The Olivet Discourse is a conversation Jesus had with his disciples shortly before his crucifixion. As they sat on the Mount of Olives looking across at the temple, Jesus explained many things about the coming destruction of the temple. While Matthew provides the fullest account, this teaching is found in all three synoptic gospels.
| Topic | Matthew | Mark | Luke |
| Widow’s gift | . | . | Luke 21:1-4 |
| Destruction of the temple | Matthew 24:1-2 | Mark 13:1-2 | Luke 21:5-6 |
| Disciples ask when the end will come | Matthew 24:3 | Mark 13:3-4 | Luke 21:7 |
| Warnings against false claims of Jesus’ return | Matthew 24:4-5 | Mark 13:5-6 | Luke 21:8 |
| End is a long way off | Matthew 24:6-8 | Mark 13:7-8 | Luke 21:9-11 |
| Time of persecution | Matthew 24:9-14 | Mark 13:9-13 | Luke 21:12-19 |
| Signs of temple’s destruction | Matthew 24:15-20 | Mark 13:14-18 | Luke 21:20-24 |
| Tribulation following temple’s destruction | Matthew 24:21-22 | Mark 13:19-20 | Luke 21:24 |
| Warning about false Messiahs | Matthew 24:23-28 | Mark 13:21-23 | (Luke 17:22-25) |
| Signs of the end | Matthew 24:29-31 | Mark 13:24-27 | Luke 21:25-28 |
| Parable of the Fig Tree | Matthew 24:32-33 | Mark 13:28-29 | Luke 21:29-31 |
| Certainty | Matthew 24:34-35 | Mark 13:30-31 | Luke 21:32-33 |
| Surprise day of judgment | Matthew 24:36-41 | Mark 13:32 | (Luke 17:26-37) |
| Therefore be alert | Matthew 24:42-44 | Mark 13:33 | Luke 21:34-36 |
| Parable of the servants | Matthew 24:45-51 | Mark 13:34-37 | . |
| Various parables | Matthew 25:1-46 | . | . |
Resources
Got-Questions: What is the Olivet Discourse?
The Last Days According to Jesus by RC Sproul (book)
The Last Days According to Jesus (Videos)
John MacArthur – The Signs of Christ’s Coming (1984)
What on Earth’s Going to Happen – Ray Stedman (1970)
Olivet Discourse – Jack Crabtree & Earle Craig (2018)
Photo by Nazar Hrabovyi on Unsplash
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