As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples' question about "the end of the age" wasn't just about the distant future; they believed the destruction of the Temple would be that end, showing a common assumption that major divine judgments signal the ultimate conclusion of history. They were asking for the signs of Christ's presence and the end of their current era, tightly linking these events in their understanding.
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just declared that the magnificent temple would be completely destroyed, a shocking statement to his disciples who were admiring its grandeur. As they sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, the disciples approached Jesus privately to understand when these devastating events would occur and what signs would herald his return and the end of the age. Jesus then began to answer their questions, blending the signs of Jerusalem's destruction with those of his ultimate coming.
Why did the disciples ask Jesus privately? What does their request reveal about their understanding and their relationship with Him?
The disciples approached Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives. This wasn't an accidental moment; it was a deliberate seeking of deeper understanding after Jesus had just spoken about the temple's destruction. The fact that they sought Him out privately suggests they wanted a more intimate, detailed revelation, perhaps sensing the gravity and sensitivity of the topic. It also shows their growing trust in Jesus as their teacher, willing to ask potentially difficult questions when they felt it was the right moment. They recognized that not all questions were for the crowd, but for focused, personal instruction.
Their questions reveal a mind still grappling with the implications of Jesus' ministry. They connect the impending destruction of the temple with Jesus' future return and the ultimate end of everything as they knew it. This shows a theological leap, linking historical events with eschatological ones, a common thread in prophetic interpretation.
What did the disciples mean by 'the end of the world' or 'the end of the age'? Was it just about destruction, or something more?
The disciples' question about 'the end of the world' (or more accurately, 'the end of the age,' as the original Greek suggests) was deeply intertwined with their understanding of God's plan. In their Jewish context, the 'age' often referred to the current era dominated by the Mosaic Law and earthly systems, which they believed would transition into a glorious new age with the coming of the Messiah.
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So, when they asked about the 'end of the age,' they weren't just anticipating destruction; they were asking about the transition. They saw the destruction of the temple as a potential marker for the culmination of the old and the inauguration of the new – the Messianic era they expected Jesus to fully establish. They were linking the immediate future (temple destruction) with the ultimate future (Christ's glorious return and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom).
This shows they were looking for a complete overhaul, a divine intervention that would bring finality to the current order and usher in God's perfect reign.
Jesus' answer seems to blend events. Why did He describe the destruction of Jerusalem and His final coming in the same breath?
A key insight here is that Jesus deliberately intertwined the prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem (around 70 AD) with the signs of His final coming and the end of the age. He doesn't neatly separate them; instead, He presents them as overlapping events, often using the same language to describe both.
Why? Several reasons:
Jesus taught His disciples to watch for these signs, understanding that while some might point to immediate judgments, they all ultimately point to His sovereign return.
Understand the original words
parousia · Greek Noun
The return of Christ to earth, marking the completion of his Messianic mission, the final judgment, and the full establishment of God's kingdom. It is the visible, personal, and glorious manifestation of Jesus.
aiōn · Greek Noun
The conclusion of the current era of history, marked by the ongoing conflict between light and darkness, which will culminate in the return of Christ and the inauguration of the eternal state.
sēmeion · Greek Noun
A token, miracle, or prophetic event that serves as a divine indication or evidence of a greater spiritual reality, message, or future occurrence.
The disciples' questions, though seemingly about the distant end of the world, were immediately triggered by Jesus' prediction of the Temple's destruction. Jesus intentionally weaves together the signs of Jerusalem's fall with the signs of His ultimate return, showing how God's judgment and redemptive plan unfold in history.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus predicts Temple's destruction
Jesus foretells the complete demolition of the magnificent Jerusalem Temple, astonishing his disciples. He then moves with them to the Mount of Olives.
c. AD 30
Disciples question Jesus privately
From the Mount of Olives, with a view of the Temple, key disciples ask Jesus about the timing and signs of the Temple's destruction, His coming, and the end of the age.
c. AD 30 - AD 70
Period of 'Wars and Rumors of Wars'
Jesus describes a period of increasing conflict, false messiahs, famines, and earthquakes leading up to the end of the age, a context that would include the turbulent decades before Jerusalem's fall.
c. AD 64 - AD 68
Nero's reign and Jewish unrest
Amidst growing political instability and revolts in Judea, Rome's power is felt, contributing to the atmosphere of conflict Jesus foretold.
AD 66 - AD 73
First Jewish-Roman War erupts
The large-scale rebellion against Roman rule begins, leading to widespread devastation and conflict throughout Judea.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman legions under Titus conquer Jerusalem, utterly destroying the city and its Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy and marking a pivotal moment for Jewish history and early Christianity.
This passage records the same event, offering a slightly different perspective on the disciples' question about the timing and signs of future events, highlighting the intimate nature of their inquiry.
Luke 21:7Luke's account emphasizes the disciples' specific query regarding the timing and signs of the temple's destruction and Christ's coming, directly paralleling Matthew's account.
Acts 1:6-7After Jesus' resurrection, the disciples still inquire about the timing of the restoration of Israel, showing a persistent expectation for an imminent end to the current age, similar to their question here.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17This passage describes the Lord's 'coming' (parousia) and the gathering of believers, directly addressing one of the key elements of the disciples' question about the sign of His presence.
2 Peter 3:3-4Peter here addresses the skepticism about Christ's promised return, echoing the disciples' urgent desire to know 'when' these things would happen and the signs that would accompany them.
bensonMatthew 24:3: "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
Matthew 24:3-5 . And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him — The disciples were desirous to know more of these events, when they should be, and how they should be; but thought it not proper to ask him at present, the multitude probably still crowding about him,…
calvinMatthew 24:1-8: "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple."
- And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him, to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. 3. And while he was sitting on the mountain of Olives, the disci…
The disciples' question about "the end of the age" wasn't just about the distant future; they believed the destruction of the Temple would be that end, showing a common assumption that major divine judgments signal the ultimate conclusion of history. They were asking for the signs of Christ's presence and the end of their current era, tightly linking these events in their understanding.
Jesus had just declared that the magnificent temple would be completely destroyed, a shocking statement to his disciples who were admiring its grandeur. As they sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, the disciples approached Jesus privately to understand when these devastating events would occur and what signs would herald his return and the end of the age. Jesus then began to answer their questions, blending the signs of Jerusalem's destruction with those of his ultimate coming.
Jesus had just declared that the magnificent temple would be completely destroyed, a shocking statement to his disciples who were admiring its grandeur. As they sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, the disciples approached Jesus privately to understand when these devastating events would occur and what signs would herald his return and the end of the age. Jesus then began to answer their questions, blending the signs of Jerusalem's destruction with those of his ultimate coming.
"As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”" — The disciples' question about "the end of the age" wasn't just about the distant future; they believed the destruction of the Temple would be that end, showing a common assumption that major divine…
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Last reviewed October 2026