COMMENTARY ON MARK,
LESSON NUMBER 145
“ Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 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. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:32-37; Matt 24:36-42; Lk 21:34-36)
THE WORD TO EVERYONE: “WATCH”
INTRODUCTION
We know from Christ’s intercessory prayer prior to His betrayal, that His mind was set on the glory He would receive upon His return to heaven. “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was” (John 17:5), and “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me . . .” (John 17:24). This quest – particularly as it regards His disciples beholding His glory – is driving the discourse He is now delivering to His disciples. His return is the time when they will behold Him in all of His glory, and it is imperative that they be ready to see it. At that time, all of the glory that is in the world will be overshadowed and engulfed by the glory of Christ. Those who are not prepared for that event will lose everything that is unrelated to Christ’s glory – and He has nothing to offer, nor is there any benefit in Him, that is unrelated to His glory. As Jesus speaks, we become keenly aware of the priority of our readiness for His return. It is imperative that our lives be lived within the acute awareness of the Lord’s return. That is not a matter for human speculation and the formation of lifeless dogma. For men, it may appear as though it is important to maintain an official theological position concerning the coming of the Lord. However, it is even more important to prepare for His coming, for it is a Divine appointment. As men engage in preparing themselves for the return of their Lord, they will find it will shape their perception of His return itself. It is only when men detach themselves from this doctrine, that corrupted views gain strength and attractiveness. This is owning to the uniquely sanctifying effects of faith, and its association with the hope that is an anchor for the soul (Heb 6:19).
THE TIME IS NOT KNOWN – WATCH!
“ Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”
THAT DAY AND THAT HOUR. This reveals the precision with which Divine appointments are made. For example, the Lord referred to the time when Isaac would be born as “the time appointed” (Gen 18:14). Again, when God smote the Egyptian cattle, it was said to have been at a “set time” He had “appointed” (Ex 9:5). After Habakkuk had been given a vision of the invasion of the Chaldeans, God told him it would be fulfilled at “an appointed time” (Hab 2:3). So it is with the coming of the Son of Man. It will be at an appointed time – a specific day and hour. That very revelation confirms that there is no way this day can be caused to come sooner or later. It is not subject to change, for men have no influence over the time in which it will take place. When Peter admonishes believers, “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet 3:12), he does not mean that we are causing the day to come sooner. Rather, faith leaps over the boundaries of time and enables us to live in view of the coming of that day as though it will be in the next moment. Our expectation is not driven by the awareness of when the day will come. Rather, it is driven by persuasion of its reality, and our intense longing for it.
KNOWN ONLY TO THE FATHER. It is not difficult to understand why men do not know the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. The reason why angels do not know can also be seen in the fact that it has not been revealed to them. Divine appointments are not posted on a kind of heavenly bulletin board for everyone there to know. But how is it that the Son, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily, does not know – for Jesus Himself includes the Son among those who know neither the day nor the hour: i,e, “neither the Son.”
When it comes to the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not dealing with someone who cannot know. Rather, this is an area in which Jesus has chosen to limit the scope of His knowledge. He has consented to maintain His present ministry without this piece of knowledge. And why has he chosen to do this? It is because this is an aspect of His fellowship with His people – a fellowship of expectation or anticipation. He joins with all the creation in looking forward to the time when He will be fully known, death will be destroyed, and His people will be gathered unto Himself. He joins in the chorus of expectation that is being sung in tones of travail by the people to whom He is betrothed, and will soon be His bride. We have been called into the fellowship of Jesus (1 Cor 1:9), and hope or expectation is an aspect of that fellowship.
But why does this condition exist – this circumstance of Jesus not knowing the day or hour of His return? There is a reason for this situation – a reason that has to do with our salvation. In a sense, this enables Him to be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb 4:15). In this case, the infirmity is not knowing – living in expectation of a glorious consummation without knowing exactly when it will occur. See, for us to safely negotiate through life without this morsel of knowledge, we need a certain kind of grace – a grace that will keep hope alive, even though we know not the day nor the hour when it will be realized. We need a faith that will sustain us under that circumstance, enabling us to forge forward, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. If we do not obtain that kind of faith, we will soon become fatigued, discouraged, and possibly faint in the way. Right here is where the Savior not knowing the day or the hour of His return comes in. He also knows by experience what it is to long for something without knowing precisely when it will occur. He is anticipating the joining of His bride to Himself with a great longing. He knows that when His enemies are openly subdued and put publically under His feet – that will be the time He will be joined to His bride. Even though He has this great longing, and has chosen to forfeit the knowledge of the time it will take place, yet He faithfully maintains His ministry, keeping his saints, making intercession for them, and bringing them to glory.
