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?

People's New Testament

24:3 As he sat upon the mount of Olives. Passing out of the city, over the valley of Jehoshaphat, he and his disciples climbed the mount and sat down on its crest overlooking the city and temple bathed in the sunset.

Tell us. The disciples, still thinking of what the Lord had said, ask three questions: (1) When shall these things be? That is, the overthrow of the temple. (2) What shall be the sign of the coming? And (3) of the end of the world? They supposed these events would be simultaneous--a mistake. To understand what follows we must keep in mind that he has three questions to answer, nor are the answers blended.

Wesley's Notes

24:3 As he sat on the mount of Olives - Whence they had a full view of the temple. When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? - The disciples inquire confusedly, Concerning the time of the destruction of the temple; Concerning the signs of Christ's coming, and of the end of the world, as if they imagined these two were the same thing. Our Lord answers distinctly concerning, The destruction of the temple and city, with the signs preceding, ver. 4, and c, 15, and c. Mt 24:4,15. His own coming, and the end of the world, with the signs thereof, ver. 29 - 31. Mt 24:29 - 31. The time of the destruction of the temple, ver. 32, and c. Mt 24:32. The time of the end of the world, ver. 36. Mt 24:36.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] Tell us

The beginning of the Olivet Discourse

Mat 24 with Lk 21:20-24 answers the threefold question. The order is as follows: "when shall these things be?"--i.e. destruction of the temple and city. Answer: Lk 21:20-24.

Second and third questions: "And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Answer: Mt 24:4-33.

Verses 4 to 14 have a double interpretation: They give

(1) the character of the age--wars, international conflicts, famines, pestilences, persecutions, and false Christs (cf) Dan 9:26.

This is not the description of a converted world.

(2) But the same answer (Mt 24:4-14) applies in a specific way to the end of the age, viz. Daniel's seventieth week. Dan 9:24-27. See Scofield Note: "Dan 9:24".

All that has characterized the age gathers into awful intensity at the end. Verse 14 has specific reference to the proclamation of the good news that the kingdom is again "at hand" by the Jewish remnant Isa 1:9 Rev 14:6,7. See Scofield Note: "Rom 11:5".

Verse 15 gives the sign of the abomination, See Scofield Note: "Dan 9:27", the "man of sin," or "Beast" 2Th 2:3-8 Dan 9:27 12:11 Rev 13:4-7.

This introduces the great tribulation Ps 2:5. See Scofield Note: "Rev 7:14", which runs its awful course of three and a half years, culminating in the battle of See Scofield Note: "Rev 19:19" at which time Christ becomes the smiting Stone of Dan 2:34.

The detail of this period (Mt 24:15-28) is:

(1) The abomination in the holy place (Mt 24:15);

(2) the warning (Mt 24:16-20) to believing Jews who will then be in Jerusalem;

(3) the great tribulation, with renewed warning as to false Christs (Mt 24:21-26);

(4) the sudden smiting of the Gentile world-power (Mt 24:27,28);

(5) the glorious appearing of the Lord, visible to all nations, and the regathering of Israel (Mt 24:29-31);

(6) the sign of the fig-tree (Mt 24:32,33);

(7) warnings, applicable to this present age over which these events are ever impending (Mt 24:34-51). Phile 4:5.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

24:1-3 Christ foretells the utter ruin and destruction coming upon the temple. A believing foresight of the defacing of all worldly glory, will help to keep us from admiring it, and overvaluing it. The most beautiful body soon will be food for worms, and the most magnificent building a ruinous heap. See ye not all these things? It will do us good so to see them as to see through them, and see to the end of them. Our Lord having gone with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, he set before them the order of the times concerning the Jews, till the destruction of Jerusalem; and as to men in general till the end of the world.