Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 13].
to Jesus. Many of the theories attribute grave error to Jesus or
to the Gospels on this subject. The view adopted in the
discussion in Matthew is the one suggested here, that Jesus
blended in one picture his death, the destruction of Jerusalem
within that generation, the second coming and end of the world
typified by the destruction of the city. The lines between these
topics are not sharply drawn in the report and it is not possible
for us to separate the topics clearly. This great discourse is
the longest preserved in Mark and may be due to Peter. Mark may
have given it in order "to forewarn and forearm" (Bruce) the
readers against the coming catastrophe of the destruction of
Jerusalem. Both Matthew (Mt 24) and Luke (Lu 21:5-36) follow
the general line of Mark 13 though Mt 24:43-25:46 presents new
material (parables).
13:5 {Take need that no man lead you astray} (\Blepete m• tis
h–m•s plan•s•i\). Same words in Mt 24:4. Lu 21:8 has it "that
ye be not led astray" (\m• plan•th•te\). This word \plana•\ (our
_planet_) is a bold one. This warning runs through the whole
discussion. It is pertinent today after so many centuries. About
the false Christs then and now see on ¯Mt 24:5. It is amazing
the success that these charlatans have through the ages in
winning the empty-pated to their hare-brained views. Only this
morning as I am writing a prominent English psychologist has
challenged the world to a radio communication with Mars asserting
that he has made frequent trips to Mars and communicated with its
alleged inhabitants. And the daily papers put his ebullitions on
the front page. For discussion of the details in verses 6-8 see
on ¯Mt 24:5-8. All through the ages in spite of the words of
Jesus men have sought to apply the picture here drawn to the
particular calamity in their time.
13:7 {Must needs come to pass} (\dei genesthai\). Already there
were outbreaks against the Jews in Alexandria, at Seleucia with
the slaughter of more than fifty thousand, at Jamnia, and
elsewhere. Caligula, Claudius, Nero will threaten war before it
finally comes with the destruction of the city and temple by
Titus in A.D. 70. Vincent notes that between this prophecy by
Jesus in A.D. 30 (or 29) and the destruction of Jerusalem there
was an earthquake in Crete (A.D. 46 or 47), at Rome (A.D. 51), at
Apamaia in Phrygia (A.D. 60), at Campania (A.D. 63). He notes
also four famines during the reign of Claudius A.D. 41-54. One of
them was in Judea in A.D. 44 and is alluded to in Ac 11:28.
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