Mark 13 (KJV)

Mark 13:1–13

The coming destruction of the temple

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Leaving the temple, a disciple admires its huge stones, and Jesus predicts that not one will be left on another. On the Mount of Olives four disciples ask when this will happen. Jesus warns them of deceivers, wars, earthquakes and famines — only 'the beginnings of sorrows' — and of coming persecution, betrayal by family and hatred for his sake.

What does this mean?

'Sorrows' (KJV) translates a word for labour pains, a Jewish image for the suffering expected before God's new age. 'Councils' are local Jewish courts. 'Take no thought beforehand' (KJV) means do not worry in advance.

Historical context

Herod the Great's rebuilding of the temple, begun around 20 BCE, made it one of the most impressive buildings in the Roman world, with some stones many metres long. Roman forces destroyed it in 70 CE at the end of a Jewish revolt. Scholars debate whether Mark was written shortly before or shortly after that event.

Why does it matter?

Chapter 13 is Jesus' longest speech in Mark, often called the 'Little Apocalypse'. It addresses both the temple's fall and the end of the age, and interpreters differ on how the two relate. The predicted trials before councils and governors mirror what happens to Jesus in chapters 14–15.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Mark 13:14–23

The abomination of desolation

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Jesus tells his hearers that when they see 'the abomination of desolation' standing where it should not, those in Judea must flee to the mountains at once, for suffering beyond anything before will follow. He warns them not to believe false messiahs and prophets who perform signs.

What does this mean?

'The abomination of desolation' is a phrase from Daniel (9:27; 11:31; 12:11) for a sacrilege that defiles the temple and leaves it desolate. 'Let him that readeth understand' is an aside to the reader. 'Give suck' means nurse infants. 'The elect' are God's chosen people.

Historical context

Daniel's phrase originally referred to the pagan altar set up in the temple in 167 BCE by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV (1 Maccabees 1:54). Interpreters differ on what Mark's readers would have linked it with — the emperor Caligula's attempt in 40 CE to have his statue placed in the temple, events of the Jewish revolt of 66–70 CE, or a future figure of the end time.

Why does it matter?

The aside to 'the reader' suggests Mark expected readers to recognise something from their own situation. The warning about false messiahs echoes 13:5–6; according to Josephus, several leaders during the revolt claimed royal or prophetic authority.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Mark 13:24–27

The coming of the Son of Man

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Jesus says that after that suffering the sun and moon will be darkened and stars will fall, and people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, sending his angels to gather his chosen ones from every direction.

What does this mean?

'Tribulation' (KJV) means distress or suffering. 'The four winds' means all directions — the whole earth. 'The elect' are God's chosen people.

Historical context

The darkened sun and falling stars come from the Jewish prophets (Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10), where they describe God's judgment on nations. The Son of Man coming with clouds draws on Daniel 7:13–14.

Why does it matter?

Interpreters differ on whether this cosmic language describes the end of history and Jesus' return, as Christians have traditionally understood it, or is symbolic language for events such as the temple's destruction, as some scholars argue. Jesus uses the same imagery from Daniel before the high priest (14:62).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Mark 13:28–37

Learn from the fig tree; stay awake

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Jesus points to the fig tree, whose new leaves show that summer is near: so too, when these things happen, the end is near. This generation will not pass away before all is done, yet no one knows the day or hour — not the angels, not the Son, only the Father. Like servants whose master is away, his followers must keep watch.

What does this mean?

The 'porter' (KJV) is the doorkeeper. 'Even', 'midnight', 'cockcrowing' and 'morning' name the four watches of the night in Roman reckoning. 'Watch' means stay awake and alert.

Historical context

Unlike most trees of the region, which are evergreen, the fig loses its leaves in winter, so new leaves are a clear sign of coming summer.

Why does it matter?

'This generation' has been read as Jesus' contemporaries, the Jewish people, or humankind; interpreters differ, partly depending on whether 'these things' means the temple's fall. The statement that even the Son does not know the hour has been much discussed in Christian theology. Many scholars note that the four watches anticipate the night of Jesus' arrest — the evening meal, Gethsemane, the cockcrow of Peter's denial and the morning trial — when his disciples fail to stay awake.

Editorial notes, not scripture.