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* [13:1–2] The reconstructed temple with its precincts, begun under Herod the Great ca. 20 B.C., was completed only some seven years before it was destroyed by re in A.D. 70 at the hands of the Romans; cf. Jer 26:18; Mt 24:1–2. For the dating of the reconstruction of the temple, see further the note on Jn 2:20.
* [13:3–37] Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple (Mk 13:2) provoked questions that the four named disciples put to him in private regarding the time and the sign when all these things are about to come to an end (Mk 13:3–4). The response to their questions was Jesus’ eschatological discourse prior to his imminent death. It contained instruction and consolation exhorting the disciples and the church to faith and obedience through the trials that would confront them (Mk 13:5–13). The sign is the presence of the desolating abomination (Mk 13:14; see Dn 9:27), i.e., of the Roman power profaning the temple. Flight from Jerusalem is urged rather than defense of the city through misguided messianic hope (Mk 13:14–23). Intervention will occur only after destruction (Mk 13:24–27), which will happen before the end of the rst Christian generation (Mk 13:28–31). No one but the Father knows the precise time, or that of the parousia (Mk 13:32); hence the necessity of constant vigilance (Mk 13:33–37). Luke sets the parousia at a later date, after “the time of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). See also notes on Mt 24:1–25:46.
* [13:10] The gospel. to all nations: the period of the Christian mission.
* [13:14] The participle standing is masculine, in contrast to the neuter at Mt 24:15.
* [13:26] Son of Man.with great power and glory: Jesus cites this text from Dn 7:13 in
his response to the high priest, Are you the Messiah? (Mk 14:61). In Ex 34:5; Lv 16:2; and Nm 11:25 the clouds indicate the presence of the divinity. Thus in his role of Son of Man, Jesus is a heavenly being who will come in power and glory.
a. [13:1–2] Mt 24:1–2; Lk 21:5–6.
b. [13:3–8] Mt 24:3–8; Lk 21:7–11.
c. [13:5] Eph 5:6; 2 Thes 2:3.
d. [13:9–13] Mt 24:9–14; Lk 21:12–19.
e. [13:11–12] Mt 10:19–22; Lk 12:11–12. f. [13:14–23] Mt 24:15–22; Lk 21:20–24. g. [13:14] Dn 9:27; Mt 24:15.
h. [13:15] Lk 17:31.
i. [13:19] Dn 12:1.
j. [13:24–27] Mt 24:29–31; Lk 21:25–27. k. [13:24] Is 13:10; Ez 32:7; Jl 2:10.
l. [13:26] 14:62; Dn 7:13–14.
m. [13:28–32] Mt 24:32–36; Lk 21:29–33. n. [13:33–37] Mt 24:42; 25:13–15.
o. [13:34] Mt 25:14–30; Lk 19:12–27.
the days. 21If anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!’ do
not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect. 23Be watchful! I have told it all to you beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man. 24j “But in those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,k
25and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26* l And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, 27and then he will send out the angels and gather [his] elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree. 28m “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 30Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Need for Watchfulness. 32“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33n Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.o 35Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. 36May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
A contemporary stained- glass from a Church in Alsace, France
13:24
The end times will be dark times, with the sun and moon giving no light, and the stars falling from the sky. It will be a time of spiritual confusion as well, for there will be many “false messiahs and false prophets” (13:22) who will try to mislead people. But God’s mercy
will make this time of “tribulation” short (13:19).
13:28
The vivid picture of the su erings that lie ahead ends with images of hope: a g tree bearing new growth as summer approaches; a traveler returning home.
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Angel by Ulrich Henn
Before the end times come, the followers of Christ have a task to complete: “The gospel must rst be preached to all nations” (13:10).
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