THE LESSON OF THE FIG TREE

Passage: Mark 13:28-37

Key verse: 31

NIV

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[a] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation(A) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(B) 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(C)

The Day and Hour Unknown

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.(D) 33 Be on guard! Be alert[b]!(E) You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants(F) in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”(G)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 13:29 Or he
  2. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts alert and pray
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, (A)at the very gates. 30 (B)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 (C)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (D)my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, (E)no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, (F)nor the Son, (G)but only the Father. 33 (H)Be on guard, (I)keep awake.[a] For you do not know when the time will come. 34 (J)It is like a man (K)going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants[b] in charge, (L)each with his work, and commands (M)the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 (N)Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, (O)in the evening, or (P)at midnight, or (Q)when the rooster crows,[c] or (R)in the morning— 36 lest (S)he come suddenly and (T)find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: (U)Stay awake.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts add and pray
  2. Mark 13:34 Or bondservants
  3. Mark 13:35 That is, the third watch of the night, between midnight and 3 a.m.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. My words will never pass away (28-31)

When trees bud and flowers push up through the earth, we know that summer is near. We can also know that Jesus' coming is near when we see the signs mentioned in this chapter: wars, earthquakes, deception, persecution, times of suffering and distress. He gave his word that he would return. He will keep his promise. Everything else will pass away, but God's word will never pass away.

2. Keep watch (32-37)

Jesus left us, his servants, with his work to do until his return. No one knows when he will return except God the Father. So we should not speculate about when Jesus will come again. Rather, we must be ready to meet him. We must be found doing the work he has given us to do. We must work hard at our appointed tasks. And we must give the gospel to a sinsick world, so that all of his elect may know and believe and be saved at his coming. We must be alert and working hard, ready for him to appear.

Prayer: Lord, I believe your word of promise. Help me to do your work faithfully until Jesus comes.

One Word: Jesus keeps his word; I must preach it