Markchapter 13

A.Wars and Rumors: the Beginning of Birth Pangsvv. 1-13

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

B.Flee to the Mountains: Days of Tribulationvv. 14-23

14 So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. 16 And let no one in the field return for his cloak. 17 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not occur in the winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.

C.The Son of Man Coming in Cloudsvv. 24-31

24 But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 26 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

D.Watch: You Do Not Know the Hourvv. 32-37

32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

← Back: Mark 12 Continue: Mark 14 →

Chapter summary

Olivet Discourse.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴

Olivet Discourse. The temple's coming fall; birth pangs. False Christs, wars, persecutions, the gospel to all nations. Abomination of desolation; great tribulation; the elect gathered from the four winds. 'Of that day and that hour knoweth no man.' The fig-tree parable of nearness. Watch, watch, watch.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Mark — Mark overview

A. 1–13 Wars and Rumors: the Beginning of Birth Pangs
B. 14–23 Flee to the Mountains: Days of Tribulation
C. 24–31 The Son of Man Coming in Clouds
D. 32–37 Watch: You Do Not Know the Hour

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Matthew 2420 verses
- Matthew 24:1As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings.
- Matthew 24:2“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
- Matthew 24:3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
- Matthew 24:5For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
- Matthew 24:6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
- Matthew 24:8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
- Read Matthew 24: 14 more there →
Luke 216 verses
- Luke 21:6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
- Luke 21:8Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
- Luke 21:9When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”
- Luke 21:14So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- Luke 21:29Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
- Luke 21:32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
- Read Luke 21 →
Mark 135 verses
- Mark 13:5Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you.
- Mark 13:6Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
- Mark 13:22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
- Mark 13:33Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
- Mark 13:35Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
- Read Mark 13 →
Luke 125 verses
- Luke 12:11When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
- Luke 12:36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
- Luke 12:40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
- Luke 12:41“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”
- Luke 12:52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
- Read Luke 12 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Matthew 104 verses
- Matthew 10:17But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
- Matthew 10:19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
- Matthew 10:21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
- Matthew 10:22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Read Matthew 10 →
Daniel 123 verses
- Daniel 12:1“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
- Daniel 12:6One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”
- Daniel 12:11And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.
- Read Daniel 12 →
Acts 12 verses
- Acts 1:6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
- Acts 1:7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
- Read Acts 1 →
Colossians 12 verses
- Colossians 1:6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
- Colossians 1:23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
- Read Colossians 1 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.