---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Mark 13:1. See what manner of stones — Josephus says, ANT. b. xv. chap. Mark 11:0: \"That these stones were white and strong, FIFTY feet long, TWENTY"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/mark/13"
---

Verse [Mark 13:1](../../../kjv/mark/13/1). ***See what manner of stones*** — Josephus says, ANT. b. xv. chap. [Mark 11](../../../kjv/mark/11): "That these stones were *white* and strong, FIFTY *feet* long, TWENTY-FOUR broad, and SIXTEEN in thickness." If this account can be relied on, well might the disciples be struck with wonder at such a superb edifice, and formed by such immense stones! The principal contents of this chapter are largely explained in the notes on [Matthew 24](../../../kjv/matthew/24):, and to these the reader is requested to refer.

Verse [Mark 13:6](../../../kjv/mark/13/6). ***Saying, I am*** — *The Christ*, is *added* by eight MSS., *Coptic, Armenian, Saxon*, and four of the *Itala*.

Verse [Mark 13:8](../../../kjv/mark/13/8). ***The beginnings*** — For αρχαι, many MSS. and versions have αρχη, the *beginning*, singular.

Verse [Mark 13:9](../../../kjv/mark/13/9). ***Councils*** — συνεδρια, *Sanhedrins*. The *grand* *Sanhedrin* consisted of seventy-two elders; six chosen out of each tribe; this was the *national council* of state; and the *small* *Sanhedrins*, which were composed of twenty-three counsellors.
***Synagogues*** — *Courts* of *justice* for *villages*, &c., consisting of three *magistrates*, chosen out of the principal directors of the synagogue in that place.
***Rulers*** — Or *governors*. The Roman *deputies*, such as Pontius Pilate, &c.
***Kings*** — The *tetrarchs* of Judea and Galilee, who bore this name. See [Mark 6:27](../../../kjv/mark/6/27).

Verse [Mark 13:10](../../../kjv/mark/13/10). ***And the Gospel must first be published among all**********nations.*** — Many of the *Evangelistaria* omit this verse. Its proper place seems to be after verse the thirteenth. [Mark 13:13](../../../kjv/mark/13/13)

Verse [Mark 13:11](../../../kjv/mark/13/11). ***Neither - premeditate*** — This is wanting in BDL, five others, *Coptic, AEthiopic, Vulgate, Itala*. Griesbach leaves it doubtful. On this verse see [Matthew 10:19](../../../kjv/matthew/10/19).

Verse [Mark 13:14](../../../kjv/mark/13/14). ***Let him that readeth understand*** — *What he readeth*, is added by D, and three of the *Itala*, perhaps needlessly.

Verse [Mark 13:15](../../../kjv/mark/13/15). ***House-top*** — [Matthew 24:17](../../../kjv/matthew/24/17); [Matthew 24:17](../../../kjv/matthew/24/17).

Verse 20. ***Had shortened those days*** — *Because of his chosen*, added by D, *Armenian*, and five of the *Itala*. See [Matthew 24:22](../../../kjv/matthew/24/22).

Verse [Mark 13:30](../../../kjv/mark/13/30). ***This generation*** — Ἡ γενεα αὑτη, *This very race of* *men*. It is certain that this word has *two* meanings in the Scriptures; that given in the text, and that above. *Generation* signifies a period of a certain number of years, sometimes more, sometimes less. In [Deuteronomy 1:35](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/1/35); [Deuteronomy 2:14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/2/14), Moses uses the word to point out a term of thirty-eight years, which was precisely the number in the present case; for Jerusalem was destroyed about thirty-eight years after our Lord delivered this prediction. But as there are *other* events in this chapter, which certainly look *beyond* the destruction of Jerusalem, and which were to take place before the Jews should cease to be a *distinct* people, I should therefore prefer the translation given above. [Matthew 24:34](../../../kjv/matthew/24/34).

Verse [Mark 13:32](../../../kjv/mark/13/32). ***Neither the Son*** — This clause is not found either in Matthew or Luke; and Ambrose says it was wanting in some Greek copies in his time. To me it is utterly unaccountable, how Jesus, who knew so *correctly* all the *particulars* which he here lays down, and which were to a jot and tittle verified by the event - how he who knew that not *one* stone should be left on *another*, should be ignorant of the *day* and *hour* when this should be done, though *Daniel*, [Daniel 9:24](../../../kjv/daniel/9/24), c., could fix the very *year*, not less than five hundred years before it happened: how he in whom the *fulness of the Godhead dwelt* *bodily*, and all the treasures of *wisdom* and *knowledge*, should not know this *small matter*, I cannot comprehend, but on this ground, that the Deity which dwelt in the man Christ Jesus might, at one time, communicate less of the knowledge of futurity to him than at another. However, I strongly suspect that the clause was not originally in this Gospel. Its not being found in the parallel places in the other evangelists is, in my opinion, a strong presumption against it. But Dr. Macknight, and others, solve this difficulty in the following manner. They suppose the verb οιδεν to have the force of the Hebrew conjugation *Hiphel*, in which verbs are taken in a *causative, declarative*, or *permissive* sense and that it means here, *make known*, or *promulge*, as it is to be understood in [1 Corinthians 2:2](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/2/2). This intimates that this secret was not to be *made known*, either by *men* or *angels*, no, not even by the Son of man himself; but it should be *made known* by the Father only, in the execution of the purposes of his *justice*. I am afraid this only *cuts* the knot, but does not *untie* it.

Verse [Mark 13:34](../../../kjv/mark/13/34). ***Left his house*** — οικιαν, *family*. Our blessed Lord and Master, when he ascended to heaven, commanded his servants to be *faithful* and *watchful*. This fidelity to which he exhorts his servants consists in doing every thing *well* which is to be done, in the *heart* or in the *family*, according to the full extent of the duty. The *watchfulness* consists in suffering no *stranger* nor *enemy* to enter in by the *senses*, which are the *gates* of the soul; in permitting nothing which belongs to the Master to *go out* without his consent; and in carefully observing all commerce and correspondence which the heart may have abroad in the world, to the prejudice of the Master's service. See *Quesnel*.

Verse [Mark 13:35](../../../kjv/mark/13/35). ***Watch ye therefore*** — The more the master is expected, the more diligent ought the servants to be in working, watching, and keeping themselves in readiness. Can one who has received the sentence of his death, and has no right to live a moment, need any admonition to prepare to die? Does not a prisoner who expects his deliverance, hold himself in continual readiness to leave his dungeon?

Verse [Mark 13:36](../../../kjv/mark/13/36). ***He find you sleeping.*** — *A porter asleep* exposes the house to be *robbed*, and well deserves punishment. No wonder that the man is constantly suffering loss who is frequently off his guard.
Our Lord shows us in this parable:
1. That himself, *ascended to* heaven, is the man *gone from home*.
2. That *believers* collectively are his *family*.
3. That *his servants* are those who are employed in the work of faith and labour of love.
4. That the *porter* represents the *ministers* of his Gospel, who should continually watch for the safety and welfare of the whole flock.
5. That every one has *his own work*- that which belongs to *himself* and to none other, and for the accomplishment of which he receives sufficient strength from his Lord.
6. That these *servants* and *porters* shall give an account to their Lord, how they have exercised themselves in their respective departments.
7. And that as the master of the family will certainly come to require this account at *a time* when men are *not aware*, therefore they should be always *watchful* and *faithful*. And,
8, That this is a duty incumbent on *every soul* of man, *What I say unto you, I say unto* ALL, WATCH! If, after all these warnings, the followers of God be found *careless*, their misery and condemnation must be great.

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