Mark 13:37

Jesus concluded this discourse as He began it with a final call to watchfulness (Gr. gregoreite, Mark 13:34-35). "You" may refer to the four disciples who asked Jesus the initial question (Mark 13:3-4), or it may refer to all the Twelve who sat before Him. "All" could refer to all the disciples present or to all disciples including those not present. In any case, the point is clear. What Jesus taught here is something every disciple of His needs to apply. We all need to be alert in view of the Lord’s return, like the doorkeeper in Jesus’ parable (Mark 13:34-36).

The previous parable of the fig tree (Mark 13:28-32) taught that disciples need to recognize the signs that the time of the Lord’s return is drawing near. This parable of the doorkeeper (Mark 13:33-37) clarified that they would not be able to tell exactly when He would return at His Second Coming. Even though Daniel’s prophecy specified the length of the Tribulation as seven years (Daniel 9:24-27), the exact day and hour of Christ’s return remains unknown (cf. Matthew 24:50).

The outstanding emphasis in Mark’s account of this discourse is clear. Disciples need to take heed (Gr. blepo, to be aware, to observe, to discern; Mark 13:5; Mark 13:9; Mark 13:23; Mark 13:33), to be vigilant (Gr. agrupneo, to be awake, to watch; Mark 13:33), and to be watchful (Gr. gregoreo, to be awake, attentive, vigilant, and circumspect; Mark 13:33; Mark 13:35; Mark 13:37).