Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 13
Overview:
The
Destruction of the
Temple foretold.
(1-4) Christ's
prophetic declaration.
(5-13) Christ's
Prophecy.
(14-23) His
prophetic declarations.
(24-27) Watchfulness urged.
(28-37)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.