Mark 13:36

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Lest {G3361} coming {G2064} suddenly {G1810} he find {G2147} you {G5209} sleeping {G2518}.

whether it will be evening, midnight, cockcrow or morning -- you don't want him to come suddenly and find you sleeping!

Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.

lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

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Commentary

Mark 13:36 (KJV) is a concise yet powerful warning from Jesus within His Olivet Discourse, emphasizing the critical need for constant vigilance. This verse concludes a series of exhortations to "watch" and "pray," underscoring the unexpected nature of His return.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extensive teaching on the end times, recorded in Mark chapter 13, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse. Following prophecies about the destruction of the Temple and signs preceding His second coming, Jesus shifts to the attitude His disciples should maintain. He tells a parable of a man leaving his house to servants, instructing them to watch (Mark 13:34-35). Verse 36 serves as the direct consequence of failing to heed this instruction: being caught unprepared, or "sleeping," when the master returns. This teaching serves as a timeless call to preparedness for both the ultimate return of Christ and the daily spiritual readiness required of believers.

Key Themes

  • Watchfulness and Preparedness: The central message is the imperative to remain spiritually alert and ready. "Sleeping" here is a metaphor for spiritual apathy, negligence, or being caught off guard, contrasting sharply with the active state of "watching" commanded throughout the discourse. This theme is echoed in Mark 13:33 and Mark 13:35.
  • The Suddenness of Christ's Return: Jesus repeatedly stresses that the exact timing of His coming is unknown, making constant vigilance essential. His return will be unexpected, like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2), demanding perpetual readiness from His followers.
  • Accountability: The imagery implies a master returning to find his servants either diligently performing their duties or neglecting them. This highlights the concept of accountability for how one lives in anticipation of the Lord's return.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "sleeping" here is katheudontas (καθεύδοντας), which literally means to be asleep. However, in this eschatological context, it carries a strong metaphorical sense of spiritual indifference, idleness, or moral unreadiness. It stands in direct opposition to grēgoreō (γρηγορέω), which means "to be watchful, to be alert," a term Jesus uses repeatedly in this chapter to command spiritual vigilance.

Practical Application

Mark 13:36 calls believers to a lifestyle of continuous spiritual alertness. It is not about fear of an unknown future, but about living faithfully and purposefully in the present. This means:

  • Staying Spiritually Awake: Actively engaging with God through prayer, studying His Word, and living out His commands.
  • Faithful Stewardship: Diligently fulfilling one's responsibilities and using one's gifts for God's glory, as if the Lord could return at any moment.
  • Living with Purpose: Recognizing that every day is an opportunity to honor God and be ready for His coming, whether through the general end of the age or one's personal end of life. This readiness is a mark of true discipleship, as seen in the broader teachings about being prepared for the Son of Man's coming.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:6

    ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:7

    For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

  • Romans 13:11

    ¶ 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.

  • Romans 13:14

    But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

  • Matthew 24:48

    But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

  • Matthew 24:51

    And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  • Mark 14:40

    And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
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