Mark 13 (WEB)

Mark 13:1–13

The coming destruction of the temple

As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!”

Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.”

As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”

Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

“But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will 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 you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

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 oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

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 from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.

“It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping. What I tell you, I tell 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.