Mark 13:20

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 13:20

And except that the Lord had shortened those days ,.... Had determined that those days of affliction should be but few, and not last long; that the siege should not be longer continued, and the devastations within and without be prolonged: no flesh should be saved ; there would not have been a Jew left; that nation and race of men must have been utterly destroyed from off the face of the earth: but for elect's sake, whom he hath chosen ; in Christ, unto eternal salvation; who were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 13:20

Had shortened those days - Because of his chosen, added by D, Armenian, and five of the Itala. See Matthew 24:22 . 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 13:20

And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days . St. Matthew's record ( Matthew 24:22 ) differs from that of St. Mark in the omission of the words "the Lord," and the clause "whom he chose." If the time of the siege of Jerusalem had lasted much longer, not one of the nation could have survived; all would have perished by war, or famine, or pestilence. The Romans raged against the Jews as an... 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

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