Mark 13

1 et cum egrederetur de templo ait illi unus ex discipulis suis magister aspice quales lapides et quales structurae

2 et respondens Iesus ait illi vides has omnes magnas aedificationes non relinquetur lapis super lapidem qui non destruatur

3 et cum sederet in montem Olivarum contra templum interrogabant eum separatim Petrus et Iacobus et Iohannes et Andreas

4 dic nobis quando ista fient et quod signum erit quando haec omnia incipient consummari

5 et respondens Iesus coepit dicere illis videte ne quis vos seducat

6 multi enim venient in nomine meo dicentes quia ego sum et multos seducent

7 cum audieritis autem bella et opiniones bellorum ne timueritis oportet enim fieri sed nondum finis

8 exsurget autem gens super gentem et regnum super regnum et erunt terraemotus per loca et fames initium dolorum haec

9 videte autem vosmet ipsos tradent enim vos conciliis et in synagogis vapulabitis et ante praesides et reges stabitis propter me in testimonium illis

10 et in omnes gentes primum oportet praedicari evangelium

11 et cum duxerint vos tradentes nolite praecogitare quid loquamini sed quod datum vobis fuerit in illa hora id loquimini non enim estis vos loquentes sed Spiritus Sanctus

12 tradet autem frater fratrem in mortem et pater filium et consurgent filii in parentes et morte adficient eos

13 et eritis odio omnibus propter nomen meum qui autem sustinuerit in finem hic salvus erit

14 cum autem videritis abominationem desolationis stantem ubi non debet qui legit intellegat tunc qui in Iudaea sunt fugiant in montes

15 et qui super tectum ne descendat in domum nec introeat ut tollat quid de domo sua

16 et qui in agro erit non revertatur retro tollere vestimentum suum

17 vae autem praegnatibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus

18 orate vero ut hieme non fiant

19 erunt enim dies illi tribulationes tales quales non fuerunt ab initio creaturae quam condidit Deus usque nunc neque fient

20 et nisi breviasset Dominus dies non fuisset salva omnis caro sed propter electos quos elegit breviavit dies

21 et tunc si quis vobis dixerit ecce hic est Christus ecce illic ne credideritis

22 exsurgent enim pseudochristi et pseudoprophetae et dabunt signa et portenta ad seducendos si potest fieri etiam electos

23 vos ergo videte ecce praedixi vobis omnia

24 sed in illis diebus post tribulationem illam sol contenebrabitur et luna non dabit splendorem suum

25 et erunt stellae caeli decidentes et virtutes quae sunt in caelis movebuntur

26 et tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus cum virtute multa et gloria

27 et tunc mittet angelos suos et congregabit electos suos a quattuor ventis a summo terrae usque ad summum caeli

28 a ficu autem discite parabolam cum iam ramus eius tener fuerit et nata fuerint folia cognoscitis quia in proximo sit aestas

29 sic et vos cum videritis haec fieri scitote quod in proximo sit in ostiis

30 amen dico vobis quoniam non transiet generatio haec donec omnia ista fiant

31 caelum et terra transibunt verba autem mea non transibunt

32 de die autem illo vel hora nemo scit neque angeli in caelo neque Filius nisi Pater

33 videte vigilate et orate nescitis enim quando tempus sit

34 sicut homo qui peregre profectus reliquit domum suam et dedit servis suis potestatem cuiusque operis et ianitori praecipiat ut vigilet

35 vigilate ergo nescitis enim quando dominus domus veniat sero an media nocte an galli cantu an mane

36 ne cum venerit repente inveniat vos dormientes

37 quod autem vobis dico omnibus dico vigilate

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.