Bible Strands
Mark 13:3
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives facing the temple while Peter, James, John, and Andrew approach Him privately to ask when the predicted temple destruction will occur and what sign will precede it (Mark 13:2–4). The moment follows Jesus' public declaration that every stone will be thrown down.
The words — The Greek καθημένου (kathēmenou) literally means "while sitting" or "when seated," anchoring the dialogue to a fixed posture rather than a passing exchange. This participle emphasizes deliberate stillness during a request for future events.
The thread — The pattern of private explanation to the inner circle appears in Mark 4:34, where Jesus reserves full understanding for His disciples, and echoes the Mount of Olives approach in Matthew 21:1. These passages establish a consistent boundary between public proclamation and restricted instruction.
Why it lands — The text records a direct inquiry about timing and fulfillment, requiring readers to face the gap between divine revelation and human demand for schedules. It asks for disciplined attention to Jesus' method of disclosure rather than a search for immediate certainty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
Cross-references
- Matthew 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,
- Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
- Matthew 13:10 Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
- Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
- Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
- Matthew 24:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
- Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- Mark 5:37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
- Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
- Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”