The Gospel According to Mark

13:24-31

24 Moreover in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall wax dark, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall: and the powers which are in heaven, shall shake.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man, coming in the clouds, with great power and glory.
27 And he shall then send his Angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, and from the utmost part of the earth to the utmost part of heaven.
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When her bough is yet tender, and it bringeth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near.
29 So in like manner, when ye see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near, even at the doors.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away

Related Scriptures

Verse 24 - Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 52:7; Joel 3:15

Verse 27 – Matthew 24:31

Brethren:

What we shall see, is a new creation, a new universe, in which God, will reign supreme. He will be our God, and we, shall be His people, and He shall dwell among us. (Read Jeremiah 24:7, 31:33; 32:38; Ezekiel 43:9; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Peter 2:8; Revelation 7:15)

“As we look across the centuries we see how it has been realised. His words have passed into laws, they have passed into doctrines, they have passed into proverbs, they have passed into consolations, but they have never “passed away.” What human teacher ever dared to claim an eternity for his words?”

Source – Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

“Here is a distinct prediction that the present structure of the universe will pass away; that is, that it will be changed, that it will perish, as far as its present state and condition are concerned; but only that it may be refashioned in a more beautiful form. "We look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness", (Read 2 Peter 3:13)With this declaration of our blessed Lord all the discoveries of science coincide. Astronomy and geology alike concur in the conclusion that the whole system of the universe is moving onwards to its change. Our blessed Lord did but affirm that which is demonstrated by science. But my words shall not pass away; not merely the words which with his full self-consciousness he had just uttered respecting Jerusalem, but all his other words - all the revelation of God, all the words of him who is the Truth. - The Pulpit Commentary

“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.” Matthew Henry - Theologian

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 13:19-22

19 For those days shall be such tribulation, as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, which he hath chosen, he hath shortened those days.
21 Then if any man say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or lo, he is there, believe it not.
22 For false Christs shall rise, and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, to deceive if it were possible the very elect.

Brethren;

A short note; there is none other than Christ, that can bring the Kingdom of God to this earth. Whilst there will be in the future, a man of perdition, that can perform such miracles as the bringing about of peace, it will be a peace with an iron fist. Do not be deceived, therefore, and be vigilant.

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 13:5-13

5 And Jesus answered them, and began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you.
6 For many shall come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
7 Furthermore when ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled, for such things must needs be: but the end shall not be yet.
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in divers quarters, and there shall be famine and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to the Councils, and to the Synagogues: ye shall be beaten, and brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimonial unto them.
10 And the Gospel must first be published among all nations.
11 But when they lead you, and deliver you up, be not careful before hand, neither study what ye shall say: but what is given you at the same time, that speak: for it is not you that speak, but the holy Ghost.
12 Yea, and the brother shall deliver the brother to death, and the father the son, and the children shall rise against their parents, and shall cause them to die.
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my Name’s sake: but whosoever shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved.


Related scripture:

Verse 10 – Read Matthew 24:14

“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.” - Matthew Henry – Theologian


“If we extend these prophetical sayings so as to reach onwards to the end of all things, we must then understand the expression, "all the nations," in its most unrestricted sense; so that the prophecy announces the universal proclamation of the gospel over the whole inhabited earth as an event which is to precede the time of the end. It is interesting to observe the difference in the amount of knowledge possessed by us of this earth and its population at the present time, as compared with the knowledge which men had of it at the time when our Lord delivered this prediction. It was not until the beginning of the sixteenth century, nearly fifteen hundred years after Christ, that Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci laid open that other hemisphere which takes its name from Amerigo; and there are few facts more interesting to a philosophic mind than the discovery of this new continent, now so important to us in England as the chief receptacle, together with Australia, of our redundant population. But this new world, as we call it, although there are material evidences that portions of it at least were occupied in very remote times by men of high civilization, was present to the mind of our Lord when he said that "the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations." So that the prophecy expands, as the ages roll onwards and the population of this earth increases; and it still demands its fulfillment, embracing the vast multitudes now dwelling on the face of the earth to the number of about 1,450,000,000. Such a consideration may well lead us to the inference that we are now approaching sensibly nearer to the end of the world. There are no other new worlds like America or Australia now to be discovered. The whole face of the earth is now laid open to us; and there is now hardly any part of the world which has not at some time or other received the message of salvation.”
Source: The Pulpit Commentary

