Matthew 24 is Jesus’ panoramic answer to two distinct questions,
The destruction of the temple (24:2–3a) and
His coming and the end of the age (24:3b).
And the chapter itself keeps those threads separate by using
“this generation” for the near‑term judgment on Jerusalem (24:34) and
“that day” for the unknown, eschatological return of Christ (24:36).
The first section (vv. 4–34) describes the birth‑pains, persecutions, global gospel witness, abomination that stands, and the great tribulation tied to covenant‑judgment, while the second section (vv. 35–51) shifts to cosmic signs, the visible appearing of the Son of Man, angelic gathering of the elect, and the call to watchfulness, meaning Matthew 24 is not a single event but a two‑track prophecy where Jesus answers both the disciples’ immediate concern and the ultimate future hope without blending them into one timeline.
Very well said !
How about the contemporary accounts of his sermons there ? For instance
“And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains:”
Mark 13:2-14 KJV
of course should be read to end there but we have the gospel according to
marks account of the same sermon Matthew was witnessing in his account of the gospel.
then we have also Luke’s account which comes from his own and many witnesses of the lords sermons.
“And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 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? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judæa flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Luke 21:5-22 KJV
Each varies in its telling and also adds different details not contradiction but more clarity when you layer what he said from the different perspectives and witnesses.
The gospel according to luke
“Forasmuch as
many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even
as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; it seemed good to
me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”
Luke 1:1-4 KJV
Or the witness of Matthew an apostle and chosen witness or mark a disciple who seems to be giving peters account and perspective or at least someone very very close to Peter.
It’s amazing we can still study the things the lord taught . Often if we’re worried about words , we’ll miss the message he’s preaching but if we can see those three accounts together as they are many different perspectives of the witnesses chosen by Jesus and commissioned forth to all the world by him . The picture becomes more clear .
just as if you took twelve people and sepereted them from everyone showed them miracles until they truly believed your message . Each is going to notice and hear dofferent details on a sermon . One like Matthew who often seems to structure what he says regarding and focusing on fulfillment of ot prophecies showing jesus is the Christ promised.
Or one like mark who is right to be he point and seems a steady record with less emphasis upon fulfilment of ot prophecy and more emphasis on jesus teachings about the kingdom of God
Or luke who gives his own account as an early disciple and uses many eye witness accounts of the apostles and disciples themselves focusing on church doctrine and what we are “ most assuredly “ meant to believe .
each offers a unique perspective of many of the same events but also each account has its own details which others don’t mention
two or three witnesses is what god requires to establish a matter but we have many when you look to the ot prophets , and the nt epistles. Regarding the gospel John also gives his accoint but as everyone notes it’s really a very unique perspective from all three of the others we have ….. often focusing on different events and a more intimate and spiritual picture of Jesus and his ministry for used extremely upon Jesus words and thoer importance to the believer ….