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?
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?”
- BSB 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?”
- 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 13:3–4And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
- Acts 1:7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
- 1 Th 5:1–11But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
- Matt 13:49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
- Matt 24:37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
- Dan 12:6–8And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
- Matt 13:39–40The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
- Matt 24:32–33Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
- Luke 21:7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
- Matt 21:1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
- Heb 9:26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- Matt 24:39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
- Matt 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
- Matt 24:27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
- Matt 24:43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
- John 21:21–22Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
- Matt 17:19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
- Matt 13:36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
- Matt 15:12Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
- Matt 13:10–11And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.