[Q]uite apart from differences that could be explained as simply different perspectives on the same event—e.g. “the Abomination that causes Desolation standing in the Holy Place” vs. “Jerusalem surrounded by armies” as the sign that should lead the faithful to flee to the mountains—there are a number of details that demonstrate that while certainly intended as parallels, these are actually two separate speeches given at separate times with slightly different subjects. They were given in different places, the Olivet Discourse being given on the Mount of Olives for which it is named, while Luke’s version was apparently given in the Temple a few days earlier.1 They are given at different times, with the Olivet Discourse in Mark and Matthew being given after Yeshua had departed the Temple for the final time while in Luke, Yeshua continued preaching in the Temple afterwards for several days.2
Indeed, even in terms of the timeline of events that they present, the two have distinct differences. For example, the persecutions in Matthew come after the “birth-pang” signs, i.e. “all this is but the beginning of the ‘birthpains.’ At that time you will be arrested and handed over to be punished and put to death . . .” Contrast this with the parallel passage in Luke, where the persecutions precede the “birth-pang” signs: “But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you . . .”3
Nothing in Scripture is placed there by accident. These subtle but very distinctive differences indicate that we should treat these discourses separately, and it is Luke’s that answers the question, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will these events (the destruction of the Temple) take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?” The question of when Yeshua would return is not asked at all, as He had not yet announced His departure.
It is in Matthew (and by extension, Mark) that the question at the heart of the book of Revelation is asked: “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the End of the Age?” Yeshua’s answer continues.
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Differences between the Temple and Olivet Discourses |
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Luke's Temple Discourse (Lk. 21) |
The Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24-25, Mk. 13) |
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Where |
In the Temple (Lk. 21:7 and 37) |
On the Mt. of Olives (Mt. 24:3) |
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When |
Before going to the Mt. of Olives (Lk. 21:37) |
After departing the Temple for the final time (Mt. 23:38-39) |
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The Question |
"Master, but when shall these things (the destruction of the Temple) be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?" (Lk. 21:7) |
"Tell us, when shall these things (the destruction of the Temple) be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Mt. 24:3) |
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When will the persecution happen? |
"But before all these (birth pang signs), 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." (Lk. 21:12) |
"Then (after the birth pang signs) 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." (Mt. 24:9) |
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The Sign to Flee |
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." (Lk. 21:20) |
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place . . . ." (Mt. 24:15) |
1 Mt. 24:3 and Lk. 21:5-7
2 Mt. 23:39 and Lk. 21:37
Lu 21:1 And having looked up, he saw those who did cast their gifts to the treasury -- rich men, 2 and he saw also a certain poor widow casting there two mites, 3 and he said, `Truly I say to you, that this poor widow did cast in more than all; 4 for all these out of their superabundance did cast into the gifts to God, but this one out of her want, all the living that she had, did cast in.'5 And certain saying about the temple, that with goodly stones and devoted things it hath been adorned, he said, 6 `These things that ye behold -- days will come, in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down.' 7 And they questioned him, saying, `Teacher, when, then, shall these things be? and what [is] the sign when these things may be about to happen?'
The widow's mite story comes before this. It begins and it ends. It is a pericope entire unto itself.
This passage only says that "some were saying about the temple." The end of the passage says that he spent daytimes in the temple and nighttimes at Olivet.
The Matthew passage has an interesting twist:
1 And having gone forth, Jesus departed from the temple, and his disciples came near to show him the buildings of the temple, 2 and Jesus said to them, `Do ye not see all these? verily I say to you, There may not be left here a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down.' 3 And when he is sitting on the mount of the Olives, the disciples came near to him by himself, saying, `Tell us, when shall these be? and what [is] the sign of thy presence, and of the full end of the age?'
The disciples come near to him to SHOW him the buildings of the temple. In other words, they were leaving the temple, but STILL there when Jesus pronounces the "not one stone left upon another" prediction.
Jesus takes up the subject AGAIN when they are at Olivet and the disciples question him.
Therefore, it is appears that having split times and locations in one story is not just possible, but actual. If it is possible to have a time gap in Matthew, then it is possible to have one in Luke.
This would appear to be one of the most important prophetic keys to be gleaned from the gospels.