Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 13:15
And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter [therein,] to take any thing out of his house:
15. neither enter therein ] The houses of Palestine, as we have seen in the case of the “paralytic borne of four,” ch. Mar 2:3-12, were furnished with a flight of steps outside, by which the housetop could be reached without actually entering the house. The Christians were thus warned by our Lord to flee along the flat roofs to the city wall, and so make their escape.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
On the house-top – See the notes at Mat 9:1-8.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Mar 13:15-16
Not go down into the house.
Opportunity to be seized
Opportunity is like a string of stepping stones across a ford. The traveller, coming up to them, may find the river so swollen with the rains that the stones are all but covered. If he delay, though his home be on the opposite bank, and full in sight, it may be too late to cross, and he may have a journey of several miles to reach his home. (Union Magazine.)
Danger of delay
Opportunity is like a narrow passage in the Arctic Seas. Sometimes, in these northern regions, ships get enclosed in a narrow space between ice islands. The floating rocks glide nearer the ship on every side, and the dismayed seamen behold their only chance of escape from the fatal crash lies in a narrow channel, that every moment grows still narrower. How hurriedly they press their vessel through that strip to reach the safety of the open ocean! Even so must we press along the narrow way that leads to eternal Life; for who knows how soon that narrow way may be closed against him. (Union Magazine.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 15. House-top] See Clarke on Mt 24:17.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
15. And let him that is on thehousetop not get down into the house, neither enter therein, to takeany thing out of his housethat is, let him take the outsideflight of steps from the roof to the ground; a graphic way ofdenoting the extreme urgency of the case, and the danger of beingtempted, by the desire to save his property, to delay till escapeshould become impossible.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And let him that is on the house top,…. On the battlements of the house, either for diversion or devotion:
not go down into the house; in the inner way by the stairs, or ladder within doors:
neither enter therein; being come down from the top of the house, by stairs, or a ladder without, which was usual:
to take any thing out of his house; to take care of his goods, or take any thing along with him, that might be useful in his flight, and journey, and stay abroad; [See comments on Mt 24:17].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Housetop. See on Mt 24:17.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And let him that is on the housetop,” (ho epi tou domatos) “The one upon the roof or dome,” of the house top, high as he can go for safety, and to watch for the enemy.
2) “Not go down into the house,” (me katabato) “Let him not descend,” come down for the purpose of saving anything in the way of possessions, Mat 24:17.
3) “Neither enter therein,” (mede eiselthato) “Nor let him even enter into the house,” lest he be trapped and not have time to escape with his life, Mat 24:18.
4) “To take anything out of his house:- (ti arai ek tes oikias autou) “To take out of and away anything that belongs to him in the house;” The coming event to Israel, to drive her among all nations was a judgement for her having nationally rejected the Messiah, Joh 1:11-12; Joh 5:43; Mat 23:37-39.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein , to take any thing out of his house:
Ver. 15. See Trapp on “ Mat 24:16 “ See Trapp on “ Mat 24:17 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 13:15 . , he who is on the roof. vide at Mat 10:27 . The main point to be noted in Mk.’s version of the directions for the crisis as compared with Mt.’s ( q.v. ) is the omission of the words , probably out of regard to Gentile readers.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
on = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
the housetop. Compare Mat 24:17.
into. Greek eis. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 19:15-17, Gen 19:22, Gen 19:26, Job 2:4, Pro 6:4, Pro 6:5, Pro 22:3, Mat 24:16-18, Luk 17:31-33, Act 27:18, Act 27:19, Act 27:38, Phi 3:7, Phi 3:8, Heb 11:7
Reciprocal: Mat 24:17 – which Luk 21:21 – flee
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Houses had flat roofs and the buildings joined one against the other. The roofs were used in much the same way that a veranda is today. If a man was on the roof of his house when he saw the Roman army, he should go from one roof to another until he reached the wall of the city and then get down and flee.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The meaning is, “As soon as ye shall see the Roman army appear before the city of Jerusalem, let everyone that values his own safety fly, as far and as fast as he can, as Lot fled from the flames of Sodom; and be glad if by flight he can save his life, though he lose goods and clothes, and all things beside.”
Whence learn, That when Almighty God is pouring forth his fury upon a sinful people, it is both lawful, and a necessary duty, by flight to endeavour to shelter and secure ourselves from the approaching calamity and desolation; when ye see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, flee to the mountains.
2. That in case of flight before an enraged enemy, and bloody army, if we lose all that we have, and our lives be given us for a prey, we fare well, and the Lord deals very graciously and mercifully with us.
Next, Our Saviour declares the doleful distress of those that could not flee from the Roman army encompassing Jerusalem, as women great with child, and others giving suck, who by that means are like to lose their lives: and adds farther, That it would increase the calamity, if their flight should happen to be in the winter; St. Matthew adds, on the sabbath-day, Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath-day Mat 24:20. Flight in the winter is sad, because we can then fly neither fast nor far; and on the sabbath-day it is very sorrowful, that being the day of our spiritual labour, and of our bodily rest.
Learn thene, That it is a great addition to the trouble and disquiet of a good man’s spirit, when the day of his spiritual rest is interrupted; and instead of enjoying communion with God in his house, he is driven from house and home.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
The point of these instructions is that the appearance of the abomination of desolation will require immediate flight from Jerusalem. The situation will be urgent.