Mark 13:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 13:14-23

The Jews, in rebelling against the Romans, and in persecuting the Christians, were hastening to their own ruin apace, both efficiently and meritoriously, were setting both God and man against them; see 1 Thess. 2:15. Now here we have a prediction of that ruin which came upon them within less than forty years after this: we had it before, Matt. 24:15 Observe, I. What is here foretold concerning it. 1. That the Roman armies should make a descent upon Judea, and invest Jerusalem, the holy city.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 13:1-37

Mark 13:1-37 is one of the most difficult chapters in the New Testament for a modern reader to understand. That is because it is one of the most Jewish chapters in the Bible. From beginning to end it is thinking in terms of Jewish history and Jewish ideas. All through it Jesus is using categories and pictures which were very familiar to the Jews of his day, but which are very strange, and indeed, unknown, to many modern readers. Even so, it is not possible to disregard this chapter because... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 13:17

But woe to them that are with child ,.... Who because of their burdens, would be very unfit for, and very incapable of fleeing with any haste; and therefore very liable to fall into the hands of the enemy, and become their prey: and to them that give suck in those days ; who could not bear to leave their children behind, and yet would not be able to carry them with them; at least not without great trouble, and which would much retard their flight, and endanger their being taken by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 13:1-37

Watching. This chapter relates almost exclusively to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Yet in its testimony to the Divine power of foretelling future events, it has its evidential value to all students of the person of our Lord; while its central and simple lesson, " Watch! the day of your Lord's coming ye know not," may be profitably reiterated with frequency in the ears of all. One of the disciples, on passing out of the temple, drew the attention of the Master to the massiveness and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 13:14-23

Warnings. Very clearly did our Lord foresee, and very plainly did he foretell, the consequences which the Jews were bringing upon themselves by their rejection of God's Messiah. The language here recorded is in itself sufficient to convince a candid mind of the justice of the claims of the Lord Jesus to be the Prophet and the Son of the Most High. He sets us an example here of the propriety of uttering truthful warnings, even though they may be painful to the speaker and unwelcome to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 13:14-23

Parallel passages: Matthew 24:15-28 ; Luke 21:1-38 . The end imminent. I. IMMEDIATELY PROXIMATE SIGNS . Hitherto we have had the signs, more or less remote, of Christ's coming at the fall of Jerusalem, and so an answer to the second part of the question contained in Luke 21:4 . Here, however, we have the immediately proximate sign, or rather an answer to the first part of the question of that same verse, namely, "When shall these things be?" Along with the sign here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 13:14-31

Dark sayings. I. SACRED LITERATURE , LIKE NATURE , IS FULL OF HINTED TRUTH . "Truths in nature darkly join." So in Scripture. The mystic element in Daniel and Scripture generally was fully recognized by Christ. II. PRUDENCE IN MEN IS THE REFLECTION OF PROVIDENCE IN GOD . It is the light within us. In unsettled times we must be more than usually on our guard. Keen love of truth will make the mind critical and sceptical of the talk that goes on. Let... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 13:17

But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! Women in this condition would be specially objects of pity, for they would be more exposed to danger. The words, "Woe to them ( οὐαι )!" are an exclamation of pity, as, though it was said, "Alas! for them." Josephus ( Mark 7:8 ) mentions that some mothers, constrained by hunger during the siege, devoured their own infants! read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 13:14-20

Mark 13:14-20. When ye shall see the abomination, &c. Our Lord, having foretold both the more remote and more immediate signs of the end of the Jewish economy, proceeds to describe the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. The abomination which caused the desolation, whereof Daniel prophesied, (Daniel 9:27,) signifies the Roman armies, with their standards, whereon the images of their idols were painted; which armies were an abomination to the Jews, on account of their idolatry, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 13:1-27

131. The coming crisis (Matthew 24:1-31; Mark 13:1-27; Luke 21:5-28)Through his parables and other teachings, Jesus had spoken a number of times of his going away and his return in glory, which would bring in the climax of the age, the triumph of his kingdom and final judgment. His disciples apparently connected these events with the predicted destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, when Jesus spoke of the destruction of the temple, his disciples immediately connected this with the return of the... read more

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