Mark 13:33-37
Summary for Mark 13:33-37: 13:33-37 a 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 b The point of the story is not that the return of the Lord is uncertain or unexpected (see Matt 24:45-51 c; 25:1-30 d; Luke 12:36-38 e; 19:12-27 f), 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 g The passage, originally addressed to the disciples (you, see also 13:5 h), is also directed to all readers of Mark’s Gospel (everyone).
• Watch for him! Although 13:32-37 i 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 j). Even Greek Christians in the first century repeated the Aramaic prayer, Marana tha (“Come, Lord,” see 1 Cor 16:22 k; Rev 22:20 l) and today, we still “eagerly look forward to his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8 m).
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