Bible Commentaries

Chapter 13

1. The Destruction of the Temple Predicted. (Mark 13:1-2. Matthew 24:1-2; Luke 21:5-6)

2. The Questions of the Disciples. (Mark 13:3-4. Matthew 24:3; Luke 21:7)

3. The Olivet Discourse. (Mark 13:5-37. Matthew 24:4-42; Luke 21:8-38)

1. The Destruction of the Temple Predicted., Mark 13:1-2

He went out of the temple for the last time, when one of His disciples called attention to the temple buildings. They were of the most massive construction, some of them still in process of erection. He predicted complete destruction, which was fulfilled later in the year 70. The destruction of Jerusalem is more fully foretold in Luke 21:20-24.

2. The Questions of the Disciples., Mark 13:3-4

Mark gives us their names, which are omitted by Matthew and Luke. What follows is the answer.

3. The Olivet Discourse., Mark 13:5-37

Mark’s report is the briefest, Matthew’s the longest. omitted in Mark are the parables, which have special reference to the Christian profession (Matthew 25:1-46) and the judgment of living nations (Matthew 25:31-46). These belong in Matthew, but would be out of keeping with the purpose of the Gospel of Mark. The Service of our Lord, as we have seen, is in the foreground. The three characteristic discourses in Matthew nowhere else reported in full are: 1. The Sermon on the mount, which is the Proclamation of the King. 2. The Parable Discourse in Matthew 13:1-58, the mysteries of the Kingdom. 3. The Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24:1-51; Matthew 25:1-46, the future of the Kingdom. But why should there be anything at all in the Gospel of Mark about the future things, such as the end of the age and His Return in Glory, if only the Servant is described? it will be seen that the predictions are in part at least in view of their service. He forewarned them as His servants of what was to come after His departure.

It is not the purpose of this annotated analysis to give an exposition of this discourse. We must ask the reader to turn to our commentary on Matthew. We give here a subdivision of the discourse as contained in Mark 1:1-45) The characteristics of the present age and the end of the age. Mark 13:5-13. (2 The abomination of desolation or the great tribulation which precedes the Second Coming of Christ. Mark 13:14-23. 3) The visible manifestation of Christ. He will come again in clouds as Son of Man not as an humble Servant but as the King of Glory. The regathering of the elect Israel then takes place. Mark 13:24-27. 4) The Signs of His Coming. The budding fig tree is Israel awakening to new national life. Mark 13:28-33. Note that in Mark 13:32 “neither the Son” is added. This statement of our Lord that even He the Son does not know the hour of His return has been used to deny His Deity. All kinds of theories have been invented to explain it. It is explained by the Lord having taken the place of humiliation as a Servant for “the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth.” This is why the statement appears only in Mark. It does not affect the truth of His Person. 5) The solemn exhortation to watch. It behooves the servants to watch during the absence of the Lord.