Matthew 24:3 (WEB)
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Catechism · 1
“By doing so, he announced a sign of the last days, which were to begin with his own Passover.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 24:3; Lk 13:35.
Fathers and councils · 18
Athanasius of Alexandria
“And the disciples, wishing to learn the time of what was foretold, besought the Lord, ‘Tell us,’ said they, ‘when shall these things be? and what is the sign of Thy coming?’” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 3.
Read the whole comment
Cyril of Jerusalem
“For he saith, Watch, for in such an hour as ye expect not the Son of Man cometh.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 42, 44; Ib. v. 3.
Read the whole comment
Augustine of Hippo
“The Gospel saith this, that in the last times many evils, many stumbling-blocks, many tribulations, much iniquity, shall abound; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 3–13.
Read the whole comment“For they all introduce it in their narratives, and that, too, in the same order.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 3-xxv. 46; Mark xiii. 4–37; Luke xxi. 7–36.
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“Thus also, for example, when His disciples came unto Him as He sat on the Mount of Olives, and sought to learn about His coming, and the taking of Jerusalem:and yet ye know how great is the interval between those several periods.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 3.
Read the whole comment““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?”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 3.
Read the whole comment
Tertullian
“And so, if the manifestation of the Lord’s kingdom pertains unto the will of God and unto our anxious expectation, how do some pray for some protraction of the age, when the kingdom of God, which we pray may arrive, tends unto the consummation of the age?” — editor's note: Or, “world,” sæculi. See Matt. xxiv. 3, especially in the Greek. By “praying for some protraction in the age,” Tertullian appears to refer to some who used to…
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord continuing His walk arrives at Mount Olivet, having by the way foretold the destruction of the temple to those disciples who had shewn and commended the buildings. When they had reached the Mount they came…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
They asked Him in private, because they were great things about which they were going to ask Him. They wished to know the day of His coming, for the vehement desire they had to see His glory.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
They ask Him three things. First, The time of the destruction of Jerusalem, saying, “Tell us when shall these things be?” Secondly, The time of Christ’s coming, saying, “And what shall be the sign of Thy coming?”…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Luke speaks of one enquiry, that concerning Jerusalem, as though the disciples supposed that Christ’s coming should be then, and the end of the world should be when Jerusalem should be destroyed. Whereas Mark does…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
I think Mount Olivet to be a mystery of the Church out of the Gentiles.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
For Mount Olivet has no unfruitful trees, but olives, which supply light to dispel darkness, which give rest to the weary, health to the sick. And sitting on Mount Olivet over against the temple, the Lord discourses…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
For the husbandman dwelling on Mount Olivet is the word of God confirmed in the Church, that is, Christ, who ever grafts the branches of the wild olive on the good olive tree of the Fathers. They who have confidence…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
And because the questions of the disciples are threefold, they are separated by different times and meanings. That concerning the destruction of the city is first answered, and is then confirmed by truth of doctrine,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
His first answer is neither concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, nor concerning His second coming, but concerning the evils which were to be immediately encountered.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
One of them of whom He speaks was Simon of Samaria, of whom we read in the Acts of the Apostles, that he gave himself out to be the great Power, leaving these things written in his works [ed. note: “The followers of…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
They that are deceived are many, because “wide is the gate that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” [Matt 7:13] This one thing is enough to detect the Antichrists and seducers, that they…
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 12
Parallel passages
Matthew 24:3 and Mark 13:4 share the same wording (11 words).
Matthew 24:3 and Luke 21:7 share the same wording (9 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in Catechism §585.
Cited together in Catechism §585.
Cited together in Catechism §585.
Cited together in Catechism §585.
Cited together in Catechism §585.
Cited together in Origen on Matthew 24:3–5 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 24:3–5 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 5.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 5.
Cited together in Origen on Matthew 24:3–5 (3) (Catena Aurea).