131 As He was going out of the temple , one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher , behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings !" 2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings ? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down ." 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple , Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately e , 4 "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled ?"
5 And Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 6 "Many will come in My name , saying , ' I am He!' and will mislead many . 7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars , do not be frightened ; those things must take place ; but that is not yet the end . 8 "For nation will rise up against nation , and kingdom against kingdom ; there will be earthquakes in various places ; there will also be famines . These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs . 9 "But be on your guard ; for they will deliver you to the courts , and you will be flogged in the synagogues , and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake , as a testimony to them. 10 " The gospel must first be preached to all the nations . 11 " When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say , but say whatever e is given you in that hour ; for it is not you who speak , but it is the Holy Spirit . 12 "Brother will betray brother to death , and a father his child ; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death . 13 " You will be hated by all because of My name , but the one who endures to the end , he will be saved .
14 "But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand ), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains . 15 " The one who is on the housetop must not go down , or go in to get anything out of his house ; 16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back e to get his coat . 17 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days ! 18 "But pray that it may not happen in the winter . 19 "For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now , and never e will. 20 "Unless the Lord had shortened those days , no e life would have been saved ; but for the sake of the elect , whom He chose , He shortened the days .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 13:1-20
Commentary on Mark 13:1-4
(Read Mark 13:1-4)
See how little Christ values outward pomp, where there is not real purity of heart. He looks with pity upon the ruin of precious souls, and weeps over them, but we do not find him look with pity upon the ruin of a fine house. Let us then be reminded how needful it is for us to have a more lasting abode in heaven, and to be prepared for it by the influences of the Holy Spirit, sought in the earnest use of all the means of grace.
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.