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÷÷LUKE 21

LUKE 21

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph, etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷LUKE 21:1-4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:1-4
 ¹And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. ²And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. ³And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; ⁴for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."

21:1-4 This is paralleled in Mark 12:41-44.

21:1 "the treasury" This is a compound word of "treasure" and "guard" (cf. LXX 2 Kgs. 23:11; Esth. 3:9; Ezra 5:17; 6:1; 7:20). Jewish tradition (Shekalim 6 [fourth tractate in Mo’ed]; Josephus, Jewish Wars 5.5.2; 6.5.2; Antiq. 19.6.2; and Alfred Edersheim, Temple, pp. 48-49) asserts that there were thirteen trumpet-shaped, metal boxes located in the Court of the Women, where Jesus regularly taught (cf. Luke 20:1). Each one of them was designated for a different charitable purpose (cf. John 8:20). Archaeology has never confirmed the existence of these metal containers.

21:2 "a poor widow" Luke chooses from Jesus' words and actions to cast the religious and social outcasts of His day in a positive light (esp. women). Here a poor widow set the standard of sacrificial giving that all disciples should emulate.

▣ "two small copper coins" This refers to two copper Jewish coins called lepton. This term means "the thin one." This is the only Jewish coin mentioned in the NT. Two lepta equal one quadrant; four quadrants equal one assarion; 16 assarions equal one denarius, which was a day's wage for a soldier or laborer.

Commentators often mentioned that someone could not give one lepta (rabbinical tradition), but this is a misunderstanding of the Jewish Talmud.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COINS USED IN PALESTINE IN JESUS' DAY

21:3 "Truly" This is the Greek term alēthōs (cf. Luke 9:27; 12:44), which is used synonymously with amēn in Luke 21:32. The parallel in Mark 12:43 has amēn.

SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN

Literally this is "put into the gifts" (cf. MSS א, B, and L), but several other uncial manuscripts (cf. MSS A, D, W) and most ancient versions add "of God" to clarify the context for Gentiles. The UBS⁴ committee rated the shorter text as "B" (almost certain).

▣ "out of their surplus" This same principle of spiritual giving is found in 2 Cor. 8:12. It is surprising that the NT does not discuss regular giving principles. 2 Corinthians 8-9 deals with the Gentile churches' one-time gift to the mother church in Jerusalem. Tithing is an OT principle.

SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING

▣ "put in all that she had to live on" This woman trusted in God's daily provision (cf. Matt. 6:33). Luke records many of Jesus' teachings about worldly possessions and wealth. Giving is a spiritual thermometer. It reveals our motives and priorities.

But please rememeber that much of Jesus' teachings are hyperbolic for impact. Believers must also provide for their families (cf. 1 Tim. 5:8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WEALTH

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS FOR JESUS' OLIVET DISCOURSE

1. Matthew records several long sermons/teaching sessions of Jesus. They seem to be made up of
   1. Jesus' repeated emphases in different locations, with different audiences
   2. Matthew combining these to form long sermons. Matthew's Olivet discourse is three times longer than Mark 13 or Luke 21.
   3. a good example of this is Matt. 24, where Matthew adds Jesus' discussion
      1. Matt. 24:36-44 is found only in Luke 17:22-37
      2. Matt. 24:45-51 is not in the parallels. Each Gospel writer had their own sources.
   
   
2. Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are so difficult to interpret because they deal with either two or three questions simultaneously (cf. Matt. 24:3).
   1. When will the temple be destroyed? (the questions in Mark and Luke)
   2. What will be the sign of the Messiah's return?
      1. for the judgment on the temple (i.e., Hebrew idiom, "coming")
      2. the Second Coming (but at this point the disciples would have no knowledge of this event)
   3. When will this age end?
      1. the age of temple law
      2. end time
         

         Special Topic: Disciples' Questions

3. The genre of New Testament eschatological passages is usually a combination of apocalyptic and prophetic language which is purposely ambiguous and highly symbolic. See
   1. D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptics
   2. Fee and Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth, pp. 181-204
      Special Topic: Apocalyptic Literature
      Special Topic: Prophecy (OT)
   
   
4. Several passages in the NT (cf. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Revelation) deal with a divine coming in judgment. These passages emphasize
   1. the exact time of the event is unknown but the event is certain
   2. we can know the general time but not specific time of the events
   3. it will occur suddenly and unexpectedly
   4. we must be prayerful, ready, and faithful to assigned tasks
      Many scholars see Matt. 24 parallel with Rev. 6.
   
