The Olivet Discourse - A Comparison of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21

The passages known as the Olivet discourse contain prophecies that Jesus made about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and about the end of the age and his own return.

Many people think that these three passages are completely equivalent, but a close look at them side by side shows that this is not the case. Matthew's and Mark's main focus is the events of the end of the age; they never actually deal with the destruction of the temple. Luke also speaks of the end of the age, but he deals specifically with the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.

I begin with a summary comparison and some comments:

Matt 21:1; Mark 13:1; Luke 21:5 Jesus' disciples remark on the magnificence of the temple
Matt 21:2; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6 Jesus prophesies the complete destruction of the temple
Matt 21:3; Mark 13:4
The disciples ask,

When shall these things be?
What shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?


Luke 21:7
The disciples ask,

When shall these things be?
What sign when these things shall come to pass?


In Luke, they do not ask about the end of the world, although Jesus does answer about that too. Did they assume that the destruction of the city and the end of the world went together? Daniel 9:26-27 might cause them to think so.

Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12-19
Jesus tells of persecution that the disciples are going to experience before the events listed in Luke 21:8-11. It is to be noted that this and the next section are an interpolation in the prophecy of the end of the age (which the disciples did not ask about in Luke) and v 8 starts with “But before all these” to indicate that that is the case.

Luke 21:20-24
Jesus tells of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and he answers the second of their questions by giving them the sign of the enemy armies' surrounding Jerusalem. I think this is still before the events of vv 8-11. The Christians of Jerusalem heeded this warning and escaped to Pella after Cestus Gallus temporarily abandoned his siege in order to secure his supply lines. He was killed by a Jewish attack on his way back to Caesarea. The Christians took heed of the sign and decamped. Eusebius says they received a divine revelation to do so. In 68 Vespasian took over the campaign and renewed the siege.

Matt 24:4-8; Mark 13:5-8; Luke 21:8-11
Continuing to answer the disciples' questions about the end of the age, Jesus warns of things that are to come after the immediate persecution and the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 24:12-24):

Deception and false Christs — deception began after Paul's death (Acts 20:29) which took place in 68 or 69; the first false Messiah was Bar Kochba, whose rebellion was put down in 140.
Wars and rumours of wars and commotions — pretty well constant since then
Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom — a prophecy of the world wars
famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places — e.g., the Black Death, the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919, AIDS, famines such as those engineered by Stalin and Mao Tse Tung, which killed millions, earthquakes such as Lisbon, San Francisco, the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, Haiti, and many more

1 and 3 at least did not happen before the destruction of Jerusalem.


Matt 24:9-14; Mark 13:10-13
Then (that is, after, or at the same time as, or as an intensification of, the events just prophesied) there will be worldwide persecution, a breakdown in society, false prophets; at the same time the gospel will be preached to all nations and those who endure will be saved; and then the end will come.
The gospel is not necessarily preached to all nations by men, since Revelation tells of an angel proclaiming it to the world. – Rev 14:6-7

Matt 24:15-20; Mark 13:14-18
Jesus answers the question, “What shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?” The sign will be the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. Note that this is not the same sign as that given in Luke 21:20. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel was first fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a sow on the altar in the temple. If Jesus had not spoken of this as still to come, we would have taken that as the final fulfilment; the future fulfilment must be of the same kind, and is not satisfied by the mere destruction of the temple. Note also that, if the destruction of the temple were the sign to flee in 70 AD, it would come far too late. By the time the temple was destroyed, the city had already fallen and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were all being slaughtered or enslaved.

Jesus gives a warning to flee immediately the sign is seen. Woe to those who are encumbered by pregnancy or having nursing infants; they should also pray that their flight not be in winter or on the Sabbath. The latter indicates a Jewish target audience for the prophecy.

Matt 24:21-28; Mark 13:19-23
Jesus warns of the great tribulation, greater than any other in all history. So the fall of Jerusalem does not qualify, since “only” 1.1 million Jews were killed. The Nazi holocaust swallowed up 6 million, and if non-Jewish events are included, 20^th century dictators destroyed more than 50 million people. This will be worse yet.

Jesus warns of false Christs and prophets and deceptive signs and wonders and gives a warning not to go off after anyone who says that Jesus has already come, because his coming will be evident to all the world, like a flash of lightning that lights up the whole sky.

Matt 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-26
Signs in the heavens: darkening of sun and moon; worldwide fear [Luke]

Matt 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27
Return of Jesus, coming in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory
which makes nonsense of any idea that he returned “spiritually” in 70 AD. In relation to that, the angels declared (Acts 1:11) that Jesus would return in the same way as he had just departed, that is, fully visibly and coming with the clouds.

Matt 24:31; Mark 13:27
Angels sent to gather the elect from the four winds — all across the earth — and from heaven — from one end of heaven to the other


Luke 21:28
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." This appears to refer to vv 8-11 and 25-26.

Matt 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33
Parable of the fig tree: when the leaves appear you know that summer is coming – when these events begin to happen we will know that redemption is coming.

“This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” All of preterism hangs on this one verse. But which generation is meant? Also “generation” could be translated as people or race – meaning Israel.

Matt 24:36; Mark 13:32
No one knows the day or the hour, except the Father.
Matt 24:37-44; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36
Warning of the suddenness and unexpectedness of the end, and a charge to be always ready.
How can this be reconciled with the prophesied disasters we have just read of and that appear from Daniel and Revelation to last for 7 years? How can anyone be taken by surprise “as in the days of Noah”? The rapture of the church as the very start of these events is the obvious answer. In the same way, the siege of Jerusalem does not qualify as a sudden event. The Jews actually rebelled against Rome in 66AD. Vespasian began a campaign to subdue them and then withdrew in order to make his claim to the empire. Once that was attained, he sent his son Titus to resume the campaign. This sequence of events cannot possibly match the prophecies of Jesus' coming "as a thief" or of everyone's being surprised in the course of their normal lives as when the flood suddenly came on the earth.

Tabulation of the three passages

Here, the three passages are set out side by side to demonstrate the similarities and the diferences.

Matthew 24	Mark 13	Luke 21
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.	1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!	5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.	2 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.	6 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.
3 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?	3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?	7 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 events of verses 12-24 go here in temporal sequence.
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.	5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.	8 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.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.	7 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.	9 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.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.	8 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.	10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom : 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
	9 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.	12 But before all these vv 8-11, 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. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 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. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
		20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 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. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.	10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 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. 12 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. 13 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.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:	14 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: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.	19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.	Luke 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:	24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.	25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.	26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.	27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.	27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
		28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.	28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.	29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.	32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.	33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.	Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.