Mark 13:18

“For they all introduce it in their narratives, and that, too, in the same order.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 3-xxv. 46; Mark xiii. 4–37; Luke xxi. 7–36.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 15–22; Mark xiii. 14–20; Luke xxi. 20–23.

After speaking of the things which were to happen before the destruction of the city, the Lord now foretells those which happened about the destruction itself of the city, saying, “But when ye shall see the…

Matthew says, standing “in the holy place;” but with this verbal difference Mark has expressed the same meaning; for He says “where it ought not” to stand, because it ought not to stand in the holy place.

When we are challenged to understand what is said, we may conclude that it is mystical. But it may either be said simply of Antichrist, or of the statue of Caesar, which Pilate put into the temple, or of the…

Or He means by “the abomination of desolation” the entrance of enemies into the city by violence.

But Luke, in order to shew that the abomination of desolation happened when Jerusalem was taken, in this same place gives the words of our Lord, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that…

It is on record that this was literally fulfilled, when on the approach of the war with Rome and the extermination of the Jewish people, all the Christians who were in that province, warned by the prophecy, fled far…

And well does He say, “Who are in Judaea,” for the Apostles were no longer in Judaea, but before the battle had been driven from Jerusalem.

[ed. note: Non in Gloss - sed ap. Theophylact] Or rather went out of their own accord, being led by the Holy Ghost. It goes on: “And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein,…

That is, they whose wombs or whose hands, overladen with the burden of children, in no small measure impede their forced flight.

But it seems to me, that in these words He foretells the eating of children, for when afflicted by famine and pestilence, they laid hands on their children.

Again, after having mentioned this double impediment to flight, which might arise either from the desire of taking away property, or from having children to carry, He touches upon the third obstacle, namely, that…

That is, lest they who wish to fly should be impeded by the difficulties of the season. And He fitly gives the cause for so great a necessity for flight; saying, “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was…

For Josephus, who has written the history of the Jews, relates that such things were suffered by this people, as are scarcely credible, wherefore it is said, not without cause, that there was not such tribulation…

The only refuge in such evils is, that God who gives strength to suffer, should abridge the power of inflicting. Wherefore there follows: “And except that the Lord had shortened those days.”

That is, if the Roman war had not been soon finished, “no flesh should be saved;” that is, no Jew should have escaped; “but for the elect’s sake, whom He hath chosen,” that is, for the sake of the believing Jews, or…

But some persons more fitly understand that the calamities themselves are signified by days, as evil days are spoken of in other parts of Holy Scripture; for the days themselves are not evil, but what is done in…

Or else; these words, “In those days shall be affliction,” properly agree with the times of Antichrist, when not only tortures more frequent, and more painful than before are to be heaped on the faithful, but also,…

For our flight is to the mountains, that he who has mounted to the heights of virtue may not go down to the depths of sin.

Then let him who is on the house-top, that is, whose mind rises above carnal deeds, and who lives spiritually, as it were in the free air, not come down to the base acts of his former conversation, nor seek again…

“Pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on the sabbath day,” that is, that the fruit of our work may not be ended with the end of time; for fruit comes to an end in the winter and time in the sabbath.

But if we are to understand it of the consummation of the world, He commands that our faith and love for Christ should not grow cold, and that we should not grow lazy and cold in the work of God, by taking a sabbath…

We must also avoid sin with fervour, and not coldly and quietly.

But the tribulation shall be great, and the days short, for the sake of the elect, lest the evil of this time should change their understanding.

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Mark 13:14–20 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Matthew 24:20 and Mark 13:18 share the same wording (8 words).