Mark 13:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As if He had said, As when the fig tree puts forth its leaves, summer follows at once, so also after the woes of Antichrist, at once, without an interval, shall be the coming of Christ, who will be to the just as summer after winter, but to sinners, winter after summer.

All that is said by the three Evangelists concerning the Advent of our Lord, if diligently compared together and examined, will perchance be found to belong to His daily coming in His body, that is, the Church, except those places where that last coming is so promised, as if it were approaching; for instance in the last part of the discourse according to Matthew, the coming itself is clearly expressed, where it is said, When the Son of Man shall come in his glory. (Matt. 25:31) For what does he refer to in the words, when ye shall see these things come to pass, but those things which He has mentioned above, amongst which it is said, And then ye shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds. The end therefore shall not be then, but then it shall be near at hand.

Or else, the leaves which come forth are words now spoken, the summer at hand is the day of Judgment, in which every tree shall shew what it had within it, deadness for burning, or greenness to be planted with the tree of life. There follows: Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till these things be done.

Just as He summoned forth that which was not as though it were (Rom. 4:17), He brought into reality that which is destined to be, as if it were already present. It cannot be said that what He has determined will not come to pass; rather, it must inevitably come to fruition as He has planned. This signifies that He has fulfilled what will occur, having already known its outcome.

In the Scriptures, the process by which the current state of the world transitions to a more glorious and improved condition is often referred to as ‘destruction.’ This term is used because, alongside the transformation into something better, the previous form is indeed obliterated. There is no contradiction or inconsistency with Divine teachings here, as the apostle remarks that it is the image of this world that fades away, rather than the world itself (1 Cor. 7:31).

Nothing in the material realm is as enduring as heaven and earth, yet in the natural course of existence, few things dissipate as swiftly as words. Until they come to fruition, words do not truly exist; however, once they are realized, they cease to be merely words, for fulfillment requires their passing away. Hence, He declares: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. It is as if He were conveying: ‘All that appears to you as permanent and unchanging is not eternal; conversely, all that seems fleeting in Me is, in fact, eternal, as the abiding truths are articulated through My words, which are ephemeral.’

Under the example of a tree the Lord gave a pattern of the end, saying, Now learn a parable of the fig tree, when her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

With such a grand and reassuring depiction of the Messiah’s return, capable of leaving a profound and uplifting impact on every devout heart, it is only natural that the disciples of Jesus would be filled with heightened curiosity about when this moment would occur. “When, when will all these things come to pass?” was likely not just the question of Peter at that moment; the flow of the discussion suggests this. The God-man responded, “The most significant events in the kingdom of God, similar to those in the natural world, announce themselves: we must simply remain watchful. Observe the fig tree and all other trees (Luke 21:29) and learn from them. When their branches grow tender and begin to bud, then you see this and without needing prophecy, can say (Luke 21:30) that summer is near.

The indicators of the arrival of one age or another are evident in the occurrences we witness. Just as one can gauge the proximity of summer by observing the softness of a fig tree's branches and the budding of its leaves, we can discern the closeness of various ages through these signs. Concerning Jerusalem, the Lord has stated even more explicitly that this generation will not pass away until all that has been declared about Jerusalem comes to fruition. My words are more steadfast than heaven and earth. However, it is not possible to ascertain the exact day or hour of these events.

The inquiry from the disciples encompassed two primary topics: the timing and signs related to the conclusion of Jerusalem, the world, and the second coming of Christ. Until that point, the Lord had addressed the latter part of their question. Moving forward, He begins to respond regarding the timing of the prophesied events. He first teaches them to recognize that the end was near through the signs that would appear, similar to how they discern the arrival of summer when the fig trees start to bud and flourish. He also clarifies when His prophecy would come to fruition, stating, “This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be fulfilled.” This indicates the onset of His predictions, which indeed materialized, as the city of Jerusalem was destroyed 40 years later, in AD 70.

Do not overlook the signs I have provided regarding the impending devastation of Jerusalem. Consider the fig tree as a parallel: when its branches soften and it begins to produce leaves, you will recognize these familiar indicators as evidence that summer approaches. In the same way, when the occurrences I have predicted start to unfold, you will understand that judgment is imminent, already at the threshold for the people of Israel. Truly, I tell you, it will happen swiftly; many who are alive today will witness all these trials and will endure them personally. Everything I proclaim will come to pass, for even heaven and earth may pass away before my words do not come to fruition.

That day will arrive unexpectedly, serving as a moment of reward for all devoted servants while simultaneously being a day of reckoning for those who have not fulfilled their purpose and are unprepared for this momentous occasion. To impress upon their hearts the importance of vigilance and faithfulness, as well as to caution them against the perils of lax living and the dimming of their spiritual light, He shared two parables about the ten virgins and the talents (Matthew 25:1-30).

The passage aligns closely with the commentary found in Matthew 24:26-36, particularly regarding the phrase ‘Neither the Son.’ Refer to the commentary on Matthew 24:36. If the Lord had claimed knowledge but withheld it, it would indeed have caused sorrow among His followers. However, by stating that neither He nor the angels are privy to this knowledge, He demonstrates profound wisdom and effectively prevents them from their curiosity and incessant questioning. To illustrate this, consider how young children often ask for objects they see in their parents' hands, and if their parents are reluctant to share, the children may begin to cry. In such instances, parents often conceal the item and display their empty hands to pacify their children.