WATCH AND PRAY. Keep looking and keep praying! Both of these activities sharpen the mind and sensitize the spirit. These activities are necessary because of the nature of spiritual life. In order for men to live by faith and walk in the Spirit, their hearts must be correctly focused. The fact that they are “saved by hope” (Rom 8:24), means that the future is a primary consideration. It is not possible to live by faith (Rom 1:17)and be absorbed by things that can be seen. Watching looks to the future, and prayer maintains an association with heaven. Both of these tend to mitigate the influence of the present and the distraction of the seen.
YOU DO NOT KNOW THE TIME. In view of this unalterable circumstance, it is a waste of time to indulge in speculation about the time of Christ’s return. The inclination to engage in such activity is a temptation from the wicked one, for it can yield no certain information. The salvation of God is an economy of faith. That is why “the just shall live by faith” (Heb 10:38). We are therefore to live in view of the Lord’s coming, understanding that the appointed time cannot be known. Yet, it could not possible be more certain. The day of the Lord shall come! That confines us to faith, which is the cognitive principle of the Kingdom.
WORKING AND WATCHING
“ 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.”
A MAN TAKING A FAR JOURNEY. Having completed His mission to lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:17-18), Jesus left this world and returned to heaven. This was required because “the just shall live by faith” (Gal 3:11). Luke says the Lord was like a Nobleman who “went into a far country to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return” (Lk 19:12). This sets the tone for living unto the Lord. Life is lived out with the Lord being absent from the immediate scene. Within the framework of things that can be seen, we are “absent from the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6). This gives the advantage to faith, which enables the individual to see “Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27). The life of faith must be lived out without the sensible presence of the Lord. This circumstance will unveil the seriousness of the individual, and will eventually eliminate all pretenders.
HE LEFT HIS HOUSE AND GAVE AUTHORITY TO HIS SERVANTS. Matthew covers this statement with the parable of the talents. In this parable, the Lord says the man “called His servants and delivered to them His goods.” He did this in strict accord with the ability of each servant, then “took His journey” (Matt 25:14-30). Luke depicts it by giving the parable of the pounds, in which the master charges his servants, “Occupy till I come” (Lk 19:12-17). Mark states that “the Son of man” was like a man who “gave authority to His servants” – authority to handle His goods, investing and distributing them appropriately. This is a very exact description of stewardship. It involves handling the things that belong to Jesus while He is away, and doing so in strict accord with His will, being ready to give a strict account of how those spiritual commodities were handled. Each individual is invested with what is required to administer the things that have been put into his hand.
TO EVERY MAN HIS WORK. The goods of the Master, and the authority given to His servants to handle them, translate into a “work” – something to be accomplished. This is stated in a number of ways in apostolic doctrine. The twelfth chapter of Romans portrays it as God dealing to every person in Christ “a measure of faith.” This is also referred to as “the grace that is given to us,” and translates into such works as prophesying, ministering, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy (Rom12:3-8). These are all areas of responsibility involving what actually belongs to Jesus. In other words, insightful proclamation, teaching exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy are His goods for the church.
The twelfth chapter of First Corinthians speaks of this same activity as “spiritual gifts” being given to the church by the administration of the Holy Spirit. There is a diversity of gifts given, all of which work together for the common good of the body of Christ. (1 Cor 12:1-28). There is also a ranking of these gifts, with the teaching gifts being given the priority (1 Cor 12:28).
The fourth chapter of Ephesians speaks of the gifts that Jesus has given to the church, accentuating the teaching ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers. The objective of these works is to build up the saints so they can each fulfill their ministry. Then the body will become mature, and each member will be “filled with all the fulness of God,” which is God’s revealed objective for them(Eph 4:11-19).
The fourth chapter of First Peter speaks of this distribution of work as being made “stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Speaking and ministering are mentioned, both of which are to be done according to “the ability which God giveth” (1 Pet 4:10-11).
Jesus has placed such things – His goods – in the hands of men, enduing them with the ability to perform the specified works. When He comes again, He will require them to account for how they did that work.
It should be very apparent to you that this whole arrangement differs significantly from the average perception of the work of the church. However, what Jesus has said to His disciples – only four of them – is intended for all of His body, “which is the church” (Col 1:24). Those disciples were actually the church in the embryo.
