Mark 13:23-37

23 See 2Pe_3:17.

24-27 Compare Mat_24:29-31; Luk_21:25-27; Rev_6:12-17. Sixth Seal.

26 See Dan_7:13-14; 2Th_1:7-10; Rev_1:7.

28-32 Compare Mat_24:32-36; Luk_21:29-31.

28 The fig tree is political Israel. None of the signs here spoken of have yet occurred, so that we cannot say that its leaves are sprouting out. But much that has occurred in recent years indicates that its boughs are becoming tender. The Zionist movement, the Balfour declaration, recognizing the right of the Jews to their ancient homeland, the British mandate, under which there was a greater exodus to Palestine than under Moses, the Jewish colonization, the new Hebrew university on mount Scopus, the change of attitude on the part of many Jews toward Christ-all these acts and facts indicate that Israel is a manmade political unit with a land, a flag, a national anthem, a patriotic spirit-but without Messiah. It is time for the fig tree to put forth its leaves! Before that era Christ will come to the air to catch us away to be with Himself, Before He can declare war with the earth His ambassadors of peace must be withdrawn.

30 These things should have occurred in that generation. Yet He warns them that no one knows the time. It is a secret which God has not confided to men, nor to His heavenly messengers-not even to the Son. The reason is clear, Had the apostles known all that was to intervene they never could have carried on their Pentecostal ministry, and God could not have used Israel's defection as the basis of a much greater and grander exhibition of grace than the kingdom contemplates.

35 While the Son did not know the day or hour, we can now see that He was aware that there would be a delay. He is the light of the world. His absence is night. He might have come at evening. This probably refers to the early Pentecostal proclamation (Act_3:20), The great crisis, or midnight, was when Israel was repudiated (Act_28:26-27). Perhaps the present awakening in Israel is the cock-crowing. The darkest hour still lies ahead. But in the morning He will surely come. When these signs begin to come to pass then it will be possible to watch events. We, however, do not watch the events which accompany the wrath of God, but wait for God's Son to rescue us from the coming indignation (1Th_1:10).

33-37 Compare Mat_24:45-51.

1-2 Compare Mat_26:1-5; Luk_22:1-2.

1 The actual festival of Unleavened Bread did not commence until the day after the Passover (Lev_23:5-6), but, since all leaven was removed on the day of the Passover, and it was eaten with unleavened bread (Exo_12:8), it came to be included in "unleavened bread".

2 How blind they were! The Passover must be killed before the festival, not because it might create a tumult of the people, but because this was God's order. They were at great pains and trouble, in their rabid rebellion against God, that they might fulfill the will of God! So it is always. God's enemies are carrying out His will in their very opposition. The Lamb must be slain on the fourteenth, and God can use the fearfulness of the priests to fulfill it, so long as He cannot use their faithfulness.

3-9 Compare Mat_26:6-13; Joh_12:1-8. See Luk_7:36-38.

3 How precious to the heart of our Lord must have been the intelligent, sacrificing worship of this woman! She alone seems to have understood Him concerning His impending death, or appreciated, in some measure, its preciousness. It is the time, the effort, the treasure, that we "waste" in our worship of Him that gains His gratitude and touches His heart. "Practical" religion provides for the poor; spiritual worship lavishes its all on Him. Benefactors receive their reward in the gratitude of those whom they help. But when has even such a costly gift been so richly rewarded? Men have given as much as a million times the sum she did for philanthropy. But whose name can be mentioned with hers? Yet she simply did with what she had. We do not need to have much, but only give our best and our reward will be beyond all calculation.