Mark 13:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.

NIV: It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

NASB: It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.

CSB: "It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.

NLT: The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

Jesus is explaining how His followers, particularly those who live through the end times, need to actively watch for His coming. The man going on a journey is Jesus who ascended to heaven (Acts 1:6–11) and will return at a later, unknown date (Mark 13:32). The servants are the disciples who establish the church and Christ-followers who maintain it. But specifically, the servants are those who come to faith in Christ during the tribulation and need to keep their priorities straight. Instead of hiding from the horror around them in alcohol (Luke 21:34) or trying to take financial advantage of the chaos (Revelation 18), they need to focus on obeying God and remembering that Jesus will return soon.

Each of us have our own work, a role in the church that is powered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some serve, teach, encourage, give, lead, or show mercy (Romans 12). Others have extra wisdom, knowledge, or faith, or discernment that reveals if a spirit is good or evil (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). All of us are called to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:19–20). But we must indeed use these gifts (Romans 12:6).

There is more to our "work" than just the church, of course. Parents are called to raise their kids to love God (Deuteronomy 6:7; Ephesians 6:4). Employees are called to be faithful to and honest with their employers (1 Peter 2:18). Citizens are called to obey the law (Romans 13:1–7). We are all called to show the love of Jesus to neighbors and enemies (Matthew 5:43–48). The unknown timing of Jesus' return should inspire us to work more urgently, not slack off as if He's given us downtime.

Jesus is specifically addressing His followers who live in the tribulation, but Paul insisted this message is for all Christ-followers: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15–16).

Mark 13:32–37 continues Jesus talking about the end times by relating the fact that not even He knows when He will return: only God does. This does not mean that Jesus is not God. It merely means that in His incarnate form, the Son has ''emptied himself'' (Philippians 2:7) of God's omniscience and omnipotence. Like a weightlifter who only uses a portion of his strength at times, God incarnate can limit expressing His omnipotence. This is a message for us that we should not believe those who claim to know when Jesus is returning. This warning is also found in Luke 21:34–36 while Matthew gives this warning along with the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents in Matthew 24:42–25:30.

Days before the crucifixion, the disciples praise the glory of the temple. When Jesus tells them the temple will be destroyed, they ask for signs of that coming destruction and of His return (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answers their second question with information crucial for believers in the end times, and any time. Tribulation Christians will face horrifying hardships and violence, as may believers of any era, but they must remember that the hardships will not last. Jesus will return so quickly, any attempt to live by the world's rules will be futile.

The prior chapter contained several parables and Jesus' answer to assorted questions. In this section, Jesus turns His teaching towards the disciples. He explains concepts related to the end times: the still-future period when God will complete His plan for judgment on sin. Those details include a prophecy about the impending destruction of the temple. The final chapters of Mark then describe events up to and after the crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of His enemies.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.