Comparing Matt. 24 And Luke 21

Q. I’ve been studying Mathew 24:1-30 and Luke 21:7-28 concerning the last days. Both seem to be giving unique information about the same event. So I have tried to outline verse by verse from both Luke 21 and Mathew 24 attempting to insert each verse like a puzzle to see if I learn something new when the two accounts are joined up and read all at once in order of sequence, yet I’m having trouble making the two accounts fit together.

If I use Luke 21:6 and Mathew 24:2 as my beginning verse and then begin inserting the different information from each subsequent verse in order of their occurrence, I don’t come up with the same story.

Is it possible to outline the two accounts and make them fit together like an event time line?

A. In Matt. 24: 3 the disciples asked Jesus 3 questions. “When will this happen?”, referring to the Temple’s destruction, “What will be the sign of your coming?”, referring to the 2nd Coming, “And of the End of the Age?” referring to the events leading up to the Kingdom Age.

In Matthew’s account there’s no answer to the first question, only to the last two. Luke began his account the same way as Matthew and Luke 21:8-11 concern the End of the Age. But in verses 12-24, he stopped to answer the first question, so that portion of Luke’s account deals with things leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Then in verses 25-35 He continued with his prophecy about the end of the Age, inserting a final warning to the disciples again in verse 36.

Once you understand these differences you’ll find they fit together quite well.