Mark 13

The temple’s fate

1 As Jesus left the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look! What awesome stones and buildings!"

2 Jesus responded, " Do you see these enormous buildings? Not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished."

3 Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

4 "Tell us, when will these things happen? What sign will show that all these things are about to come to an end?"

Keep watch!

5 Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you.

6 Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I'm the one!' They will deceive many people.

7 When you hear of wars and reports of wars, don't be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn't the end yet.

8 Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be earthquakes and famines in all sorts of places. These things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end.

9 “Watch out for yourselves. People will hand you over to the councils. You will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me so that you can testify before them.

10 First, the good news must be proclaimed to all the nations.

11 When they haul you in and hand you over, don't worry ahead of time about what to answer or say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that moment, for you aren't doing the speaking but the Holy Spirit is.

12 Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to death. A father will turn in his children. Children will rise up against their parents and have them executed.

13 Everyone will hate you because of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved.

14 “When you see the disgusting and destructive thing standing where it shouldn't be (the reader should understand this), then those in Judea must escape to the mountains.

15 Those on the roof shouldn't come down or enter their houses to grab anything.

16 Those in the field shouldn't come back to grab their clothes.

17 How terrible it will be at that time for women who are pregnant and for women who are nursing their children.

18 Pray that it doesn't happen in winter.

19 In those days there will be great suffering such as the world has never before seen and will never again see.

20 If the Lord hadn't shortened that time, no one would be rescued. But for the sake of the chosen ones, the ones whom God chose, he has cut short the time.

21 “Then if someone says to you, ‘Look, here's the Christ,' or ‘There he is,' don't believe it.

22 False christs and false prophets will appear, and they will offer signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen.

23 But you, watch out! I've told you everything ahead of time.

24 “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won't give its light.

25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken.

26 Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor.

27 Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.

A lesson from the fig tree

28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he's near, at the door.

30 I assure you that this generation won't pass away until all these things happen.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.

32 " But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows.

33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don't know when the time is coming.

34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert.

35 Therefore, stay alert! You don't know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak.

36 Don't let him show up when you weren't expecting and find you sleeping.

37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Son of Man