Teks -- Mark 13:34-37 (NET)

13:34 It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. 13:35 Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return– whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn– 13:36 or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. 13:37 What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mar 13:34 - Commanded also the porter to watch

Commanded also the porter to watch ( kai tōi thurōrōi eneteilato hina grēgorēi ).

The porter or door-keeper (thurōros ), as well as all the rest, to keep a watch (present subjunctive, grēgorēi ). This Parable of the Porter is only in Mark. Our ignorance of the time of the Master’ s return is an argument not for indifference nor for fanaticism, but for alertness and eager readiness for his coming.

Robertson: Mar 13:35

@@The four watches of the night are named here: evening (opse ), midnight (mesonuktion ), cock-crowing (alektorophōnias ), morning (prōi ).

Robertson: Mar 13:37 - Watch

Watch ( grēgoreite ).

Be on the watch. Present imperative of a verb made on the second perfect, egrēgora , to be awake. Stay awake till the Lord comes.

Vincent: Mar 13:34 - A man taking a far journey

A man taking a far journey ( ἄνθρωπος ἀπόδημος )

The A. V. is incorrect, since the idea is not that of a man about to go, as Mat 25:14; but of one already gone. So Wyc., gone far in pilgrimage; and Tynd., which is gone into a strange country. The two words form one notion - a man abroad. Rev., sojourning in another country.

Vincent: Mar 13:35 - Watch

Watch ( γρηγορεῖτε )

A different word from that in Mar 13:33. See also Mar 13:34. The picture in this word is that of a sleeping man rousing himself. While the other word conveys the idea of simple wakefulness, this adds the idea of alertness. Compare Mar 14:38; Luk 12:37; 1Pe 5:8. The apostles are thus compared with the doorkeepers, Mar 13:34; and the night season is in keeping with the figure. In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire. Compare Rev 16:15 : " Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments. " The preparations for the morning service required all to be early astir. The superintending priest might knock at the door at any moment. The Rabbis use almost the very words in which scripture describes the unexpected coming of the Master. " Sometimes he came at the cockcrowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked and they opened to him" (Edersheim, " The Temple" ).

Vincent: Mar 13:37 - Watch

Watch

The closing and summary word is the stronger word of Mar 13:35 : Be awake and on guard.

Wesley: Mar 13:34 - The Son of man is as a man taking a far journey

Being about to leave this world and go to the Father, he appoints the services that are to be performed by all his servants, in their several stations. This seems chiefly to respect ministers at the day of judgment: but it may be applied to all men, and to the time of death. Mat 25:14; Luk 19:12.

JFB: Mar 13:34 - For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, &c.

The idea thus far is similar to that in the opening part of the parable of the talents (Mat 25:14-15).

JFB: Mar 13:34 - and commanded the porter

The gatekeeper.

JFB: Mar 13:34 - to watch

Pointing to the official duty of the ministers of religion to give warning of approaching danger to the people.

JFB: Mar 13:35 - Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning

An allusion to the four Roman watches of the night.

JFB: Mar 13:36 - Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping

See on Luk 12:35-40; Luk 12:42-46.

JFB: Mar 13:37 - And what I say unto you

This discourse, it will be remembered, was delivered in private.

JFB: Mar 13:37 - I say unto all, Watch

Anticipating and requiring the diffusion of His teaching by them among all His disciples, and its perpetuation through all time.

Clarke: Mar 13:34 - Left his house

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.

Clarke: Mar 13:35 - Watch ye therefore

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?

Clarke: Mar 13:36 - He find you sleeping

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 labor 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.

Defender: Mar 13:37 - Watch

The frequent injunction of Christ "unto all" to "watch" for His return seems to make it clear that it could come at any time. We do not need to watch first for certain other events to take place, but only to watch continuously for Him. This is a great incentive to godly living and evangelism."

TSK: Mar 13:34 - as a // and to // and commanded // the porter

as a : Mat 24:45, 25:14-30; Luk 19:12-17

and to : Rom 12:4-8, Rom 13:6; 1Co 3:5-10, 12:4-31, 1Co 15:58; Col 3:24, Col 4:1

and commanded : Eze 3:17-21, Eze 33:2-9; Mat 24:45-47; Luk 12:36-40; Act 20:29-31

the porter : Mat 16:19; Joh 10:3; Rev 3:7

TSK: Mar 13:35

Mar 13:33; Mat 24:42, Mat 24:44

TSK: Mar 13:36 - he find

he find : Mar 14:37, Mar 14:40; Pro 6:9-11, Pro 24:33, Pro 24:34; Son 3:1, Son 5:2; Isa 56:10; Mat 24:48-51; Mat 25:5; Luk 21:34, Luk 22:45; Rom 13:11-14; Eph 5:14; 1Th 5:6, 1Th 5:7

TSK: Mar 13:37 - I say

I say : Mar 13:33, Mar 13:35; Luk 12:41-46

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mar 13:34-37

Ver. 34-37. In the Greek, those words, For the Son of man is are not, but those, or some such like, are necessarily to be understood to make up the sense. The watching here again twice called for is the same with that before mentioned. The sense of these verses is the same as before; the uncertainty of the time when Christ cometh to judgment should oblige all men to be diligent and industrious to keep themselves from sinning, that they may be ready at what time soever he cometh. He mentions only the four parts of the night, having spoken of sin under the notion of sleeping, and holiness under the notion of watching.