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 12:29-33

29 Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, Israel, The Lord our God is the only Lord.
30 Thou shalt therefore love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, that is, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 Then that Scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, that there is one God, and that there is none but he,
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Brethren:

Verse 33 – We are herein reminded of Hosea 6:6, Psalm 51:16, Micah 6:6-8

“Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men's transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy. Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ.” - Matthew Henry – Theologian

“Thou who dost prefer the "internal" to the "external" worship of God - who hast so just a view of the requirements of the law - canst easily become a follower of me, and art almost fit to be numbered among my disciples. This shows that a proper understanding of the Old Testament, of its laws and requirements, would prepare the mind for Christianity, and suit a person at once to embrace it when presented. One system is grafted on the other, (Read Galatians 3:24). And no man after that durst ask him any question - That is, no one of the scribes, the Pharisees, or the Sadducees durst ask him a question for the purpose of "tempting" him or entangling him. He had completely silenced them. It does not appear, however, but that his "disciples" dared to ask him questions for the purpose of information.” - Barnes' notes on the Bible – Albert Barnes - Theologian

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 12:25, 27

25 For when they shall rise again from the dead, neither men marry, nor wives are married, but are as the Angels which are in heaven.

27 God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. Ye are therefore greatly deceived.

Brethren:

It is the thought of this writer that verse twenty seven supports verse twenty five. This is to say that when we are resurrected we shall be eternal, as are the angels.

“The blessed, after the resurrection, will be like angels as to purity, as to a spiritual life, as to immortality, as to happiness and glory. There will be no necessity for marriages in heaven. Here, on earth, the father dies, but he lives on in his children after death. In heaven there is no death, but every one will live and be blessed for ever; and therefore it is that St. Luke adds here, "Neither can they die any more." St. Augustine says, "Marriages are on account of children; children on account of succession; succession on account of death. But in heaven, as there is no death, neither is there any marriage." - Source: Pulpit commentary on the Bible

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 12:1-10

1 And he began to speak unto them in parables, A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with an hedge, and dug a pit for the winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange country.
2 And at the time, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive of the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 But they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another, and him they slew, and many others, beating some, and killing some.
6 Yet had he one son, his dear beloved: him also he sent the last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But the husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
8 So they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall then the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and give the vineyard to others.
10 Have ye not read so much as this Scripture, The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the head of the corner.
11 This was done of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
12 Then they went about to take him, but they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake that parable against them: therefore they left him, and went their way.

Brethren:
We read at the end of the preceding chapter about the questioning of Christ on His authority by the religious leaders. He instead poses a question to them which they decline to answer. Christ then states that he will not reveal this answer to them, at least not openly for in the very next chapter, (that above) He relates the parable of the vinedressers. It is in that parable, that the authority is made known to them. However, those leaders, are not open to the hearing of those words for well said is the scripture of Isaiah; “ They have not known, nor understood: for God hath shut their eyes that they cannot see, and their heart, that they cannot understand.” - (Isaiah 44:18).

“A vineyard with all these fittings was ready for profitable occupation. Thus abundantly had God furnished Israel with all that was needed for fruitful, happy service. What was true of the ancient Church is still more true of us who have received every requisite for holy living. Isaiah’s solemn appeal has a still sharper edge for Christians: ‘Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?’

