Mark 13:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As Jesus leaves the temple for the last time, one of his disciples marvels aloud at the immensity and splendor of its stones and buildings.
What Does Mark 13:1 Mean?
Jesus has spent days teaching in the temple courts, answering challenge after challenge from priests, scribes, and Sadducees, and he has just honored a poor widow's two small coins. Now, as he walks out, a disciple looks up at Herod's temple — its courts gleaming with marble and gold, some of its stones longer than a house — and exclaims at the sheer magnificence of it all.
The disciple measures by size and splendor; Jesus has just measured by a widow's sacrifice. The contrast opens everything that follows. Buildings, institutions, and monuments can fill the eye until they crowd out the God they were built to honor. Before Jesus says a word about the future, Mark lets us feel how dazzling the present can be — and how much we need eyes that see deeper than stone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 13:1
What does Mark 13:1 mean?
As Jesus leaves the temple for the last time, one of his disciples marvels aloud at the immensity and splendor of its stones and buildings.