WATCH AND WORK
TEXT: Mark 13:28-37
Mark 13:28-37 (KJV) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: [29] So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. [30] Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. [31] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. [32] But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. [34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
I. INTRODUCTION—THE CONCLUSION OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
-This segment of Scripture comes to the conclusion of the Olivet Discourse. This was the last official word of the Lord before He went to the Cross. The account that we have been dealing with comes from the shortest of the three accounts.
-The Olivet Discourse is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke but John does not give us a recording of it. With all of the terrible things that are coming to this world during the end of the days, Jesus brings to His disciples a very remarkable conclusion.
-He will end with two short parables.
• One about a fig tree.
• One about a householder who leaves his home to his servants.
• The fig tree is about watching.
• The householder leaving is about working.
• Both of these considerations are crucial to the Christian life: watching and working.
-If you look to Matthew’s Gospel, the last parable is very similar as it tells us the Lord has delayed His return. In that delay, the fellow servants abused each other and got caught up in drunkenness.
-If you take a look at the ending of the Olivet Discourse in Luke, the Lord tells us everything we need to know about our own human nature. There is a tendency for men to go to sleep spiritually, morally, and to go to sleep with their responsibilities of life.
II. WATCHING AND WORKING
A. Mark 13:28-32—The Fig Tree
Mark 13:28-31 (KJV) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: [29] So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. [30] Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. [31] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. [32] But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. [33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
-The entire emphasis of this portion of the Olivet Discourse is for all of the Lord’s disciples to be able to see that there will be some signs or clues that point to His return.
-The words of the Lord now turn from prediction to admonition and instruction. This is very similar to what He has already done scattered throughout this sermon.
• v. 5—Take heed
• v. 7—Don’t be troubled
• v. 9—Take heed to yourself
• v. 11—Take no thought or do not plan
• v. 13—Endure to the end
• v. 21—Don’t believe the imposters
• v. 23—Take heed
-Now He comes to these words. . . Learn this parable!
-Most all are aware that when there is a budding forth of leaves or blooms on any tree or plant that we are aware that there will be fruit that will follow. The Lord was instructing the disciples that when they saw the events unfolding in Jerusalem that they could be sure that the return of the Lord was near.
-The Jews were very familiar with the use of the fig tree as an analogy of spiritual matters:
• Jotham used the fig tree in rebuking Israel for allowing Abimelech to become the bramble king—Judges 9:10-11
• Hosea used it to represent Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the patriarchs—Hosea 9:10
• Jeremiah used good and bad figs to represent good and bad people—Jeremiah 24:1-10
• Joel used it to represent Israel—Joel 1:6-7
-Now Jesus is using it to tell them that when they began to see all of these things taking place to be aware that the coming of the Lord is near. Be alert, stay awake, watch out, and be on guard.
-While Jesus pointed out the cataclysmic events that are coming to this world, Paul wrote to Timothy and described the behavior of people in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
-Another rendering is from the ESV:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
-Here is the alarming matter about all of these things, Paul caps off all of those behaviors with “having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.” They are going to be doing all of these things and are going to look like Christians, like church-folks, and like saints.
-The word “godliness” is from a Greek word εὐσέβεια (eusebeia) meaning piety; specifically the gospel kind (i. e. godliness, holiness). They may even show a sense of reverence but it is an act of deception.
-The word “denying” is from a Greek word ἀρνέομαι (arneomai) meaning to contradict, that is, disavow, reject, abnegate: - deny, refuse.
-Be careful that you are not deceived by those who may have a thimble-full of God in their lives but aren’t really committed to the full Bible plan of salvation. Our godliness has to have some power in it. . . the most evident power of godliness will not be miracles, signs, and wonders but the evidence of a transformed life.
-Paul’s command was to get away from those people who lived in this condition. These kinds of people are not good influences on your spiritual life. A man of wisdom and understanding will do everything he can to flee from these people.
-Jesus: When you see these kinds of things taking place, you know that the end is nearing.
Mark 13:30 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
-Those who are detractors of Scripture love to camp out on passages like this and attempt to mock the authority of Scripture. However there are very good answers to this opposition.
-All through the Scriptures there are examples of what may be referred to as a “near-view” and “far-view” of a prophetic passage. The prophet speaking at that time was speaking to the immediate hearer as well as the distant (time) hearer.
-One of the most classic places to see this illustrated is in Isaiah 7 when the children of Israel were threatened by a wicked alliance that came from Syria and Ephraim.
-The disciples of Jesus would witness the catastrophic collapse of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 when Titus came and destroyed it. However the entire Olivet Discourse would not be entirely fulfilled until the end of the age which is completely laid out in the book of Revelation when we can see all of the prophetic events unfolding in rapid succession.
-There is one other matter that we need to deal with at this point:
Mark 13:31 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
-Jesus was very clear that the heaven and the earth would pass away. This means that the environmentalists, Al Gore, and all the scientists and politicians of the world can do all they want but a new one will replace this old world. But the Word of God will stand forever!
-But despite all of the signs that you are a witness to, the Lord still reiterates the fact that no man can know or determine when the Lord is to return. Instead of men consuming their time attempting to figure out when the Lord is coming back, the Lord had some better advice to us.
