Get Ready
What is the oldest building you have been in? How old was it? How did you feel about the age of the building? Did you wonder how it was built? Did you consider all the things that had happened in the building? Did you think about how long it might stand in the future?
The Word
13 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!”
2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.
9 “As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. 10 And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14 “But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 15 the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; 16 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat.
17 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. 21 And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Look! There he is!’—do not believe it. 22 False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be alert; I have already told you everything.
24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.
27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” NRSV
Get into the Word
1. Who starts this conversation? What questions do they ask? What does Jesus say that prompts the question?
2. How does Jesus begin his answer to the question? What does he warn against? What does he say will happen? What does he say will happen to the disciples? What promise does he give them?
3. What does Jesus say about families in this time? What does he say is the cause of this situation? What will be the final result according to Jesus?
4. What does Jesus describe next? Why do you think he mentions this event? What should this situation trigger? What specific details does Jesus include? What warnings does he give? What does he compare the situation with? What does he say could happen? What will happen?
5. What warning does Jesus give next? Why is this warning important for the disciples? For the people?
6. What does Jesus describe happening next? What do these events precede? How does Jesus describe these events, [vv 26-27]?
7. What does Jesus use as a lesson for the disciples? Why do you think he chose this example? How does this relate to his predictions?
8. When does Jesus say all this will happen? What does he tell the disciples to do in the meantime? What comparison does he use?
Get Personal
How concerned are you about the future? How do you feel about Jesus’s promises to the disciples? How do you feel about the tough times that Jesus predicts for believers? How does God help you to trust his promises? How does he help you to “stay alert and keep watch”?
Notes . . .
13:1-13. The destruction of the temple — Matthew is very similar to Mark, although he does not identify the disciples. Jesus’ warning is general and broader, and includes the prophecy that many “will fall away.” Matthew omits Jesus’s prediction about family and his promise that God will tell the disciples what to say, [Matt 24:1-12].
Luke also does not identify the disciples. He includes the disciples’ persecution, the natural disasters and wars and Jesus’s promise to give them words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict, [Luke 21:5-19].
13:14-27. The desolating sacrilege — from Daniel’s prophecy of the end times [9:27]. In 168 BCE, the Greek ruler, Antiochus, sacrificed a pig in the temple, and in 70 CE, the Roman army completely destroyed the temple.
Matthew’s version is very similar. He refers to the prophet Daniel in his prediction and includes the Sabbath
in the prayer regarding flight,
[Matt 24:26-28].
Luke refers to “Jerusalem surrounded by armies,” rather than a sacrilege as the sign of upheaval. He mentions that Jerusalem will be “trampled on” by the Gentiles, and calls these events a sign that “redemption is drawing near,” [Luke 21:20-28].
13:24-25. But in those days . . . — Jesus is paraphrasing Isaiah [13:10] and Joel [2:30-31].
13:28-37. The lesson of the fig tree — Matthew includes Jesus’s references to Noah and “those days before the flood,” when “one will be taken and one will be left,” [Matt 24:29-51].
In Luke Jesus urges them to be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, but he does not include Jesus’ comments about not knowing the time or the simile of a man going on a trip, [Luke 21:25-36].
Memory Verse
And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake, [Mark 13:37]
Next Lesson
The plot to kill Jesus and the Last Supper — Mark 14