THE PORTER IS TO WATCH. The “porter” is the “doorkeeper.” NKJV This is the person who monitors the entrance of people into Divine favor. John the Baptist was such a monitor, and Jesus referred to him as “the porter” who opened the door for Jesus Himself (John 10:3). As a faithful “porter,” John would not open the door for “the Pharisees and Sadducees” who came to his baptism (Matt 3:7-9). On the day of Pentecost, when Peter was the keeper of the door, he specified who could enter (Acts 2:38). Philip did the same with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:37), and Paul with the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:30-31).
The doorkeeper is now told to “watch” – that is, to conduct his ministry in view of the imminent return of the Lord. He is not to become infected with the virus of institutionalism, so that he forgets that the house belongs to Jesus, as well as the various ministries and functions that have been placed within it. Thus, the porter is “commanded” to “watch.”
DO NOT BE FOUND SLEEPING! WATCH!
“ 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
THEREFORE WATCH! Jesus mentions the word “watch” four times in our text (vs 33,34,35,37). Two different words are used. In the 33rd verse, the word translated “watch” means to be sleepless, keep awake, be circumspect and attentive. STRONG’S In the remaining verses, the word translated “watch” means to give strict attention to, be cautious, and take heed lest one be overtaken by calamity. STRONG’S The first meaning has to do with our posture – the manner in which we look at life. The second has to do with how we proceed in life, or handle the various responsibilities and opportunities that are placed before us. On the one hand, we are to avoid falling into a spiritual sleep – becoming unaware of the approaching return of our Lord, and the stewardship He has delivered to us. On the other hand, we must be able to evaluate the circumstances we confront in view of the return of our Lord.
A religion that draws men into a state where they lose the awareness of their responsibility to the Lord is the pinnacle of falsehood. If the objective of salvation is to reconcile us to God (Col 1:20-21), bring us into fellowship with the Son (1 Cor 1:9), and enable us to walk in the light (1 John 1:7), then living without due regard for the Lord and a sense of the nearness of His return is a monumental transgression.
YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN HE IS COMING. In the world, it is sometimes thought that what you do not know will not hurt you, because it is really irrelevant. Therefore, if a person does not have a detailed knowledge of the history of our country, he can still live in it with relative safety. However, when it comes to spiritual life, if a person does not know the details of a matter – particularly when they pertain to Christ Himself – it is in order to promote a heightened sense of responsibility. The return of our Lord is a case in point. The fact that God has not revealed when Jesus will return by no means suggests that it is not important. Nor, indeed, does this mean that we are to engage in a quest to know that time. Rather, this circumstance assists believers live “unto” the One “who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor 5:15). The fact that Jesus might suddenly appear is conducive to sober-mindedness.
In view of this circumstance, what can be said of professed leaders of the flock who do not keep the people of God aware of the appointed return of Jesus? What can be said of those who cause the people to become absorbed with life in this world, causing them to be unprepared for the coming of the Lord? I do not think it is possible to state the seriousness of such a thing.
BEING FOUND ASLEEP. The Lord will come “suddenly,” or without providing time for preparation. While Scripture indicates there will be a period of awareness that the hour of Christ’s return is upon men (Rev 6:16; 1 Thess 5:3), there will, at that time, be no provision to make themselves ready to face the Lord. Paul spoke of this when he wrote of the children of the night being overtaken by the day of the Lord (1 Thess 5:4-5).
David spoke of this condition as sleeping “the sleep of death” (Psa 13:3). This is a state in which men grow more and more obtuse and insensitive, until they are “suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov 29:1). It is no wonder that Paul admonishes us, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess 5:6). Paul challenges a lethargic church, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph 5:14). He also wrote this stirring word: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:11-12). He knew that no hope of survival is held out to those who are spiritually asleep when Jesus returns. Salvation is an economy that promotes alertness, vigilance, and circumspection. Dullness and insensitivity are completely out of order.
Jesus confirmed the seriousness of being found unaware when He spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem. It was then, approximately forty years after these words were spoken, that a destruction came suddenly, when the people could do nothing about it. At that time, Jesus said, the people who did not flee the city as Jesus said, would cry out in hopelessness, saying to the mountains, “Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us!” (Lk 23:28-30).
THE WORD TO EVERYONE IS “WATCH!” Here is a word for everyone. “Watch!” And what is it for which we are to watch? Technically, it is not the coming of the Lord itself, for we do not know the Day or the hour. That is a day for which we long and eagerly wait. However, Jesus has given us indications of the approaching of the day, and we are to pay heed to those “signs.” When they are perceived, they will promote sobriety, vigilance, and “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). In other words, we are to discern “the signs of the times” (Matt 16:3), and not be lulled into complacency. Nothing must be permitted to dull our awareness of ultimate things – things that will accompany the return of Christ.