   
5. There is a theological paradoxical tension between
   1. the any-moment return (cf. Matt. 24:27,44)
   2. the fact that some events in history must occur
      Special Topic: The Any-Moment Return of Jesus vs. The Noy Yet
      Special Topic: Delayed Second Coming
   
   
6. The New Testament states that some events will occur before the Second Coming:
   1. The gospel preached to the whole world (cf. Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10)
   2. The great apostasy (cf. Matt. 24:10-13, 21; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1ff.; 2 Thess. 2:3)
   3. The revelation of the "man of sin" (cf. Dan. 7:23-26; 9:24-27; 2 Thess. 2:3)
   4. Removal of that/who restrains (cf. 2 Thess. 2:6-7)
   5. Jewish revival (cf. Zech. 12:10; Romans 11)
   
   
7. For good resources on comparing the different theories related to this chapter, see
   1. Four views On the Book of Revelation several authors (ISBN 0-310-21080-1)
      1. Preterism ‒ pp. 35-92
      2. Idealism ᰪ pp. 93-132
      3. Progressive Dispensationalism ‒ pp. 133-176
      4. Classical Dispensationalsim ‒ pp. 177-231
   2. Steve Gregg, Revelation: four Views, Revised and Updated (ISBN 978140167216)
      1. Historicist
      2. Preterist
      3. Futurist
      4. Idealist
   3. I have become a Partial Preterist/Idealist. The books that have caused me to rethink my Futurist upbringing are:
      1. John L. Bray, Matthew 24 Fulfilled
      2. Kenneth L. Gentry
          (1)  Before Jerusalem Fell
          (2)  The Olivet Discourses Made Easy
      3. Jay E. Adams, The Time Is At Hand
   
   
8. Matthew 24-25 forms a literal unit and should be interpreted together!
   
   
9. I find it interesting that the Gospel of John does not mention or allude to the Olivet Discourse. One possible reason is that he addresses the same issues in his Apocalypse (Revelation), written before the Gospel (Partial Preterism, see Kenneth Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell, p. 242, #30).

÷LUKE 21:5-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:5-6
 ⁵And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, ⁶"As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down."

21:5 "And while some were talking about the temple" In Mark 13 (and Matthew 24) it is the inner circle of disciples who mention the beautiful temple building as they all sat on the Mount of Olives viewing Jerusalem and the temple across the Kidron Valley, but Luke puts the discussion of the beauty of Herod's Temple in the Court of the Women in the temple itself. This temple was not completely finished until A.D. 63, seven years before it was destroyed by Titus' army. This remodeled and enlarged national shrine became the object of Jewish religion, as it had in the OT (cf. Jeremiah 7). The same discussion is found in Mark 13:1 and Matt. 24:1-2.

The differences between the Synoptic Gospels cause many to doubt the historicity of the three (often) different accounts.

1. First, it must be remembered the Gospels are not cause-and-effect, western, chronological histories. They are gospel tracts targeting different communities/cultures. Luke, like John, is written to Gentiles.
2. The Gospel writers under inspiration had the right to
   1. choose some of Jesus' acts and teachings (but not all, cf. John 20:30-31; 21:25)
   2. rearrange to chronological order Jesus' words and actions (i.e., cleaning of the temple, early in John, the last week of Jesus' life in the Synoptics)
   3. adapt the words and actions to fit the Gospel writer's overall theme (i.e., this is not to imply they could make things up)
3. For a good discussion of the literary genre of the Gospels, see Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth, the chapter on the Gospels

▣ "adorned stones" Herod's temple was built with huge polished limestones (i.e., mezzeh), which were 25 x 8 x 12 cubits (a cubit is 18-21"). Josephus records this information in Antiq. 15.11.3. It was one of the wonders of the ancient world (Tacitus, History 5.8)

SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT

This is the Greek term anathēma, which is used only here in the NT. In the Septuagint it can refer to

1. a votive offering (cf. II Macc. 9:16)
2. an accursed thing (i.e., something given to God and thereby becomes holy and cannot be used by human beings, cf. Deut. 7:26)

One example of this was Herod's lavish gift of a huge golden grapevine that hung at the entrance of the Holy Place. The grapes were as tall as a man (cf. Josephus, Antiq. 15.2.3). This grapevine was a symbol of national Israel (cf. Ps. 80:8; Isa. 5:1-7).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE

21:6 "there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down" This is a prediction of total destruction. It exactly describes the Roman destruction of Jerusalem under Titus in A.D. 70 (i.e., according to Josephus, Jewish Wars). The only stones left were the foundation stones of Solomon's temple that are today known as the "Wailing Wall." This total destruction was prophesied in Micah 3:12 and Jer. 26:18.

