5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any one mislead you. 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, It is I, and shall mislead many. 7 But when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be not disturbed, for [this] must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be earthquakes in [different] places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these things [are the] beginnings of throes. 9 But ye, take heed to yourselves, for they shall deliver you up to sanhedrims and to synagogues: ye shall be beaten and brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them; 10 and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they shall lead you away to deliver you up, be not careful beforehand as to what ye shall say, [nor prepare your discourse]: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak; for ye are not the speakers, but the Holy Spirit. 12 But brother shall deliver up brother to death, and father child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye will be hated of all on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end, he shall be saved.
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not, (he that reads let him consider [it],) then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains; 15 and him that is upon the housetop not come down into the house, nor enter [into it] to take away anything out of his house; 16 and him that is in the field not return back to take his garment. 17 But woe to those that are with child and to those that give suck in those days! 18 And pray that it may not be in winter time; 19 for those days shall be distress such as there has not been the like since [the] beginning of creation which God created, until now, and never shall be; 20 and if [the] Lord had not cut short those days, no flesh should have been saved; but on account of the elect whom he has chosen, he has cut short those days. 21 And then if any one say to you, Lo, here [is] the Christ, or Lo, there, believe [it] not. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and give signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But do ye take heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
24 But in those days, after that distress, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give its light; 25 and the stars of heaven shall be falling down, and the powers which are in the heavens shall be shaken; 26 and then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory; 27 and then shall he send his angels and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from end of earth to end of heaven.
28 But learn the parable from the fig-tree: when its branch already becomes tender and puts forth the leaves, ye know that the summer is near. 29 Thus also ye, when ye see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall in no wise pass away, till all these things take place. 31 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 13:5-31
Commentary on Mark 13:5-13
(Read Mark 13:5-13)
Our Lord Jesus, in reply to the disciples' question, does not so much satisfy their curiosity as direct their consciences. When many are deceived, we should thereby be awakened to look to ourselves. And the disciples of Christ, if it be not their own fault, may enjoy holy security and peace of mind, when all around is in disorder. But they must take heed that they are not drawn away from Christ and their duty to him, by the sufferings they will meet with for his sake. They shall be hated of all men: trouble enough! Yet the work they were called to should be carried on and prosper. Though they may be crushed and borne down, the gospel cannot be. The salvation promised is more than deliverance from evil, it is everlasting blessedness.
Commentary on Mark 13:14-23
(Read Mark 13:14-23)
The Jews in rebelling against the Romans, and in persecuting the Christians, hastened their own ruin apace. Here we have a prediction of that ruin which came upon them within less than forty years after this. Such destruction and desolation, that the like cannot be found in any history. Promises of power to persevere, and cautions against falling away, well agree with each other. But the more we consider these things, the more we shall see abundant cause to flee without delay for refuge to Christ, and to renounce every earthly object, for the salvation of our souls.
Commentary on Mark 13:24-27
(Read Mark 13:24-27)
The disciples had confounded the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. This mistake Christ set right, and showed that the day of Christ's coming, and the day of judgment, shall be after that tribulation. Here he foretells the final dissolution of the present frame and fabric of the world. Also, the visible appearance of the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds, and the gathering together of all the elect to him.
Commentary on Mark 13:28-37
(Read Mark 13:28-37)
We have the application of this prophetic sermon. As to the destruction of Jerusalem, expect it to come very shortly. As to the end of the world, do not inquire when it will come, for of that day and that hour knoweth no man. Christ, as God, could not be ignorant of anything; but the Divine wisdom which dwelt in our Saviour, communicated itself to his human soul according to the Divine pleasure. As to both, our duty is to watch and pray. Our Lord Jesus, when he ascended on high, left something for all his servants to do. We ought to be always upon our watch, in expectation of his return. This applies to Christ's coming to us at our death, as well as to the general judgment. We know not whether our Master will come in the days of youth, or middle age, or old age; but, as soon as we are born, we begin to die, and therefore we must expect death. Our great care must be, that, whenever our Lord comes, he may not find us secure, indulging in ease and sloth, mindless of our work and duty. He says to all, Watch, that you may be found in peace, without spot, and blameless.