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21
A lesson in giving
1 Looking up He saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasure chest. 2 But He also saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said: “I tell you truly that this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 because all these others put in gifts for God out of their abundance, but she, out of her destitution, put in all she had to live on.”*It is a fact of life; people who are poor are often more generous, more willing to share, than those who are rich. But in this case the widow was probably calling out to God for help. Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “for God” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
Jerusalem will be destroyed
5 Then, as some were admiring the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things that you see—the days will come in which not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down.”†This was fulfilled in 70 ad
The Olivet Discourse
7 So they asked Him, saying: “Teacher, so when will these things be?” and “What will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”‡There are two questions: “When these things?” and “What the sign?” The answer to the first is given in Luke 21:20-24. The answer to the second begins here in verse 8. 8 So He said: “Be careful, so as not to be deceived, because many will come in my name saying: ‘I am’ and ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore do not go after them. 9 But whenever you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; because these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
Things will get bad, really bad
10 Then He said to them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be severe earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of my name. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 So settle it in your hearts not to practice giving a defense beforehand; 15 because I will give you§To do this He has to be alive! a mouth and wisdom such that all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or withstand.*This was true of Stephen; they couldn't answer him, so they killed him. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and relatives, friends and ‘brothers’; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all because of my name.†This is already happening around the world. Those who defend biblical values are hated. 18 (Not even one hair of your head will be wasted‡I have to take this by faith. We have to work and war by faith, since we are often not allowed to see the results. I take it that the Lord is assuring us that nothing we do for Him will be wasted. But we must ‘hang in there’. 19 —you must secure your souls by your endurance.)
Jerusalem will be destroyed
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let those who are in the city get out, and let those who are in the country not enter her. 22 Because these are days of vengeance, that all the written things may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those nursing babies in those days! There will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. 24 Yes, they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.§Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 ad and was ‘trampled by Gentiles’ until 1967, when it returned to the control of Israel. So now the things mentioned in verse 25 and following can happen at any time.
Christ will return to the earth
25 “There will be signs in sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, at the roaring and tossing of the sea;*‘The sea’ is sometimes used as a metaphor for the human population. 26 men fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming on the inhabited earth—because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.†See Revelation 12:7-12. 27 Then they will see the Son of the Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Parable of the fig tree
29 Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 Whenever they are already budding, you see and know by yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, whenever you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. 32 I tell you assuredly, this generation‡‘This generation’ has received various interpretations. Personally I suppose it refers to the generation that was alive in 1967 (by now everyone in that ‘generation’ is at least 48 years old). will certainly not pass away until all has happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.§Sovereign Jesus declares that His words have eternal validity, and are therefore on a par with God's written revelation (see Psalm 119:89).
Watch and pray
34 “But keep a watch on yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and cares of life, and that Day come upon you suddenly. 35 Because it will come like a trap upon all those who dwell on the surface of the whole earth. 36 So be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy*Instead of ‘counted worthy’, less than 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, have ‘be able’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). to escape all these things†If ‘to escape all these things’ refers to the Rapture, then only those who are ‘counted worthy’ will go up. that are about to happen and to stand before the Son of the Man.”
His daily routine
37 In the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called ‘of Olives.’ 38 Then early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to hear Him.

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*21:4 It is a fact of life; people who are poor are often more generous, more willing to share, than those who are rich. But in this case the widow was probably calling out to God for help. Perhaps 1.5% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “for God” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†21:6 This was fulfilled in 70 ad

‡21:7 There are two questions: “When these things?” and “What the sign?” The answer to the first is given in Luke 21:20-24. The answer to the second begins here in verse 8.

§21:15 To do this He has to be alive!

*21:15 This was true of Stephen; they couldn't answer him, so they killed him.

†21:17 This is already happening around the world. Those who defend biblical values are hated.

‡21:18 I have to take this by faith. We have to work and war by faith, since we are often not allowed to see the results. I take it that the Lord is assuring us that nothing we do for Him will be wasted. But we must ‘hang in there’.

§21:24 Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 ad and was ‘trampled by Gentiles’ until 1967, when it returned to the control of Israel. So now the things mentioned in verse 25 and following can happen at any time.

*21:25 ‘The sea’ is sometimes used as a metaphor for the human population.

†21:26 See Revelation 12:7-12.

‡21:32 ‘This generation’ has received various interpretations. Personally I suppose it refers to the generation that was alive in 1967 (by now everyone in that ‘generation’ is at least 48 years old).

§21:33 Sovereign Jesus declares that His words have eternal validity, and are therefore on a par with God's written revelation (see Psalm 119:89).

*21:36 Instead of ‘counted worthy’, less than 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, have ‘be able’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†21:36 If ‘to escape all these things’ refers to the Rapture, then only those who are ‘counted worthy’ will go up.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD