Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 24:3

"And as he sat on 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?" — Matthew 24:3 (ASV)

The disciples came to him privately — From Mark we learn their names: “Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew.” These were the four in the first of the three groups that made up the Twelve. The position of Andrew as the last is noticeable, as connected with the general pre-eminence of the first three.

The sign of your coming — Literally, of Your presence. The passage is memorable as the first occurrence of the word (παρουσία, parousia), which was so prominent in the teaching of the Epistles (1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; James 5:7; 1 John 2:28, and elsewhere). They had brought themselves to accept the idea of His departure and return, though the time and manner were still hidden from them.

The end of the world — Literally, the end of the age. In the common language of the day, which had passed from the schools of the Rabbis into popular use, “this age” or “this world” meant the time up to the coming of the Messiah.

The “age or world to come” was the glorious time He was to inaugurate (Matthew 13:40; Matthew 19:28; Hebrews 2:5; Hebrews 6:5). The disciples had heard their Lord speak in parables of such a coming, and they naturally connected it in their thoughts with the close of the age or period in which they lived.