This destruction is described in detail beginning in A.D. 66 in Galilee by Vespasian and finished by Titus' siege and dismantling of Jerusalem and the temple. This was God's judgment on "those who pierced Him" (cf. Rev. 1:7). I have come to understand that most of Jesus' Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation predict and describe this event. This theological understanding is called Partial Preterism.

If you are interested in the historical and textual basis of this interpretive opinion, see

1. John Bray, Matthew 24 fulfilled
2. Kenneth Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell
3. Steve Gregg, Revelation: Four Views, Revised and Updated
4. Four Views On the Book of Revelation, pp. 35-92

÷LUKE 21:7-9

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:7-9
 ⁷They questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" ⁸And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near'. Do not go after them. ⁹"When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately."

21:7 "They questioned Him" From Mark 13:3 we know that "they" refers to Peter, James, John, and Andrew. They seem to have asked two or three questions.

1. when will the temple be destroyed
2. what will be the sign of the coming destruction
3. when will this age end and the new age begin (recorded only in Matt. 24:3)

Luke focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem, while Matthew and Mark focus on the end of the age. Jesus seems to merge these two topics in this teaching moment. Synoptic scholars have often mentioned that Luke seems to choose from Jesus' teachings to emphasize a delayed coming in judgment (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING).

The OT prophets took the crises of their days and projected them into an eschatological setting. The Synoptics chose to focus on an immediate, temporal judgment event (the destruction of Palestine culminating in Jerusalem and the temple, [A.D. 66-70]).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DISCIPLES' QUESTIONS

SPECIAL TOPIC: A DELAYED SECOND COMING

SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)

21:8 "See to it that you are not misled" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE and an AORIST PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE. It refers to the many Messianic imposters between the death of Jesus and the Roman War of A.D. 60-70. It was this nationalistic religious fanaticism that led to the total destruction of Jerusalem (cf. Josephus, Wars of the Jews 6.54).

▣ "misled" This is the Greek VERB planaō, from which the English word "planet" (i.e., the wanderers) is derived. It refers to the unusual orbit of the planets compared to the constellations (stars). It is usually translated "error," but came to be used as imagery for deceiving or leading astray (cf. Matt. 24:4,5,11,24; also note Luke 17:23).

▣ "'I am He'" This reflects Jesus' use of the OT covenant name for God, YHWH (cf. Exod. 3:14) as a designation of Himself (cf. John 8:24,58; 13:19; 18:5). Here it means many false prophets would claim to be the Jewish Messiah of Deut. 18:18-19 (cf. Acts 3:20-23).

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

▣ "The time is near" This phrase in this context is the message of the pseudo-Messiahs. This is another example of the delayed Second Coming emphasis in Luke. This refers to the time period between Jesus' death and the destruction of Jerusalem. The other Gospels and Revelation use this phrase as a time indicator by Jesus.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN

SPECIAL TOPIC: A DELAYED SECOND COMING

▣ "do not go after them" This is an AORIST PASSIVE (deponent) SUBJUNCTIVE used in the sense of an IMPERATIVE (Mark 13:7 is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE). It has the NEGATIVE PARTICLE, which usually denotes stopping an act in progress. These false messiahs had a large and zealous following. Nationalism is a tricky master. It tends to pull us away from the priority of the Kingdom of God.

21:9-11 These are precursor signs that are observable in every age (cf. Mark 13:7-8; Matt. 24:6-8). They designate the kind of world we live in, not uniquely the world immediately before the coming of Jesus Christ in judgment of "those who pierced Him" (cf. Rev. 1:7, cf. John L. Bray, Matthew 24 Fulfilled, pp. 25,28).

21:9 "do not be terrified" This is another AORIST PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE used in the sense of an IMPERATIVE. It is also an idiom from the Septuagint. The times of temporal judgment nor the eschatological judgment should frighten believers because their sins have been forgiven and they are fully accepted by God in Christ!

÷LUKE 21:10-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:10-11
 ¹⁰Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, ¹¹and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

21:10 "these things must take place first" The Markan parallel calls these precursor events "the beginning of the birth pangs of the new age" (cf. Mark 13:7-8). Both Mark and Luke have the word dei (must), which means necessity. God's children need to know and trust that all things are working out according to His plan!

