Mark 13

1 As Jesus was going out of the temple courtyard, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these huge stones and these beautiful buildings!"

2 Jesus said to him, "Do you see these large buildings? Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down."

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the temple buildings, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

4 "Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will come to an end?"

5 Jesus answered them, "Be careful not to let anyone deceive you.

6 Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he,' and they will deceive many people.

7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don't mean that the end has come.

8 Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These are only the beginning pains [of the end].

9 "Be on your guard! People will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings to testify to them because of me.

10 But first, the Good News must be spread to all nations.

11 When they take you away to hand you over to the authorities, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you to say when the time comes. Indeed, you are not the one who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.

12 "Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them.

13 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

14 "When you see the disgusting thing that will cause destruction standing where it should not (let the reader take note), those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains.

15 Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses.

16 Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.

17 "How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days.

18 Pray that it will not be in winter.

19 It will be a time of misery that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and will certainly never happen again.

20 If the Lord does not reduce that time, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.

21 "At that time don't believe anyone who tells you, 'Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'

22 False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen.

23 Be on your guard! I have told you everything before it happens.

24 "Now, after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light,

25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

26 "Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

27 He will send out his angels, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.

28 "Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know summer is near.

29 In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that he is near, at the door.

30 "I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place.

31 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

32 "No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know. Only the Father knows.

33 Be careful! Watch! You don't know the exact time.

34 It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert.

35 Therefore, be alert, because you don't know when the owner of the house will return. It could be in the evening or at midnight or at dawn or in the morning.

36 Make sure he doesn't come suddenly and find you asleep.

37 I'm telling everyone what I'm telling you: 'Be alert!'"

Mark 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

The destruction of the temple foretold. (1-4) Christ's prophetic declaration. (5-13) Christ's prophecy. (14-23) His prophetic declarations. (24-27) Watchfulness urged. (28-37)

Verses 1-4 See how little Christ values outward pomp, where there is not real purity of heart. He looks with pity upon the ruin of precious souls, and weeps over them, but we do not find him look with pity upon the ruin of a fine house. Let us then be reminded how needful it is for us to have a more lasting abode in heaven, and to be prepared for it by the influences of the Holy Spirit, sought in the earnest use of all the means of grace.

Verses 5-13 Our Lord Jesus, in reply to the disciples' question, does not so much satisfy their curiosity as direct their consciences. When many are deceived, we should thereby be awakened to look to ourselves. And the disciples of Christ, if it be not their own fault, may enjoy holy security and peace of mind, when all around is in disorder. But they must take heed that they are not drawn away from Christ and their duty to him, by the sufferings they will meet with for his sake. They shall be hated of all men: trouble enough! Yet the work they were called to should be carried on and prosper. Though they may be crushed and borne down, the gospel cannot be. The salvation promised is more than deliverance from evil, it is everlasting blessedness.

Verses 14-23 The Jews in rebelling against the Romans, and in persecuting the Christians, hastened their own ruin apace. Here we have a prediction of that ruin which came upon them within less than forty years after this. Such destruction and desolation, that the like cannot be found in any history. Promises of power to persevere, and cautions against falling away, well agree with each other. But the more we consider these things, the more we shall see abundant cause to flee without delay for refuge to Christ, and to renounce every earthly object, for the salvation of our souls.

Verses 24-27 The disciples had confounded the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. This mistake Christ set right, and showed that the day of Christ's coming, and the day of judgment, shall be after that tribulation. Here he foretells the final dissolution of the present frame and fabric of the world. Also, the visible appearance of the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds, and the gathering together of all the elect to him.

Verses 28-37 We have the application of this prophetic sermon. As to the destruction of Jerusalem, expect it to come very shortly. As to the end of the world, do not inquire when it will come, for of that day and that hour knoweth no man. Christ, as God, could not be ignorant of anything; but the Divine wisdom which dwelt in our Saviour, communicated itself to his human soul according to the Divine pleasure. As to both, our duty is to watch and pray. Our Lord Jesus, when he ascended on high, left something for all his servants to do. We ought to be always upon our watch, in expectation of his return. This applies to Christ's coming to us at our death, as well as to the general judgment. We know not whether our Master will come in the days of youth, or middle age, or old age; but, as soon as we are born, we begin to die, and therefore we must expect death. Our great care must be, that, whenever our Lord comes, he may not find us secure, indulging in ease and sloth, mindless of our work and duty. He says to all, Watch, that you may be found in peace, without spot, and blameless.