Mark 13:23 kjv
But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Mark 13:23 nkjv
But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Mark 13:23 niv
So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Mark 13:23 esv
But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
Mark 13:23 nlt
Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
Mark 13 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 46:9-10 | "I am God, and there is no other...declaring the end from the beginning." | God's divine foreknowledge and revelation. |
| John 13:19 | "I am telling you this now before it happens, so that...you may believe." | Jesus declares events beforehand for faith. |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants..." | God reveals plans to His prophets. |
| Deut 18:21-22 | "How can we know the word...If the thing does not happen..." | Test of a true prophet's words. |
| Jer 28:9 | "...when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then it will be known..." | Fulfillment validates prophecy. |
| Mark 13:5-6 | "Take heed that no one deceives you...many will come in My name..." | Initial warning against deception. |
| Mark 13:21-22 | "If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’...do not believe." | Direct context: warning against false Christs. |
| Mark 13:33 | "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." | Imperative for constant watchfulness. |
| Mark 13:35 | "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming." | Call to sustained alertness. |
| Mark 13:37 | "And what I say to you I say to all: Watch!" | Universal command to watch. |
| Matt 24:4-5 | "Take heed that no one deceives you...many will come in My name..." | Matthew's parallel warning. |
| Matt 24:11 | "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." | Prediction of widespread false prophecy. |
| Matt 24:23-26 | "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!'...do not believe." | Detailed warning against signs of false Christs. |
| Matt 24:42 | "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." | Reinforces the need for watchfulness. |
| Matt 25:13 | "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which..." | Parable context: need for readiness. |
| Luke 12:35-36 | "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be..." | Metaphor for readiness and vigilance. |
| Luke 21:8 | "Take heed that you not be deceived...The time has drawn near..." | Luke's parallel warning against deception. |
| Luke 21:34-36 | "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down..." | Call for spiritual vigilance against complacency. |
| Rom 13:11 | "...knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep..." | Exhortation to spiritual alertness. |
| Eph 5:15-16 | "See then that you walk circumspectly...redeeming the time..." | Wise conduct and spiritual awareness. |
| Col 4:5 | "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time." | Wise living and making the most of opportunities. |
| 1 Thess 5:6 | "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober." | Call to wakefulness and sobriety. |
| 1 Pet 4:7 | "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful..." | Imminence calls for sobriety and watchfulness. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about..." | Warning against spiritual attack through vigilance. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But there were also false prophets among the people...secretly bring..." | Warning against future false teachers. |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits..." | Exhortation to discernment. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come..." | Prophecy about character of people in last days. |
| Jude 1:4 | "For certain men have crept in unnoticed...ungodly men, who turn..." | Warning against stealthy deceivers. |
| John 15:15 | "...all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." | Jesus' comprehensive revelation to disciples. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable..." | Sufficiency of inspired Word for equipping. |
Mark 13 verses
Mark 13 23 Meaning
Mark 13:23 is a solemn and urgent warning from Jesus to His disciples, emphasizing His divine foreknowledge and comprehensive revelation of future events, particularly concerning deceptions and tribulations. He asserts that He has proactively provided them with all necessary knowledge regarding these perils, thereby equipping them to remain steadfast and vigilant against falsehoods and misleading signs. This declaration highlights His authoritative teaching and loving provision for their spiritual protection amidst challenging times.
Mark 13 23 Context
Mark chapter 13, known as the Olivet Discourse, presents Jesus' response to His disciples' inquiry regarding the signs preceding the destruction of the Temple and His coming. The preceding verses (Mark 13:21-22) specifically warn against false Christs and false prophets who will perform deceptive signs and wonders to lead even the elect astray. Verse 23 acts as a pivotal summary and emphatic declaration, serving to remind and reinforce to His audience that Jesus has fully informed them of these impending deceptions. The discourse underscores a critical shift from hopeful expectation to vigilant preparedness amidst global tribulation, personal persecution, and rampant spiritual deception leading up to the end of the age and Christ's glorious return.
