And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
These questioners are so eager for signs of the end that they frame their inquiry around the timing of events and the specific signals to watch for. Jesus, however, gently redirects them, choosing to focus not on an exact timeline, but on how to live faithfully while waiting.
And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just after Jesus declared that the magnificent temple would be utterly destroyed, his disciples, astonished and eager for details, asked when these events would happen and what signs would herald them. Their question reflects a mix of awe at his pronouncement and a desire to understand the timing and signals of this impending judgment, a prophecy that would also encompass signs of his ultimate return.
The disciples ask Jesus about 'these things' and 'the sign.' But what exactly are they asking, and how does Jesus respond?
The disciples pose a two-part question driven by the awe and shock of Jesus' prophecy about the temple's destruction.
'These Things'
Their first question, "when will these things be?", refers directly to Jesus' startling prediction that not one stone of the magnificent temple would be left upon another.
The Sign
Their second question, "what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?", broadens the scope. They are asking for a clear indicator, a signal that this monumental event is imminent.
Interestingly, Jesus doesn't directly answer the 'when' question. Instead, he pivots to address the 'sign' and uses the opportunity to teach about the larger realities of his coming and the end of the age. This suggests a deliberate redirection towards what truly matters for their understanding and preparedness.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world seem linked in Jesus' answer. How can one event foreshadow the other?
The disciples' immediate concern was the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, a beloved and central symbol of their faith and nation. Jesus, however, weaves this immediate, devastating event into a larger tapestry that includes his ultimate return and the end of the age.
Aeschatological Overlap
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Many scholars observe that Jesus' prophecy contains elements that speak to both the imminent destruction of Jerusalem (around 70 AD) and the final consummation of all things. The signs he describes—wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, false prophets—appear both before Jerusalem's fall and will recur on a grander scale before Christ's second coming.
Divine Judgment and Redemption
God often uses significant historical judgments as 'specimens' or previews of the final judgment. The catastrophic fall of Jerusalem served as a powerful, tangible demonstration of divine wrath against a rebellious people, mirroring the ultimate judgment to come. For believers, it was also a time of intense persecution, an experience that would echo the trials faced before the final return of Christ.
Understand the original words
didaskale · Greek Noun
An authoritative instructor, specifically one who interprets the Law of God. In the New Testament, it is the title often given to Jesus, acknowledging His divine authority to teach truth.
sēmeion · Greek Noun
A miracle, occurrence, or prophetic marker intended to point toward a greater spiritual reality or a future event decreed by God. It serves as evidence of God's sovereign unfolding of history.
The disciples' question about the temple's destruction and the signs of Jesus' coming was deeply rooted in the immediate context of His prophecy. Jesus' answer intertwined the signs of Jerusalem's fall with the signs of the final judgment, a common prophetic literary device that would have resonated with His audience.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Predicts Temple Destruction
During Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, while discussing the magnificent temple, He declares that not one stone will be left upon another. This statement shocks His disciples.
c. AD 30-33
Disciples Ask About Timing and Signs
Jesus' disciples, prompted by His prophecy, privately ask Him when the temple's destruction will occur and what signs will herald these events and His coming.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Delivers Olivet Discourse
Jesus responds with a discourse, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, foretelling future calamities, including the destruction of Jerusalem, and signs of the end times.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War Begins
Growing tensions between Jewish zealots and Roman authorities erupt into open rebellion against the Roman Empire. This marks the beginning of the end for Jerusalem and the Temple.
AD 70
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
Roman legions under Titus lay siege to Jerusalem. After a brutal and prolonged assault, the city is captured, the Temple is destroyed, and vast numbers of Jews are killed or enslaved.
This passage presents the same question from the disciples to Jesus, asking about the signs of his coming and the end of the age, highlighting the parallel themes of eschatology and Jesus' return.
Mark 13:4Similar to Luke, Mark records Peter, James, John, and Andrew asking Jesus privately for signs regarding the destruction of the temple and the end of all things, emphasizing the disciples' desire for concrete indicators.
Luke 17:20Jesus' response here about the kingdom of God not coming with observable signs, but being 'among you,' offers a contrasting perspective to the disciples' question about outward signs, prompting reflection on the nature of God's coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4This passage warns against being deceived by signs and events that precede the Day of the Lord, resonating with the disciples' focus on signs and Jesus' subsequent warnings about deception.
pooleLuke 21:7: "And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?"
Mark saith, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately. Matthew brings two things more within the compass of their question, viz. What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Our Saviour answereth this question from Luke 21:8-32 . The most of what he saith we have before met with in Matthew and Mark. It is the harder to…
barnesLuke 21:7: "And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?"
The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Matthew 24 . All that will be necessary here will be an explanation of a few words that did not occur in that chapter.
These questioners are so eager for signs of the end that they frame their inquiry around the timing of events and the specific signals to watch for. Jesus, however, gently redirects them, choosing to focus not on an exact timeline, but on how to live faithfully while waiting.
Just after Jesus declared that the magnificent temple would be utterly destroyed, his disciples, astonished and eager for details, asked when these events would happen and what signs would herald them. Their question reflects a mix of awe at his pronouncement and a desire to understand the timing and signals of this impending judgment, a prophecy that would also encompass signs of his ultimate return.
Just after Jesus declared that the magnificent temple would be utterly destroyed, his disciples, astonished and eager for details, asked when these events would happen and what signs would herald them. Their question reflects a mix of awe at his pronouncement and a desire to understand the timing and signals of this impending judgment, a prophecy that would also encompass signs of his ultimate return.
"And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”" — These questioners are so eager for signs of the end that they frame their inquiry around the timing of events and the specific signals to watch for. Jesus, however, gently redirects them, choosing to…
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Last reviewed October 2026