The ‘letting of the vineyard to husbandmen’ means the committal to Israel and its rulers of these divine institutions, and the holding them responsible for their fruitfulness. It may be a question whether the tenants are to be understood as only the official persons, or whether, while these are primarily addressed, they represent the whole people. The usual interpretation limits the meaning to the rulers, but, if so, it is difficult to carry out the application, as the vineyard would then have to be regarded as being the nation, which confuses all. The language of Matthew which threatens the taking of the vineyard and giving it to another nation obliges us to regard the nation as included in the husbandmen, though primarily the expression is addressed to the rulers.


We all, in like manner, have intrusted to us, to do as we will with, the various gifts and powers of Christ’s gospel. God, as it were, draws somewhat apart from man, that he may have free play for his choice, and bear the burden of responsibility. The divine action was conspicuous at the time of founding the polity of Judaism, and then came long years in which there were no miracles, but all things continued as they were. God was as near as before, but He seemed far off. Thus Jesus has, in like manner, gone ‘into a far country to receive a kingdom and to return’; and we, the tenants of a richer vineyard than Israel’s, have to administer what He has intrusted to us, and to bring near by faith Him who is to sense far off.


We mark the stern, dark picture drawn of the continued and brutal violence, as well as the flagrant unfaithfulness, of the tenants. Matthew’s version gives emphasis to the increasing harshness of treatment of the owner’s messengers, as does Mark’s. First comes beating, then wounding, then murder. The interpretation is self-evident. The ‘servants’ are the prophets, mostly men inferior in rank to the hierarchy, shepherds, fig-gatherers, and the like. They came to rouse Israel to a sense of the purpose for which they had received their distinguishing prerogatives, and their reward had been contempt and maltreatment. They ‘had trial of mockings and scourgings, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword.’


The Owner of the vineyard, brings out very clearly Christ’s claim, made there before all these hostile, keen critics, to stand in an altogether singular relation to God. He asserts His Sonship as separating Him from the class of prophets who are servants only, and as constituting a relationship with the Father prior to His coming to earth. His Sonship is no mere synonym for His Messiahship, but was a fact long before Bethlehem; and its assertion lifts for us a corner of the veil of cloud and darkness round the throne of God. Not less striking is the expression of a frustrated hope in ‘they will reverence My Son.’ Men can thwart God’s purpose. His divine charity ‘hopeth all things.’ The mystery thus sharply put here is but that which is presented everywhere in the co-existence of God’s purposes and man’s freedom.” - Alexander Maclaren – Exposition of the Holy Scriptures



“Christ showed in parables, that he would lay aside the Jewish church. It is sad to think what base usage God's faithful ministers have met with in all ages, from those who have enjoyed the privileges of the church, but have not brought forth fruit answerable. God at length sent his Son, his Well-beloved; and it might be expected that he whom their Master loved, they also should respect and love; but instead of honouring him because he was the Son and Heir, they therefore hated him. But the exaltation of Christ was the Lord's doing; and it is his doing to exalt him in our hearts, and to set up his throne there; and if this be done, it cannot but be marvellous in our eyes. The Scriptures, and faithful preachers, and the coming of Christ in the flesh, call on us to render due praise to God in our lives. Let sinners beware of a proud, carnal spirit; if they revile or despise the preachers of Christ, they would have done so their Master, had they lived when he was upon earth.” - Matthew Henry - Theologian

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 11:24

24 Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye shall have it, and it shall be done unto you.



“Word for word, that you receive it speaking in the time that now is, to show the certainty of the thing and the performance indeed.” - GNV Translation commentary – Ed 1599
Editor's thought on the above commentary: Mark down the date and time of your prayer request.



“The petitions that are desired, and the things asked in them: that is, be as much assured of having them, as if you had already received them, and you shall have them; for the sense can never be, that they should believe they received them before they had them; this would be a contradiction in terms; and Beza's ancient copy, and one of Stephens's copies read it, "believe that ye shall receive", and so the Vulgate Latin version; with which agree the Arabic and Ethiopic versions, which render it, "believe that ye shall enjoy", or "obtain"; and the Syriac version, "believe that ye are about to receive"; and great faith it is so to believe; and this is the prayer of faith,(See 1 John 5:14-15). - John Gill - Theologian