Mark 13

Mark 13:2

See note [a] on Matt. xxiv. ² when shall this utter destruction of the temple be, and consequently of the Jewish nation, and what prognostics or forerunners of it shall be observable? (see notes [b] [c] on Matt. xxiv.)

Mark 13:4

[a] all these] That the ταῦτα and the ταῦτα πάντα here, these things and all these things, signify that which had been by this evangelist mentioned in the words immediately precedent, there is no question. And consequently that thereby is signified the destruction of the temple, and what was implied and contained in that, the city and nation of the Jews, their whole government, civil and ecclesiastical. Which being the words in which St. Mark expresses that which St. Matthew expresses in other words, (here, What shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? there, Τί τὸ σημεῖον τῆς παρουσίας σου, καὶ τῆς συντελείας τοὺς αἰῶνος; What is the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the age? it irrefragably follows from hence (what hath been insisted on at large in the annotations on Matt. xxiv. [b] [c]) that the coming of Christ and consummation of the age signifies the destruction of the Jewish temple and nation; of which only, and not of the day of last judgment, the signs are here demanded by the disciples, and given by Christ, which I here add ex abundanti for the removing all scruple in this matter. To the same purpose it is again observable, that though here, at the beginning, St. Mark do not at all use the phrase of Christ’s coming in this manner, yet ver. 26, instead of that which is in another phrase in St. Matthew, ch. xxiv. 30, then shall appear, or be seen, the sign of the Son of man in heaven, this signal punishment and revenge on the crucifiers from Christ now reigning in heaven he hath these plain words, Then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:5

And Jesus answered them, The forerunners that you are most concerned to know are the great dangers that ye shall be in if ye be not very wary of being seduced and drawn off from the truth.

Mark 13:6

For before that time many false prophets and false Christs pretending to deliver the nation from the Roman subjection shall appear among you, and draw many followers after them. ¹ out of her penury, ἐκ τῆς. ² plucked usunder, καταλυθῇ.

Mark 13:8

For there shall be civil wars among you (see note [e] on Matt. xxiv.) and earthquakes in several parts of your country, and famines and tumults: these are as the first grudging of those great pangs of travail which shall after some time come suddenly upon your nation. ⁶ to the great consistory in Jerusalem, and the lesser in other cities, where you shall be scourged and delivered to the Roman powers, that they may put you to death, (because the Jews cannot,) and this shall be a means of making known to them the Christian religion (as it was in St. Peter and Paul).

Mark 13:10

But before this destruction come on the Jews the disciples shall have preached through all the cities of Jewry, and from them depart to the Gentiles. ⁶ carry you before those tribunals, be not solicitous beforehand (see Matt. x. 19.) what answers or pleas to make, for at that time ye shall be by the Spirit of God extraordinarily instructed what apologies or answers to make; and what shall then come into your hearts, remember it is an effect of this special promise of mine, and so to be looked on by you as the dictate of God’s Spirit, and not as any invention of your own, and so without fear or diffidence to be delivered by you.

Mark 13:12

And these prosecutions and bringing you before tribunals ye must look for from those that are nearest to you, from Jews of your closest alliances.

Mark 13:13

And indeed from all sorts of men the true Christian professors must look for very sharp opposition; all which must not be matter of discouragement to you; for it will be so ordered by the providence of God, that the adhering constantly to Christ will be of all other things the most probable way to deliver you from the present dangers that shall overwhelm the unbelievers and apostates, and the only sure way of

Mark 13:19

For they shall be days of most heavy affliction and pressure, such as never were and never shall be paralleled in any time.

f such fury of the zealots, such intestine tumults and horrid cruelties, and such foreign close sieges from the Romans, and from thence miserable famines and plagues, that it will be imputable as an especial act of God’s overruling providence if there be one Jew left undestroyed. But it is foretold by the prophets that a few shall escape, and that all the Jews should not be utterly cut off (see Matt. xxiv. 22, and note [k]); and for the fulfilling that prophecy care shall be taken for the preserving of some, those especially who shall adhere constantly to the obedience and faith of Christ.

Mark 13:21

And so ye are nearly concerned to be careful that ye run not out after any deceivers.

Mark 13:24

Matt. xxiv. 29. the hosts of heaven, see Matt. xxiv. 29, shall be shaken— See note [a], and on Matt. xxiv. 6, and note [o] on Matt. xxiv. 30, and Matt. xxvi. 64, and præmon. to Revel. ‘from one end of the world to another. See Matt. xxiv. 31.

Mark 13:29

The like judgment may ye make by these signs and prognostics to discern when this vengeance comes near.

Mark 13:30

To which I farther add, that it shall be within the lifetime of some now living and here present, within thirty or forty years: this is sufficient warning for you and answer to your question, ver. 4.

Mark 13:31

(And do not ye doubt of the truth of it, for it is irreversibly set.) the branch thereof is now become soft, and the leaves sprout forth, αὐτῆς ἤδη ὁ κλάδος ἄκαλός γένηται, καὶ ἐκφυῷ τὰ φύλλα.

Mark 13:32

[b] the Son] That this whole discourse belongs to the destruction of Jerusalem there can be no doubt to him that compares it with Matt. xxiv. and Luke xxi., and what hath been said in the Annotations for the evincing of it. Which having been the matter of Daniel’s predictions, and afterwards of some of John’s visions in the Revelation, and here of Christ’s, it is most certain, that the time of it was revealed