Mark 13:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But before answering their question, He strengthens their minds that they may not be deceived, wherefore there follows: And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you? And this He says, because when the sufferings of the Jews began, some arose professing to be teachers, wherefore there follows: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

In answer to the disciples, the Lord tells them of things which were from that time forth to have their course; whether He meant the destruction of Jerusalem which occasioned their question, or His own coming through the Church, (in which He ever comes even unto the end, for we know that He comes in His own, when His members are born day by day,) or the end itself, in which He will appear to judge the quick and the dead.

Because the Lord, when some were praising the buildings of the temple, had plainly answered that all these were to be destroyed, the disciples privately enquired about the time and the signs of the destruction which was foretold; wherefore it is said: And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled. The Lord sits upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, when He discourses upon the ruin and destruction of the temple, so that even His bodily position may be in accordance with the words which He speaks, pointing out mystically that, abiding in peace with the saints, He hates the madness of the proud. For the mount of Olives marks the fruitful sublimity of the Holy Church.

When you hear conflicts and disputes, do not be troubled; such occurrences are to be expected, but they are not the end. Nations will rise against nations, and there will be turmoil in various places, along with strife and insurrection, marking the beginning of these afflictions (Mark 13:7-8). What stands out in this passage—and I have often reflected on it—is that the ultimate sign of the initial afflictions that must come before the final affliction, represented by the Antichrist, is rebellion. Rationalism, with its proclamations, will not cease its progress, as it relies on the constantly shifting human intellect. We should anticipate an increasing manifestation of this affliction.

The disciples' requirements and current circumstances did not necessitate a full disclosure of the entire plan regarding the establishment of His kingdom. Consequently, the Lord chose to unveil the future to them only to the extent needed to correct their misconceptions and caution them against the trials that lay ahead, serving as a warning for other believers as well. “He shall go away to His Father; in His place, there will be others here and there bearing His name. Do not believe; that is not how He is to manifest on earth. Strife will occur, and the end of the age is not yet. Conflicts will abound, there will be plagues, famines, earthquakes: these are merely the beginnings of sorrows (be patient).

The period between the reign of Augustus and the fall of Jerusalem marked a time of significant upheaval within the Roman Empire. In Rome, the succession of emperors occurred rapidly, while in various cities where both Jews and Gentiles resided, tensions often escalated, leading to violent confrontations between these two groups. Such conflicts resulted in numerous casualties. Additionally, there were famines, including one referenced in Acts 11:28. Natural disasters also struck, as evidenced by devastating earthquakes during Nero's reign that obliterated entire cities in Campania and Asia Minor.

The apostles believed that the anticipated reign of the Messiah would commence following the destruction of Jerusalem, with the return of Jesus Christ heralding the establishment of His majestic kingdom alongside the end of the world. They expected these events to unfold imminently while they were still living. In light of these assumptions, they needed guidance. Therefore, prior to directly addressing their inquiry, Jesus cautioned them: "Beware lest someone deceive you with false assurances about my coming and the coming end of the world. Many will come in my name and say, 'I am the Christ'; they will mislead many" (Luke 21:8). But He warned, "Do not believe them!

The term "confusion" is a characteristic uniquely found in Eu. Mark. The Greek word employed here conveys a genuine disruption, particularly the turmoil of the spirit, which manifests in various forms of human disarray. In a political context, it denotes a breakdown of order, including revolution and anarchy. In this instance, alongside the broader descriptions of calamities, it refers to a profound upheaval affecting both societal structures and moral values. The realization of this aspect of the prophecy concerning the period leading to the destruction of Jerusalem can be observed in the extensive disorder within the Jewish kingdom during that time, which preceded and accompanied this significant event in the history of the Jewish people.