-Take heed. . . Watch. . . Pray. . . This is the greatest matter that a saint, a church, a movement can be involved in. Be on your guard! There will always be spiritual, doctrinal, and moral dangers that will serve to threaten us. The Lord is always telling us to arm ourselves against those kinds of things.
Thomas Manton—We carry the worst enemy in our own bosom; Satan could not prevail against us were it not for our own lusts; as the Philistines could not prevail against Samson if Delilah had not lulled him to sleep, or as Balaam first corrupted Israel before he could curse them.
-We have to give great regard to watching and praying:
• Watching for the occasion for sin to overtake us. Do not put yourselves in the danger of it. It is the sign of a wayward heart to dally with those opportunities. A buzzard when it is driven away from the dead things will stay close enough to have the scent still with it. Because Lot and his wife stayed close to Sodom and Gomorrah, it had a greater chance of affecting them that it did with Abraham who was far away from it.
Thomas Manton—We are not only to watch against actual sins, but the secret growing of evil habits, especially deadness, drowsiness, and those distempers that insensibly creep upon the heart. Conversing with worldly pleasures and worldly objects breedeth a deadness, and a withdrawal of the heart before we are aware.
• Praying for God to be a guardian and a keeper. Praying saints and praying preachers do not backslide. The grace of God comes to a person who will give themselves to prayer because that attending grace affects our conduct. Pray for the Lord to keep you because if He takes His restraining hand off of you, trouble always follows. David was a holy man who had some great experiences with God but he was overcome by his eyes. Joseph on the other hand was a man tempted just as much and he resisted. Lot, that righteous man in Sodom (according to the Scriptures), could live for God in the city but he failed in the mountains. Be careful of your overconfident zeal and smugness that something like that would never happen to you. . . Pray!
-So we are seeing all of these frightening matters taking place in our world and we certainly need to be aware of that but even more we need to be aware about the condition of our own soul.
B. Mark 13:34—37—The Householder
Mark 13:34-37 (KJV) For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
-So if we are to watch because of the parable of the fig tree then we are to work after we hear the parable of the householder who is leaving his property.
-From the outset in this parable, we are able to see that the man left his servants with an element of authority. That authority will go a long way toward accomplishing this matter of fulfilling the will of God in our work for His kingdom.
-It is delegated authority, added strength, and great liberty to work. Because of that authority there is great work that we cannot afford to neglect. We have a charge to keep.
-Jesus told the disciples that every man had his work and every porter had his watch. Oftentimes this concept has been placed into the realm of the church. It is work to keep a church in this untoward generation. But He has supplied us with a very unique authority to do His will.
-One of the Old Testament types for the church is a vineyard (Psalm 80:15; Isa. 5:1, 7).
• It has been taken out of the wilderness.
• It has a wall or a fence around it.
• It has variety of plants in it.
• It has uncultivated ground that needs to be broken up.
• It requires watering and pruning, stones that need to be removed, and vinedressers to take care of the crop. “Workers together with him.”
• It can be vexed and hurt by the little foxes that spoil the vine.
• It has a constant call going out for workers to get involved.
• It has labor and investments that have gone into it and a harvest is expected.
-One of the greatest challenges that any pastor will face is trying to get enough people involved and working in the church. Yet we have to understand that one of the greatest matters of security in our Christian walk will be the measure of involvement that we have in the work of the Church.
-We do not know when the Lord is to return. Work is a great thing to help you be alert in the watches the Lord spoke of:
• Evening—6-9 PM
• Midnight—9-12 AM
• Rooster Crowing—12-3 AM
• Dawn—3-6 AM
-The owner will return at a time that is unannounced. There will be an accounting that will take place.
-The question may arise as to how am I to work? Scripture is the best way to define that.
• John 15:4—Abide in me!
• John 15:12—Love one another!
• John 15:26—Bear witness of me!
-Another way is found in 1 Corinthians 16:13:
• Be watchful.
• Stand fast in the faith.
• Act like men.
• Be strong.
-We are to work while it is day because the night is coming when no man can work.
-But there is one passage of Scripture that can sum up a small portion of the work of the Church:
Romans 13:8-14 (KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. [11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
-Those are the ways that we are to work!
III. CONCLUSION—DOING THE WATCHING AND THE WORKING
-What are the practical ways that we are to work this out?
Pray for a revival in your own life. Increasingly I am concerned that sometimes spiritual life ebbs so low that if some even realize how lukewarm and disconnected they really are.
Find someone who is lost and start working with him or her. Soul-winners are at an all time low among us. Some of the challenge comes because so few people really can see or sense their own spiritual condition. The masses are lost!
Whatever your current job in the church is—do it with all of your might. All need to be on a constant lookout for ways to get better at what we are doing.
Ask yourself this very hard question—Am I really filled with the Spirit? As the church marches on toward the Rapture, I am increasingly fearful that there are some who are claiming salvation have never really had a transforming work of the Spirit to take place in their lives.
-We must make our calling and election sure!
Philip Harrelson
November 29, 2015
