Mark 13:18 - Exposition

And pray ye that it be not in the winter . According to the best authorities, "your flight" ( ἡ φυγὴ ὑμῶν ) is omitted, but the meaning remains very much the same. St. Matthew ( Matthew 24:20 ) adds, "neither on a sabbath." But this would be comparatively of little interest to those to whom St. Mark was writing. Our Lord thus specifies the winter, because at that season, on account of the cold and snow, flight would be attended with special difficulty and hardship, and would be almost impossible for the aged and infirm.