Mar 13:32-37 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 13:32-37: 13:32-37 Just as 13:28-31 seems to pick up the theme of 13:5-23 in speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, 13:32-37 apparently picks up the theme of 13:24-27 and speaks of the coming of the Son of Man. An introductory warning against speculations concerning the end time (13:32 ) is followed by a warning to be on guard because one cannot know the time of the end (13:33 ). A story illustrates the need to be ready for the Lord’s return (13:34 ), and its application repeats the need to watch lest they be found unprepared (13:35-36 ); the concluding warning is also for watchfulness (13:37 ). 13:32 The statement no one knows the day or hour (cp. Acts 1:7 ) introduces the warning to be watchful (Mark 13:33-37 ) and discourages speculation. • Jesus refers to himself as the Son , higher than the angels in an ascending hierarchy that begins with no one and ends with only the Father . The authenticity of this saying is assured by the limitation it places on the Son’s knowledge, something the early church would not likely have imagined—in the apocryphal gospels (about AD 150–300), the tendency is to exalt and magnify Jesus’ divine attributes (e.g., see the Infancy Gospel of Thomas ). In the miracle of the incarnation, Jesus experienced limitation (Mark 10:40 ; 13:32 ). If the Son himself did not know the day or hour, Christians should refrain from seeking such knowledge for themselves.

Summary for Mark 13:32-37: 13:32-37 ^a Just as 13:28-31 ^b seems to pick up the theme of 13:5-23 ^c in speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, 13:32-37 ^d apparently picks up the theme of 13:24-27 ^e and speaks of the coming of the Son of Man. An introductory warning against speculations concerning the end time (13:32 ^f) is followed by a warning to be on guard because one cannot know the time of the end (13:33 ^g). A story illustrates the need to be ready for the Lord’s return (13:34 ^h), and its application repeats the need to watch lest they be found unprepared (13:35-36 ⁱ); the concluding warning is also for watchfulness (13:37 ^j). 13:32 ^k The statement no one knows the day or hour (cp. Acts 1:7 ^l) introduces the warning to be watchful (Mark 13:33-37 ^m) and discourages speculation.

• Jesus refers to himself as the Son, higher than the angels in an ascending hierarchy that begins with no one and ends with only the Father. The authenticity of this saying is assured by the limitation it places on the Son’s knowledge, something the early church would not likely have imagined—in the apocryphal gospels (about AD 150–300), the tendency is to exalt and magnify Jesus’ divine attributes (e.g., see the Infancy Gospel of Thomas). In the miracle of the incarnation, Jesus experienced limitation (Mark 10:40 ⁿ; 13:32 ^o). If the Son himself did not know the day or hour, Christians should refrain from seeking such knowledge for themselves.
Summary for Mark 13:33-37: 13:33-37 ^p These verses contain several variations of the same basic warning: Be on guard! Stay alert! and watch. The repetition emphasizes the need to be vigilant.
Summary for Mark 13:34-35: 13:34-35 ^q The point of the story is not that the return of the Lord is uncertain or unexpected (see Matt 24:45-51 ^r; 25:1-30 ^s; Luke 12:36-38 ^t; 19:12-27 ^u), but that there will be no sign or warning of his coming. The parable is allegorical in at least two respects, with the master (Greek kurios) understood as the Lord [kurios] Jesus Christ and the slaves or household servants as the Christian community. But to allegorize the gatekeeper as the apostles or Peter was a post–New Testament development.

• in the evening, at midnight, before dawn (literally the cock’s crowing), or at daybreak: The four periods of the night correspond to the Roman division of the night into four watches of three hours each and simply mean that the master can return at any time during the night.
13:37 ^v The passage, originally addressed to the disciples (you, see also 13:5 ^w), is also directed to all readers of Mark’s Gospel (everyone).

• Watch for him! Although 13:32-37 ^x warns about being ready, the early church experienced this vigilance as a joyous anticipation of “that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (Titus 2:13 ^y). Even Greek Christians in the first century repeated the Aramaic prayer, Marana tha (“Come, Lord,” see 1 Cor 16:22 ^z; Rev 22:20 ^aa) and today, we still “eagerly look forward to his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8 ^ab).