Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 24:1

"And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple." — Matthew 24:1 (ASV)

MATTHEW CHAPTER 24

INTRODUCTION: Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple, as he takes his final leave of it, and teaches what were the signs of his coming. These predictions are also recorded in Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:6–38.

And Jesus went out. He was going over to the Mount of Olives, Matthew 24:3.

The buildings of the temple. This refers to the temple itself, with the surrounding courts, porches, and other edifices. See Barnes on Matthew 21:12.

Mark says, that they particularly pointed out the stones of the temple, as well as the buildings. "In that temple," says Josephus, the Jewish historian, "were several stones which were forty-five cubits in length, five in height, and six in breadth;" that is, more than seventy feet long, ten wide, and eight high. These stones, of such enormous size, were principally used in building the high wall on the east side, from the base to the top of the mountain. They were also, it is said, beautifully painted with variegated colors.