MASTER, BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF STONES AND WHAT MANNER OF BUILDINGS (διδασκαλε, ιδε ποταπο λιθο κα ποταπα οικοδομα). Matthew 24:1 and Luke 21:5 tell of the fact of the comment, but Mark alone gives the precise words. Perhaps Peter himself (Swete) was the one who sought thus by a pleasant platitude... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE GREAT BUILDINGS (ταυτας τας οικοδομας). Jesus fully recognizes their greatness and beauty. The more remarkable will be their complete demolition (καταλυθη),LOOSENED DOWN . Only the foundation stones remain.... [ Continue Reading ]
OVER AGAINST THE TEMPLE (κατεναντ του ιερου). In full view of the temple about which they had been speaking.PRIVATELY (κατ' ιδιαν). Peter and James and John and Andrew (named only in Mark) had evidently been discussing the strange comment of Jesus as they were coming out of the temple. In their... [ Continue Reading ]
TELL US, WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? (Ειπον ημιν ποτε ταυτα εσται;). The Revised Version punctuates it as a direct question, but Westcott and Hort as an indirect inquiry. They asked about theWHEN (ποτε) and theWHAT SIGN (τ σημειον). Matthew 24:3 includes "the sign of thy coming and the end of... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE NEED THAT NO MAN LEAD YOU ASTRAY (Βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση). Same words in Matthew 24:4; Luke 21:8 has it "that ye be not led astray" (μη πλανηθητε). This word πλαναω (our _planet_) is a bold one. This warning runs through the whole discussion. It is pertinent today after so many centuries... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST NEEDS COME TO PASS (δε γενεσθα). Already there were outbreaks against the Jews in Alexandria, at Seleucia with the slaughter of more than fifty thousand, at Jamnia, and elsewhere. Caligula, Claudius, Nero will threaten war before it finally comes with the destruction of the city and temple b... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES (Βλεπετε δε υμεις εαυτους). Only in Mark, but dominant note of warning all through the discourse. Note υμεις here, very emphatic.COUNCILS (συνεδρια). Same word as the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. These local councils (συν, εδρα, sitting together) were modelled after that... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST FIRST BE PREACHED (πρωτον δε κηρυχθηνα). This only in Mark. It is interesting to note that Paul in Colossians 1:6; Colossians 1:23 claims that the gospel has spread all over the world. All this was before the destruction of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT ANXIOUS BEFOREHAND WHAT YE SHALL SPEAK (μη προμεριμνατε τ λαλησητε). Negative with present imperative to make a general prohibition or habit. Jesus is not here referring to preaching, but to defences made before these councils and governors. A typical example is seen in the courage and skil... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT ENDURETH TO THE END (ο δε υπομεινας εις τελος). Note this aorist participle with the future verb. The idea here is true to the etymology of the word, remaining under (υπομενω) until the end. The divisions in families Jesus had predicted before (Luke 12:52; Luke 14:25).BE SAVED (σωθη... [ Continue Reading ]
STANDING WHERE HE OUGHT NOT (εστηκοτα οπου ου δε). Matthew 24:15 has "standing in the holy place" (εστος εν τοπο αγιω), neuter and agreeing with βδελυγμα (abomination), the very phrase applied in 1Macc. 1:54 to the altar to Zeus erected by Antiochus Epiphanes where the altar to Jehovah was. Mark p... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIELD (εις τον αγρον). Here Matthew 24:18 has εν τω αγρω, showing identical use of εις with accusative and εν with the locative.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH GOD CREATED (ην εκτισεν ο θεος). Note this amplification to the quotation from Daniel 12:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM HE CHOSE (ους εξελεξατο). Indirect aorist middle indicative. In Mark alone. Explains the sovereign choice of God in the end by and for himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MAY LEAD ASTRAY (προς το αποπλαναιν). With a view to leading off (προς and the infinitive). Matthew 24:24 has ωστε αποπλασθα, so as to lead off.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TAKE YE HEED (Hυμεις δε βλεπετε). Gullibility is no mark of a saint or of piety. Note emphatic position of you (υμεις). Credulity ranks no higher than scepticism. God gave us our wits for self-protection. Christ has warned us beforehand.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUN SHALL BE DARKENED (ο ελιος σκοτισθησετα). Future passive indicative. These figures come from the prophets (Isaiah 13:9; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:1; Joel 2:10; Amos 8:9; Zephaniah 1:14-16; Zechariah 12:12). One should not forget that prophetic imagery was not always meant to be taken literally,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STARS SHALL BE FALLING (ο αστερες εσοντα πιπτοντες). Periphrastic future indicative, εσοντα, future middle indicative and πιπτοντες, present active participle.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT (επισυναξε τους εκλεκτους αυτου). This is the purpose of God through the ages.FROM THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF HEAVEN (απ' ακρου γης εως ακρου ουρανου). The Greek is very brief, "from the tip of earth to the tip of heaven." This preci... [ Continue Reading ]
COMING TO PASS (γινομενα). Present middle participle, linear action. See on Matthew 24:32-36 for details of verses Mark 13:28-32 (the Parable of the Fig Tree).... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT EVEN THE SON (ουδε ο υιος). There is no doubt as to the genuineness of these words here such as exists in Matthew 24:36. This disclaimer of knowledge naturally interpreted applies to the second coming, not to the destruction of Jerusalem which had been definitely limited to that generation as... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDED ALSO THE PORTER TO WATCH (κα τω θυρωρω ενετειλατο ινα γρηγορη). The porter or door-keeper (θυρωρος), as well as all the rest, to keep a watch (present subjunctive, γρηγορη). This Parable of the Porter is only in Mark. Our ignorance of the time of the Master's return is an argument not f... [ Continue Reading ]
The four watches of the night are named here: evening (οψε), midnight (μεσονυκτιον), cock-crowing (αλεκτοροφωνιας), morning (πρω).... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCH (γρηγορειτε). Be on the watch. Present imperative of a verb made on the second perfect, εγρηγορα, to be awake. Stay awake till the Lord comes.... [ Continue Reading ]