Matthew 24:3 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →On the Mount of Olives the disciples privately ask when these things will happen and what will signal his coming and the end of the age.
What Does Matthew 24:3 Mean?
Seated on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple, Jesus is approached privately by his disciples with three linked questions: when will the temple fall, what will mark his coming, and what will signal the end of the age. Their questions frame the long discourse that follows.
Jesus does not give a simple timetable. Instead he prepares them to live faithfully through upheaval, deception, and delay. The disciples want certainty about dates; he offers something better -- the steadiness to watch, endure, and remain ready. Their longing for his coming is right, and he honors it even as he reshapes it.
Matthew 24:3 in the Original Language
parousia (παρουσία), 'coming' -- the arrival and presence of a king, used here of Christ's return.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 24:3
What does Matthew 24:3 mean?
On the Mount of Olives the disciples privately ask when these things will happen and what will signal his coming and the end of the age.