While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Parallel translations
- WEB As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”
- KJV 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?
- NKJV Now 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?”
- NASB And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
- NLT Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
On the Mount of Olives the disciples ask when these things will happen and what will signal his coming and the end of the age. It frames the discourse that follows.
Overview
The disciples' questions blend the near event of the temple's fall with the distant events of Christ's return and the end of the age. Jesus' answer accordingly addresses both, which is why faithful interpreters differ over how its parts apply to AD 70 and to the final consummation. The passage calls disciples to readiness and faithfulness amid history's unfolding.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Mark 13:3–4While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
- Acts 1:7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
- 1 Th 5:1–11Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
- Matt 13:49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
- Matt 24:37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
- Dan 12:6–8One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”
- Matt 13:39–40and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
- Matt 24:32–33Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
- Luke 21:7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
- Matt 21:1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
- Heb 9:26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
- Matt 24:39And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
- Matt 28:20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Matt 24:27For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
- Matt 24:43But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
- John 21:21–22When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
- Matt 17:19Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
- Matt 13:36Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
- Matt 15:12Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
- Matt 13:10–11Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 24:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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