The Gospel of MarkSample

The question we looked at yesterday in verse 4 of Mark is repeated almost exactly the same in Luke’s account of the Olivet Discourse, but Matthew reads slightly differently: “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Matthew adds in the “coming” of Jesus and the “end of the age.” This shows that he is interpreting this event as referring to both the destruction of the Temple, Jesus’ “coming,” and the end of the age.

Remember, Mark is widely regarded as the first gospel and was most probably written just before the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. (take note, this is a very important event for this chapter). Matthew and Luke, on the other hand, were most probably written after this seismic event in Jewish history. They say hindsight is 20/20 and it could be that Matthew and Luke are trying to give extra clarity to Mark’s account as well as applying it to those who were living after this shocking event.

This is why this passage is often referred to as an “End Times” passage, because Matthew and Luke do what many biblical authors have done, they take historic events and see them through the wider lens of God’s kingdom purposes. This is what makes the Bible so unique and applicable, even to us today.