As he sat: because a new section begins here, Good News Translation and others (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant) identify he as “Jesus.”

The Mount of Olives (see 21.1) will be mentioned once again in 26.30. Mark (13.3), but not Luke (21.6), also identifies the location as the Mount of Olives.

The disciples (Luke 21.7, “they”) are mentioned by name in Mark: “Peter, James, John, and Andrew” (13.3). That Matthew omits the names in favor of the disciples intimates that Matthew’s most vital concern is with those disciples of his own day.

As elsewhere, came will more naturally be “went” in many languages.

Privately (Good News Translation “in private”) is also found in Mark (13.3), though not in Luke (21.7). The meaning here is that there was no one else around. They were alone with him.

Matthew, even more emphatically than Mark (13.4), divides the response of the disciples into two distinct questions: (1) when will this be, and (2) what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age? The first of the two questions relates to the destruction of Jerusalem, which is an historical event that may be predicted with relative certainty by the observation of other events. It receives an answer in verses 15-28 and 32-35. But the second question concerns a happening that is not one in a series of cause-and-effect events. It speaks of an act of God, a divine intervention into history that comes suddenly and without warning. Therefore it cannot be predicted or determined by anything that takes place in the course of human events. Consequently the time of its occurrence is within the knowledge of God alone (verses 29-31, 36). Therefore the only answer to this question can be: cease all speculation, faithfully perform your tasks as disciples, and be ready at any moment (verses 37-44). Although the disciples may be interested in predicting the events that accompany the end of history, Jesus’ sole concern is that his followers correctly fulfil their role as disciples. That is why he gives them a stern warning accompanied by an exhortation (verses 4-14) before proceeding to answer the two questions.

Since most translators will have put a section heading at the beginning of this verse, it may not be clear that when will this be refers to Jesus’ statement about the destruction of the Temple. Barclay has “these events,” but some translators will have to be even more specific, with a question like “When will the Temple be destroyed?”

Good News Translation has expressed sign with “what will happen to show.”

Among the Gospel writers only Matthew uses the noun coming of Jesus’ coming into power and glory, and in his Gospel it is confined to this chapter (verses 3, 27, 37, 39). In the world of the New Testament, the Greek noun for coming was a technical term used of official visits by royalty, and it literally meant “presence” or “appearance.” For Paul and writers of other New Testament letters, the noun is used specifically of Jesus’ coming in glory (1 Cor 15.23; 1 Thes 2.19; 3.13; 4.15; 5.23; 2 Thes 2.1, 8, 9; James 5.7, 8; 2 Peter 1.16; 3.4, 12; 1 John 2.28). To translate your coming as “your return” (Living Bible) is to transgress the boundaries of valid translation; whereas the Greek word connotes a glorious or victorious manifestation (not necessarily on earth!), the English word “return” conveys a totally different picture.

To retain coming does pose a problem for translators in languages where an event is not normally expressed as a noun. They can use a sentence such as “What things will happen to show that it is time for you to come” or “… that now you will come.” In some languages “appear” is used.

Jesus’ coming or appearance will mark the close of the age, or the end of history as we know it. It means much more, therefore, than the destruction of the world. If it means nothing to say “the end of this age” (the most common translation) or “the end of history,” translators may say “the end of time” or “the end of the world” (but not “the destruction of the world”).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .