Matthew 24:1-3

Introductory Words (24:1-3).

As they were leaving the Temple following Jesus expose of the Scribes and Pharisees, the disciples, filled with admiration at the vastness and beauty of the Temple, drew Jesus attention to it, but Jesus’ response was immediate, and He pointed out that in coming days the Temple and all its glory will vanish, for ‘there will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down’. This is not necessarily to be taken literally (‘not one single stone’) but is a hyperbolic way (typical of Jesus) of stating that it would be utterly demolished. And anyone going to Jerusalem today will find that it is just as He said, for all that is left of the Temple are archaeological remains which have had to be dug up.

This reply shook the disciples, and turned their minds to what according to their own ideas lay ahead. In their eyes if the Temple was going to be destroyed it could only mean that the final events would be taking place prior to the establishment of the everlasting Kingdom. For they could not at this stage conceive of life without the Temple. So they asked when ‘these things’ would happen, and followed it up by asking what the signs of His return would be, and what would be the signs of the end of the age, (or world). What is meant by the end of the age/world here is defined by Matthew 25:46 where we are told that then the righteous will go into life under His eternal Rule, while the unrighteous will depart into everlasting punishment. No clearer description of the end all things physical could be given. It will be the end of the world as we know it. Then all will be complete, and Jesus, as the representative of the Godhead charged with the function of becoming man in order to bring about Salvation, although in association with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), will hand all things over to the full Godhead, ‘that God might be all in all’ (1 Corinthians 15:23-28).

Analysis.

Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on His way, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple (Matthew 24:1).

But He answered and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).

And as He sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately (Matthew 24:3 a).

Saying, “Tell us, when will these things be?” (Matthew 24:3 b).

And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world (age)?” (Matthew 24:3 c).

Note that in ‘a’ He departs from the Temple to go on His way, and in the parallel the question is as to when He will return. In ‘b He prophesies the destruction of the Temple, and in the parallel He is asked when ‘these things’ (what will accompany the destruction of the Temple) will be. Centrally in ‘c’ Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives, the act of a Teacher and Judge.