Luke21

Jesus first commends a poor widow's sacrificial offering over the rich, then prophesies the complete destruction of the temple. He subsequently details signs of the end times, including wars, famines, and the persecution of his followers, culminating in the desolation of Jerusalem and the glorious return of the Son of Man. He concludes by urging watchfulness and prayer, comparing the signs to the budding of a fig tree indicating summer.

The Widow's Offering

1
He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.
2
He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins. ​
3
He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them, ​
4
for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.” ​

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

5
As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, ​
6
“As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.” ​
7
They asked him, “Rabbi, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” ​

Signs and Persecution

8
He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. ​
9
When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.” ​
10
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. ​
12
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ​
13
It will turn out as a testimony for you. ​
14
Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ​
15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
16
You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. ​
17
You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.
18
And not a hair of your head will perish. ​
19
“By your endurance you will win your lives. ​

The Siege of Jerusalem

20
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. ​
21
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. ​
22
For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ​
23
Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.
24
They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ​

The Coming of the Son of Man

25
There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; ​
26
men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ​
28
But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” ​

Watchfulness and Readiness

29
He told them a parable. “See the fig tree, and all the trees. ​
30
When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
31
Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
32
Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. ​
33
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. ​
34
“So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. ​
35
For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
36
Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.” ​

Jesus' Final Ministry Days

37
Every day Yeshua was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet. ​
38
All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

Study Notes for Luke 21

Verse 2

The 'two mites' (lepta) were the smallest Jewish copper coins, emphasizing how little she contributed in monetary value.

Verse 3

Jesus judges the gift not by its amount, but by the level of sacrifice and the proportional cost to the giver.

Verse 4

The rich gave from their 'abundance' (superfluity), while the widow gave from her 'penury' (want), illustrating the depth of her devotion and trust in God.

Verse 5

The Herodian Temple was a massive architectural project, adorned with expensive marble and votive offerings, making its predicted destruction shocking to the disciples.

Verse 6

This prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Roman army, under Titus, destroyed Jerusalem and dismantled the Temple, leaving no stone of the main structure standing upon another.

Verse 7

The disciples conflate two distinct future events: the immediate destruction of the Temple and the ultimate return of Christ (the 'end'). Jesus addresses both, often interwoven.

Verse 8

This warning against false messiahs or urgent end-time predictions is a foundational caution, stressing that the end will not come immediately despite initial signs.

Verse 9

Wars and commotions are described as necessary events that precede the end, often called 'birth pains' in parallel accounts (Mark 13:8), but believers are cautioned not to panic prematurely.

Verse 11

Luke, the physician, specifically includes pestilences (*loimoi*, plagues) among the natural disasters, signs often associated with divine judgment in the Old Testament.

Verse 12

Jesus shifts focus from global distress to the immediate persecution the disciples will face. This persecution began shortly after Pentecost and intensified throughout the first century.

Verse 13

Persecution is reframed as an opportunity (*martyrion*) to provide public testimony about Christ to governing authorities, turning tribulation into mission.

Verse 14

This promise reassures disciples that the Holy Spirit will provide the necessary defense and wisdom when they face hostile courts, removing the need for anxious preparation.

Verse 16

Betrayal by close family members highlights the intense personal cost of following Christ, demonstrating that loyalty to Jesus supersedes earthly kinship.

Verse 18

This is a promise of divine protection, ensuring the preservation of their ultimate life and spiritual integrity, even if some suffer martyrdom (v. 16).

Verse 19

Steadfast endurance (*hypomonē*) is the key virtue required during the trials of the end times, preserving one's spiritual life through persistent faithfulness.

Verse 20

Jesus gives a specific, actionable sign concerning the Roman siege of Jerusalem (AD 66-70), allowing believers to recognize the impending disaster and flee.

Verse 21

Historically, Christian communities in Jerusalem recognized the sign and fled the city, often to the Pella region, when the Roman armies briefly withdrew.

Verse 22

The destruction of Jerusalem is understood as the 'days of vengeance,' fulfilling prophetic judgments found throughout the Old Testament concerning Israel's unfaithfulness.

Verse 24

The 'times of the Gentiles' refers to a long period during which Jerusalem and the Jewish people would remain under Gentile political and military control, awaiting God's final intervention.

Verse 25

This section transitions from the historical judgment on Jerusalem to the ultimate eschatological event—Christ's glorious return, marked by terrifying cosmic disruption.

Verse 27

The appearance of the 'Son of man coming in a cloud' evokes the imagery of sovereign authority found in Daniel 7:13-14, signifying Jesus' divine majesty.

Verse 28

Believers are encouraged to view these terrifying signs not as a prelude to doom, but as evidence that their ultimate deliverance (*apolytrōsis*, redemption) is near.

Verse 29

The Parable of the Fig Tree illustrates how visible signs should be interpreted, comparing them to seasonal changes that are observable and reliably indicate a future event.

Verse 32

Scholars interpret 'this generation' variously, but in context, it likely means the generation that witnesses the initial signs (especially the Temple's destruction) will not pass away before the immediate prophecies are fulfilled.

Verse 33

This affirmation underscores the absolute reliability and eternal authority of Jesus' prophetic words, contrasting them with the impermanence of the physical cosmos.

Verse 34

Jesus warns against spiritual dullness caused by excessive indulgence ('surfeiting' and 'drunkenness') or paralyzing worldly anxiety, which prevent alertness.

Verse 36

The dual command to 'Watch and Pray' is the practical summary of the entire discourse, ensuring readiness to stand approved before Christ at his return.

Verse 37

Luke summarizes Jesus’ routine during his final week, highlighting his continuous ministry in the Temple during the day and his nightly retreat to the Mount of Olives.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options