SPECIAL TOPIC: BIRTH PAINS OF THE NEW AGE

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

This form of the word "fear" is found only here in the NT, but it is also found in the LXX of Isa. 19:17. Isaiah 19:1 is one place in the OT where "coming" is used as imagery of God using foreign nations as judgment (in Isa. 19:1 it is Egypt; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING, last paragraph

▣ "great signs from heaven" The author uses OT apocalyptic language to describe these events (cf. Mark 13:25). Peter says that the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, which also uses apocalyptic language, was fulfilled at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2), which shows it was not meant to be understood literally. A recent book by D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares & Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic, has really helped me to better understand prophecy and apocalyptic literature!

There are several slightly different versions of the phrase in the Greek manuscript tradition. The variations do not alter the sense of the phrase in context. There is no way to determine which of the five Greek MSS variants is original.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SIGN (OT)

÷LUKE 21:12-19

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:12-19
 ¹²"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. ¹³It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. ¹⁴So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; ¹⁵for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. ¹⁶But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ¹⁷and you will be hated by all because of My name. ¹⁸Yet not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹By your endurance you will gain your lives.

21:12 There have been many examples both in Acts and in church history of this kind of persecution of believers. Notice the different types of persecution (i.e., "lay hands on," a LXX idiom).

1. synagogues – beatings for violation of Mosaic Law or judicial decision (cf. Deut. 25:1-3; Matt. 19:17; 23:34; Mark 13:9; Acts 6:9-10)
2. local governmental authorities (i.e., the different sons of Herod)
3. Roman authorities (Proconsuls or Procurators)
   1. regional (governors)
   2. in Rome (kings)

The NASB Study Bible (footnote Luke 21:12, p. 1503) asserts that the synagogue was also used as a place of confinement until trial.

This Jesiwh and Roman persecution of believers related to a historical setting before A.D. 70. Jews lost all influence and political power after the Jewish War (A.D. 66-70). This is one reason I think a Partial Preterism fits the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation best.

The reason it is titled "Partial Preterism" is because the Second Coming of Jesus is predicted and promised in so many texts—Acts 3:19-21; 1 Cor. 1:7; 15:23; Phi. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 2:19; 3:3; 4:13-18; 5:23; 2 Thess. 1:7,10; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; James 5:7-9; 1 Pet. 1:7,13; 2 Pet. 1:16; 3:12; 1 John 2:28.

21:13 Persecution can lead to proclamation opportunities (e.g., Paul in prison in Rome). It is surprising that Luke does not retain Mark's wording at this point because it fits Luke's purpose in writing his Gospel so well (i.e., Mark 13:10, "and the Gospel must be preached to all the nations")!

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER?

21:14-15 This text does not refer to regular sermon preparation and Bible lessons (usually quoted by lazy preachers and teachers), but to specific testimony in the face of persecution and trials before Jewish authorities (cf. Acts 7) or governmental authorities (cf. Luke 12:11-12).

21:16 "you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends" Faith in Christ will divide families and lifelong friends (cf. Matt. 10:21; Mark 13:12). This may be what Matt. 24:40-41 means.

21:17 "you will be hated by all because of My name" This is a PERIPHRASTIC FUTURE PASSIVE. The presence of "all" shows it is a hyperbole (exaggeration). Christians will be hated because of their identification with Jesus of Nazareth (cf. Luke 6:22; John 9:22; 15:19; 16:2; 17:14,16; 1 Pet. 4:12-16). The early church was accused of

1. atheism (no visible God)
2. treason (would not join Roman's military)
3. incest (they loved one another)
4. cannibalism (misunderstanding of Lord's Supper, John 6)

which were all related to a misunderstanding of Christian doctrines, terminologies, and worship procedures. Persecution for Christ's sake is a NT evidence of believer's salvation and effective Christian living (cf. John 8:47; 18:37; 1 John 4:5-6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: the Name of the Lord

21:18 "Yet not a hair of your head will perish" This is a strong DOUBLE NEGATIVE. Verse 18 seems to contradict Luke 21:16. However, it must be understood that the main thrust here is

1. God is in control of history
2. physical death is not ultimate for believers

Jesus used this same OT idiom of protection (cf. 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 14:11; 1 Kgs. 1:52) in previous sermons (cf. Luke 12:7; Matt. 10:30). Thank God for Romans 8:31-39!