Haydock: Mar 13:35 - At even, at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning

At even, at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. These are generally referred to the different ages of man's life; infancy, youth, manhood, and old age. we are exhorted to be always in readiness, for we know not at what hour the Judge will come. (Nicholas of Lyra) ---

We are taught to watch, because we are charged with the care of our soul, which is the temple or house of God, and which is to be his temple for all eternity. (Bible de Vence)

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Gill: Mar 13:34 - For the son of man is as a man taking a far journey // Who left his house // and gave authority to his servants // and to every man his work // and commanded the porter to watch

For the son of man is as a man taking a far journey,.... Or this case of the son of man's coming to take vengeance on the Jewish nation, is like a man that takes a journey into a far country. This puts me in mind of a question asked ^m by the Jews:

"what דרך רחוקה, "a far journey" from Modiim, and without.''

from Modiim, according to the Gemara ⁿ, and commentators ^o on this passage, was a place fifteen miles from Jerusalem; so that, according to them, fifteen miles were reckoned a far journey ^p.

Who left his house; and his goods in it, to the care and management of others during his absence:

and gave authority to his servants; to govern his house, and exercise power one over another, according to their different stations;

and to every man his work; which he was to do, while he was gone, and to give him an account of when he returned:

and commanded the porter to watch; his house, and take care that it was not broke open by thieves, and plundered of the substance that was in it. So Christ, when he ascended on high, went to heaven, the land afar off; left his house, his church, particularly in Judea, and at Jerusalem, to the care of his apostles, and gave authority to govern it, according to the laws, rules, and directions prescribed by him; and assigned every man his particular work, for which he gave him proper gifts and abilities; and ordered the porter to be on his watch, not Peter only, but all the apostles and ministers, whose business it is to watch over themselves, and the souls of men committed to their care.

Gill: Mar 13:35 - Watch ye therefore // for ye know not when the master of the house cometh // at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning

Watch ye therefore,.... Against false Christs, and false prophets; over yourselves, and the whole church; for the words are particularly addressed to the disciples of Christ:

for ye know not when the master of the house cometh; when Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven, and in earth, is named, who is a Son in his own house, is an high priest over the house of God, and Lord of his church and people, whom he has bought with his blood, and provides for with his grace, and by his Spirit, when he will come to break up housekeeping with the Jews, and bring his wrath upon them to the uttermost: whether

at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning. This is agreeably to the division of the night among the Jews, who speak of the first watch, the middle of the night, the cock crowing, and morning, as distinct from each other. The three first of these we have in one passage ^q:

"every day they remove the ashes from the altar, הגבר בקריאת, "at cock crowing", or near it, either before, or after it; and on the day of atonement, מהצות, "at midnight"; and on the feast days, "at the first watch",''

the same with the evening here: and elsewhere the morning and cock crowing are distinguished ^r;

"for a last of the congregation, how long may a man eat and drink? until the pillar of the morning ascends, (or until it is morning,) the words of R. Eliezer ben Jacob; R. Simeon says, until cock crowing.''

And so the phrase, from cock crowing till morning, is used by them ^s. The Romans also divided the night in like manner, into evening, the dead of the night, or midnight, cock crowing, and the morning ^t. The allusion seems to be to the time of the president of the temple's coming into it, who had the management of the affairs of it, and of appointing to each priest his work: it is said ^u,

"whoever would remove the ashes from the altar, rose up early, and washed himself before the president came; but in what hour does the president come? not at all times alike: sometimes he comes, מקריאת הגבר, "at cock crowing", or near it, before it, or after it; and the president comes and knocks for them, and they open to him; and he says unto them, whosoever has washed himself, let him come and cast lots: they cast lots, and he is worthy whom he counts worthy.''

Such who understand these words of Christ's coming by death, or at judgment, apply these seasons to the several ages of men, as childhood, youth, manhood, and old age.

Gill: Mar 13:36 - Lest coming suddenly // he find you sleeping

Lest coming suddenly,.... Unthought of, and unexpected, at an unawares:

he find you sleeping; inactive in the exercise of grace, and negligent in the performance of duty; unprepared for his coming, and unfit for service.

Gill: Mar 13:37 - And what I say unto you // I say unto all // watch

And what I say unto you,.... The four disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew; who came privately to him, and put to him the questions, which occasioned this long discourse; see Mar 13:3.

I say unto all. The Syriac and Persic versions read, "you all"; meaning all the rest of his apostles, and all his disciples and followers in Jerusalem, and in all Judea; who were all concerned in these things, and whom it became to

watch, and be upon their guard, and cast off all sloth and negligence; since they knew not soon the son of man would come, and all these evil things would be brought upon the Jewish nation, city, and temple: and the same exhortation is suitable to saints in all ages, times, and places, on account of the various snares, temptations, and evils, that they are liable to, the suddenness of death, and the uncertainty of the second coming of Christ.