Luke 21:7

Jesus hearers-specifically Peter, James, John, and Andrew (Mark 13:3)-then asked Him when the destruction would take place and what sign would precede it. They did not ask for a sign because they disbelieved Jesus but because they wanted a warning of the disaster. The destruction of the temple would constitute the end of Judaism as they knew it. When the Babylonians destroyed the first temple in 586 B.C., the result was dispersion and disaster for the Jews. Now Jesus announced that another similar catastrophe was coming. They associated this with the Lord’s return and the end of the present age, the present age being the age before the messianic kingdom (cf. Matthew 24:2-3).

Significantly Luke did not record the other questions they asked Him about the sign of His coming and of the end of the age (Matthew 24:3). Matthew and Mark concentrated on Jesus’ answer to the question about Jesus’ return, but Luke dealt mainly with His answer to the question about the temple’s destruction. The destruction of the temple and Jesus’ return would not coincide chronologically.