Mark 13:5

Jesus warned his followers not to be deceived by false messiahs. Many people would come claiming, ‘I am He,’ and would lead many others astray. These people claimed either to be the long-awaited Jewish Messiah or to speak with the Messiah’s authority.

Some examples include

• Theudas the Galilean (Acts 5:36),

• Simon, the son of Gioras, and

• John of Gischala, who tricked many people in the AD 60s.

• Scholars often divide this section into two parts, 13:5–13 and 13:14–23. The first part is often interpreted as describing the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in AD 70, while the second part is taken to describe the coming of the Son of Man in the future. It is best, however, to interpret all of 13:5–23 as describing events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 because:

  1. 13:5–23 is the answer from Jesus to the two questions (13:4) that deal with the destruction of Jerusalem (13:2);

  2. The commands to flee Judea (13:14–16), the woe announced upon pregnant and nursing women (13:17), and the prayer that it not take place in winter (13:18) make sense if they refer to the events of AD 70 but not if they refer to the future return of Christ;

  3. Three warnings connect this passage (13:5, 9, 23) connect this passage together and show that 13:5–23 should be understood as a unit.

• The section is arranged as a chiasm (a literary pattern shaped like an X). The themes appear in this order:

  • A: Deceivers claim to be the Messiah (13:5–6).

    • B: There are reports of fighting and natural disasters (13:7–8).

      • C: There is persecution of believers (13:9–13).

    • B': The fighting in Judea and resulting suffering begin (13:14–20).

  • A': Deceivers claim to be the Messiah (13:21–23).

This passage brings to a conclusion the section begun at 11:1. Israel did not produce spiritual fruit (11:12–26; 12:38–40). Its leaders were opposed to God's chosen one, the Christ (11:1–11, 27–33; 12:13–17, 18–27). This would result in judgment and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.