▣ "perish" This is the Greek term apollumi.

Robert B. Girdlestone, Synonyms of the Old Testament, p. 276, points out that there are several places where this term cannot be translated annihilation, "but such injury as makes the object practically useless for its original purpose."

1. the waste of ointment, Matt. 26:8
2. destruction of old wine skins, Matt. 9:17
3. destruction of hair, Luke 21:18
4. destruction of food, John 6:27
5. destruction of gold, 1 Pet. 1:7
6. destruction of the world, 2 Peter. 3:6
7. destruction of the physical body, Matt. 2:13; 8:25; 12:14; 21:41; 22:7; 26:52; 27:20; Rom. 2:12; 14:15; and 1 Cor. 8:11

This refers to the end of bodily existence. It is also commonly used in a moral sense. "All men are regarded as morally destroyed, i.e., they have failed to carry out the intention for which the race was called into being" (p. 276). God's response to this problem was Jesus Christ (cf. John 3:15-16 and 2 Pet. 3:9). Those who reject the gospel are now subject to a further destruction, which does involve body and spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:10).

I have come to believe in "limited immortality." Only God is ever living and those He chooses to give eternal life (i.e., believers in Jesus). This has caused me to rethink "eternal conscious torment." I hope you will look at the YouTube videos by

1. Edward William Fudge, The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment (video and book)
2. Steve Gregg, "Hell: Three Views" (video)

SPECIAL TOPIC: DESTRUCTION

SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

21:19 This same emphasis on perseverance is found in Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Rom. 2:7; 5:3-4; Heb. 10:36. True faith is a faith that lasts!

There is a Greek manuscript variant in the VERB.

1. AORIST MIDDLE (deponent) IMPERATIVE (cf. MSS א, D. L, W)
2. FUTURE MIDDLE INDICATIVE (cf. MSS A, B, and most ancient versions)

The UBS⁴ chooses #1, but "with difficulty" ("C" rating). The UBS³ gave #1 a D rating, "with great difficulty."

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE

▣ "you will gain your lives" This is the Greek word psuchē (souls), which reflects the Hebrew word nephesh (BDB 659, i.e., physical life). Because of verse 16 this must refer to one's spiritual life. Christians will be killed but they have eternal life (cf. Matt. 10:28). See the word play between the two meanings at Mark 8:35-37.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BODY AND SPIRIT

SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH

SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL

÷LUKE 21:20-24

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:20-24
 ²⁰"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. ²¹Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; ²²because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. ²³Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; ²⁴and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

21:20 "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies" Vespasian was Nero's general who subdued Palestine, (A.D. 66-68) but at Nero's death (A.D. 69) he had to return to Rome where three Emperors (Galba, Ortho, and Vitrello) followed in less than one year. Vespasian became Emperor and his son, Titus, finally destroyed the city and the temple in A.D. 70 after a five month siege of Jerusalem beginning in April when the city was flooded with pilgrims. Josephus vividly describes this period in his Jewish Wars (see Kenneth Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell).

21:21 "Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. Tradition (Eusebius, Eccl. His. 3.5.2-3) asserts that when the Christians saw the Roman armies coming, they heeded this prophetic message and fled to the Trans-Jordan region of the Decapolis to a city named Pella and most of them were spared the horrors of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Judaism (i.e., the Mosaic system) was once and for all destroyed, but Christianity became a world faith option.

21:22 "because these are the days of vengeance" God used the Roman army to bring temporal judgment on apostate Judaism (i.e., "those who pierced Him," cf. Rev. 1:7). This refers to the consequences of the Jewish War (A.D. 66-70). Thousands were killed and the rest sold into slavery (see note at v. 24). See John Bray, Matthew 24 Fulfilled and Four Views On the Book of Revelation, pp. 35-92 and SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING, last paragraph

The Gospel of Luke records many of Jesus' teachings about the judgment of God that will fall on Israel because of their rejection of Jesus and their persecution of the church (i.e., Luke 11:29-32,49-51; 13:34-35; 19:41-44; 21:20-24; 23 28-31).

21:23 This obviously refers to the destruction of Jerusalem only, not to the Second Coming. The problem was the rapid flight that was necessary (cf. Matt. 24:15-31; Mark 13:14-27).

