And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? The disciples ask two questions: pote tauta estai (πότε ταῦτα ἔσται, 'when will these things be?') and ti to sēmeion hotan mellē tauta ginesthai (τί τὸ σημεῖον ὅταν μέλλῃ ταῦτα γίνεσθαι, 'what the sign when these things are about to happen?'). They want chronology and warning indicators. This reflects natural human desire to know the future and prepare for catastrophe.
The questions reveal confusion about eschatological timelines. The disciples likely conflated the temple's destruction with Christ's second coming and history's end—understandable since the temple's fall seemed apocalyptic. Jesus' answer (vv. 8-36) addresses both near-term events (Jerusalem's destruction within that generation, v. 32) and distant-future events (His return, vv. 25-28). Distinguishing these remains exegetically challenging. The passage teaches both imminent judgment and ultimate eschatological fulfillment—a pattern of near and far prophetic horizons common in Scripture.
Historical Context
The disciples addressed Jesus as Didaskale (Διδάσκαλε, 'Teacher/Master'), showing respect for His prophetic authority. Their questions reflect apocalyptic expectations common in Second Temple Judaism. Jews anticipated divine intervention, Messiah's coming, enemy judgment, and kingdom establishment. The disciples assumed these things would occur together. Jesus' prophecy about the temple's destruction fit their apocalyptic framework, so they sought details. They didn't understand that His kingdom would come in stages—first through His death and resurrection, then through the church age, finally in His glorious return. Understanding this progressive fulfillment is crucial for interpreting the Olivet Discourse correctly.
Questions for Reflection
Why do humans naturally want detailed timelines and signs for future events, and what does this reveal about our need for control?
How does conflating near-term and distant-future prophecies lead to misinterpretation of eschatological passages?
What does Jesus' method of answering questions about the future teach about how much detail God chooses to reveal about coming events?
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Analysis & Commentary
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? The disciples ask two questions: pote tauta estai (πότε ταῦτα ἔσται, 'when will these things be?') and ti to sēmeion hotan mellē tauta ginesthai (τί τὸ σημεῖον ὅταν μέλλῃ ταῦτα γίνεσθαι, 'what the sign when these things are about to happen?'). They want chronology and warning indicators. This reflects natural human desire to know the future and prepare for catastrophe.
The questions reveal confusion about eschatological timelines. The disciples likely conflated the temple's destruction with Christ's second coming and history's end—understandable since the temple's fall seemed apocalyptic. Jesus' answer (vv. 8-36) addresses both near-term events (Jerusalem's destruction within that generation, v. 32) and distant-future events (His return, vv. 25-28). Distinguishing these remains exegetically challenging. The passage teaches both imminent judgment and ultimate eschatological fulfillment—a pattern of near and far prophetic horizons common in Scripture.