Mark 13 23 Word analysis
- But: (Gr. Alla, ἀλλά) This strong conjunction introduces a crucial shift or contrast. Here, it underlines the extreme importance of the subsequent warning, especially following the intense description of deceptions, underscoring the gravity and urgency of what Jesus is about to say.
- take heed; (Gr. Blepethe, βλέπετε) An imperative verb in the plural, commanding "be watching," "look out," "be alert," "beware." It conveys a continuous and active state of spiritual vigilance and careful discernment, demanding a proactive response rather than passive observation.
- behold, (Gr. Idou, ἰδοῦ) This interjection functions as a spotlight, drawing immediate attention to a significant statement that follows. It adds solemnity, gravity, and emphasis, signaling a critical piece of revealed truth that the listeners must not miss.
- I have told you (Gr. Proeireka hymin, προείρηκα ὑμῖν) From the verb prolegō (προλέγω), meaning "to speak before" or "to tell in advance." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with continuing effects—Jesus' act of informing them is already done, and the information remains valid and effective. It highlights His divine foreknowledge and authoritative prior communication.
- everything (Gr. Panta, πάντα) Literally meaning "all things," "the whole of it." This signifies a comprehensive disclosure, emphasizing that Jesus has held nothing back. He has given them full and sufficient warning concerning the nature and extent of the dangers ahead, ensuring no legitimate claim of ignorance.
- in advance. This phrase, implied by the Greek word proeireka (with the prefix pro- meaning "before"), highlights the preemptive and prophetic nature of Jesus' warnings. He is revealing truths before they manifest, equipping His disciples with prior knowledge for their protection.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "But take heed; behold,": This forceful opening phrase functions as a double imperative, signaling an extreme urgency and necessity for attentiveness. It demands the listener's immediate and active spiritual alertness, serving as an emphatic call to wakefulness and discernment in light of previously stated warnings about pervasive deception.
- "I have told you everything in advance.": This declaration by Jesus powerfully asserts His omniscience, prophetic authority, and profound concern for His disciples. It implies a significant responsibility on the part of the hearers; since they have been fully pre-warned, they are accountable for heeding the counsel. This complete revelation acts as a spiritual shield against surprise and a foundation for enduring faith amidst coming tribulations.
Mark 13 23 Bonus section
The context of Jesus' warning resonated powerfully with His first-century Jewish disciples, who lived in an era ripe with various messianic claimants and nationalistic movements under Roman occupation. Such intense eschatological fervor often made the populace vulnerable to charismatic deceivers. Jesus' pre-emptive warnings served to purify their messianic expectations, steering them away from human-led revolutionary figures or mystical manifestations towards vigilance concerning true spiritual realities and His sovereign plan. Mark 13:23, therefore, not only instructs about future deceptions but also affirms Christ's absolute control over history, demonstrating that evil's schemes are known to Him and have limits, thereby offering true assurance and comfort to those who heed His divine instruction. It emphasizes that ultimate security rests not in avoiding tribulation, but in possessing Christ's truth amidst it.
Mark 13 23 Commentary
Mark 13:23 serves as a pivotal anchor within Jesus' Olivet Discourse, transforming His prophecies from mere information into a practical command for spiritual preparedness. Jesus is not just predicting the future; He is actively equipping His followers against deception by revealing these truths in advance. This verse reinforces the comprehensive sufficiency of Christ's teaching for believers in all ages. His "everything" means that no vital piece of information necessary for navigating end-time trials or any period of deception has been withheld. The emphasis on "in advance" highlights Jesus' divine foresight and loving provision. Therefore, believers have no excuse for succumbing to deceit, as their Lord has thoroughly armed them with foreknowledge. This requires a diligent posture of remembering, internalizing, and applying Christ's warnings.
For practical usage, this means:
- Being continually watchful for deceptions, remembering that spiritual battle involves schemes against truth.
- Deeply studying and holding fast to the revealed Word of God as the ultimate safeguard against all forms of spiritual error.
- Testing every spirit, every teaching, and every claim against the comprehensive truths delivered by Christ and recorded in Scripture.