Who was Jesus with when He gave the Matthew 24 discourse, and what did they ask Him?
Jesus delivered the Matthew 24 discourse while alone with the twelve. They had asked Him what the signs of His coming would be—what Israel could look for at the appearance of her Messiah. He spoke to the twelve, and His words extended beyond them to the nation of Israel, not to Gentiles.
Les explains that the setting for Matthew 24 is Jesus alone with the twelve. They asked in the early verses what the signs of His coming would be—that is, what can Israel look for at the appearance of her Messiah? Jesus continues through the chapter speaking to the twelve and beyond them to the nation of Israel; this is no Gentile language. At verse 15 He says that when they see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, the reader should understand. Les notes Daniel’s prophecy that in the middle of the week the Antichrist will move into Jerusalem, defile the temple—probably like Antiochus the Syrian—and turn on the children of Israel, bringing the awful last three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation. Then those in Judea are to flee into the mountains.
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?
More Questions
Why did the disciples ask Jesus for a sign in Matthew 24?
The disciples were just asking Jesus for a sign, because 'the Jew requires a sign' as stated in Corinthians.