the desecration of the holy place. This saying has a deep twofold meaning: on the one hand it refers to the corruption of the temple in Jerusalem, and on the other hand it points to a future spiritual reality, when holiness is trampled by human arrogance. Jesus adds, “let the reader understand,” that is, let one not be satisfied with outward knowledge, but reflect on the depth of the mystery. This word is a call to spiritual understanding, to grasp that when holiness ceases to rule in a person’s heart, destruction begins there. Indeed, this prophecy was first fulfilled with the destruction of the Temple, but in its spiritual meaning it continues every time a person leaves God’s presence and replaces holiness with human glory.