Mark 13 37

Mark 13:37 kjv

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Mark 13:37 nkjv

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

Mark 13:37 niv

What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'?"

Mark 13:37 esv

And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

Mark 13:37 nlt

I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!"

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 37 Meaning

This verse serves as a climactic universalization of Jesus’ previous warnings regarding His unexpected return. It communicates a crucial imperative for all believers across all ages: spiritual vigilance and constant preparedness. The call to "stay awake" signifies active watchfulness, spiritual alertness, and readiness for the Lord’s unexpected advent, urging against complacency or spiritual slumber, ensuring one is found faithful and obedient upon His return.

Mark 13 37 Context

Mark chapter 13, often referred to as the "Olivet Discourse," presents Jesus' prophecies regarding the destruction of the Temple, signs preceding His Second Coming, and the nature of the end times. The disciples, particularly Peter, James, John, and Andrew (Mk 13:3), asked Jesus about the timing of these events. Throughout the chapter, Jesus warns against deception, describes tribulations, and assures His disciples of His definite return. Mark 13:37 is the concluding verse of the Parable of the Doorkeeper (Mk 13:34-36), where a master leaves his servants with responsibilities, commanding the doorkeeper to stay awake for his unexpected return. Jesus' direct application of this parable to "all" listeners emphasizes the universal nature of the command. Historically and culturally, the Jewish people were familiar with Messianic expectations, but Jesus here reorients their focus from specific timing to continuous readiness. The destruction of the Temple in AD 70 served as a profound reminder for the early church of the fragility of earthly institutions and the seriousness of Jesus' prophecies.

Mark 13 37 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, yet significant. It links this universal command directly to the preceding parable of the doorkeeper, making it the emphatic conclusion and personal application of the story's teaching.
• what I say (ὃ δὲ... λέγω - ho de... legō): Refers back to the specific instruction given within the parable, particularly the command for the doorkeeper to "keep watch" (Mk 13:34-36). It signals a summary and distillation of the discourse.
• to you (ὑμῖν - hymin): In this immediate context, "you" refers to the specific disciples (Peter, James, John, and Andrew) to whom Jesus had been speaking in this discourse. However, it's about to be significantly broadened.
• I say (λέγω - legō): Indicates direct and authoritative instruction from Jesus Himself.
• to all (πᾶσιν - pasin): This is the crucial amplifying phrase. The Greek word pasin (dative plural of pas) means "all," "everyone," "the whole." It decisively expands the audience from the original four disciples, or even the larger group of disciples present, to include all who would ever follow Christ across history. This makes the command universal for every believer in every generation.
• Stay awake (γρηγορεῖτε - grēgoreite): The core imperative.
  • Transliteration: grēgoreite
  • Meaning: A present active imperative, meaning "be continually watchful," "keep alert," "be sleepless," "vigilant." It is not about avoiding physical sleep, but about maintaining spiritual readiness, attentiveness, and activity. It signifies a state of being mentally and spiritually prepared, free from spiritual sluggishness, moral carelessness, or doctrinal complacency.
  • Significance: This active vigilance implies constant awareness of God’s will, commitment to faithful living, readiness for Christ’s return, and resistance to worldly distractions that would dull spiritual senses. It counters the tendency to grow weary, give up, or become presumptuous about the timing of His coming.

• Words-group analysis: "what I say to you I say to all" This phrase demonstrates a powerful expansion of the audience and a clear theological principle. Jesus elevates a particular instruction, initially given to a specific few, to a universal truth applicable to the entire Church. It underscores that the warnings and exhortations about Christ's return, and the accompanying call for readiness, are not just for a select group of leaders or those in a specific generation, but for every disciple throughout time. It ensures that no one can claim exemption from the command to be spiritually vigilant. This broadens the responsibility and personalizes the message for every individual believer.

Mark 13 37 Bonus section

The command to "stay awake" highlights the ethical and practical implications of eschatology. It shifts focus from predicting "when" to faithfully living "how" in light of the certainty of Christ's return. The immediate implication for early Christians facing persecution and the later destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70) would have been immense – a call to endurance and faithful witness. For believers across all centuries, it provides a motivation for perseverance, accountability in discipleship, and a constant awareness of God's sovereign timing, encouraging readiness rather than slumber or distraction. This divine uncertainty of the "day or hour" is precisely what makes universal watchfulness necessary. It is a protective measure against spiritual apathy or, conversely, obsessive calculation, directing the believer's energy toward practical godliness and mission.

Mark 13 37 Commentary

Mark 13:37 provides the powerful and universalizing conclusion to Jesus' extensive discourse on His return. It distills the essence of the "Olivet Discourse" into a singular, overarching command: "Stay awake." This command, rooted in the preceding parable of the watchful doorkeeper, mandates not only passive waiting but active spiritual vigilance and preparedness for the unexpected but certain return of the Lord. The crucial expansion "what I say to you I say to all" emphasizes that this imperative is not exclusive to the initial disciples or any particular generation, but is binding upon all who profess faith in Christ throughout history. It is a timeless call to resist complacency, live righteously, and continually attend to one's spiritual condition, lest one be caught unprepared by His sudden appearing. The watchfulness required involves faithful living, diligent service, and persistent prayer, rather than speculative attempts to discern the unknown hour.