Jesus answers the questions of the disciples. Notice also the synonymous parallelism which is so common in OT wisdom literature. Verses 23 and 24a form three double parallel lines.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DISCIPLES' QUESTIONS

21:24 "and they will fall by the edge of the sword" Verse 24 reflects Revelation 11. Josephus tells us that 1,100,000 were killed and 97,000 were taken prisoner (Wars of the Jews, 6.9.3). Josephus often exaggerated his numbers, but the terror and horror of this event is accurate.

▣ "and will be led captive into all the nations" The captured Jews were sold as slaves throughout the Roman Empire (as were all defeated peoples). Two-thirds of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves.

▣ "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" There are several theories related to this phrase (cf. Luke 20:16; Mark 13:10; Rom. 11:12,25).

1. Gentiles as God's instrument of judgment on Israel (i.e., Dan. 8:13)
2. the Gentiles in political control of Palestine (i.e., Rev. 11:2b)
3. the believing Gentiles receiving Israel's OT blessing and mandate of evangelism (i.e., Rom.2:28-29; Gal. 6:16; Eph. 2:11-3:13; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6)
4. the Good News being preached even to the Gentiles (i.e., Rom. 11:25)

÷LUKE 21:25-28

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:25-28
 ²⁵"There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

21:25-26 "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars" Again this is an example of OT apocalyptic language concerning God's breaking into history. Because of Peter's use of Joel 2:28-32 in Acts 2, this should not be taken literally. See note at verse 11.

SPECIAL TOPIC: APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE

21:25 "and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves" Apocalyptic literature has much in common with OT wisdom literature. In this text there is a good example of synonymous parallelism. The imagery of the sea for the nations comes from Daniel (cf. Dan. 7:2-3).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WISDOM LITERATURE

21:26 "coming upon the world" This phrase is unique to Luke. It refers to the known inhabited world, not the whole planet. It may refer to the chaos in Rome with the suicide of Nero in A.D. 68.

▣ "for the powers of the heavens will be shaken" This reflects several passages in Isa. 13:10,13; 24:22; 34:4; 51:6. This imagery has two orientations.

1. If this were an astral deities context it would refer to their weakness and judgment.
2. If this were a visitation of YHWH context (and it is) then it refers to creation's convulsions at the approach of its creator.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS

21:27 "Then they will see" This could refer to

1. all mankind
2. more possibly the people trapped in Jerusalem by Titus' siege (A.D. 69-70)

This seems to preclude a secret rapture. The concept of a secret rapture was unknown in the church before John Darby (A.D. 1800-1882), an Anglican minister in England. His unique theological emphasis speculated

1. all OT prophecy has to be literally fulfilled to the nation of Israel
2. the church is a parenthesis because the Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ
3. the church must be raptured out of this world so that the OT prophecies can be fulfilled dring the millennium

For a good critique of this new eschatological system, please view Steve Gregg's YouTube videos on Dispensationalism. He was once a teacher of this view but has changed. He, therefore, understands it well and knows its weaknesses!

SPECIAL TOPIC: RAPTURE

▣ "the Son of Man coming in a cloud" "Son of Man" is Jesus' self-chosen title. It apparently comes from Ezek. 2:1 and Dan. 7:13, where it combines humanity and Deity. The presence of a cloud fits OT and NT allusions to a cloud being the transportation of Deity. It is present at many of the major events of judgment (cf. Matt. 24:30; 26:64; 1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 1:7).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: COMING ON THE CLOUDS

SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEKINAH

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING, last paragraph

21:28 "But when these things begin to take place" These prophecies of Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 are meant to encourage

1. those believers living between Jesus' death and the destruction of Jerusalem
2. those believers who suffer persecution in every age (Idealism)
3. those last generation Christians who will face the wrath of the Antichrist and his followers (Futurism)
4. the events included in the Jewish war (A.D. 66-70, Partial Preterism)

SPECIAL TOPIC: ESCHATOLOGY

▣ "straighten up and lift up your heads" These are both AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVES. Believers' courage in the face of persecution and death is a powerful witness to the unbelievers who tremble in fear (cf. Luke 21:25-26).

This may be OT imagery of

1. the King of glory entering Jerusalem/temple with the righteous ‒ Psalm 24
2. YHWH saving, protecting, and bringing His righteous people to Himself ‒ Psalm 118
3. imagery of Jerusalem's strong wall but gates opened by God for the righteous ‒ Isaiah 26

▣ "because your redemption is drawing near" Verses 29-36 are built on the promise of Luke 21:28. It shows that Christians amid the sufferings of the end-time still have great confidence.

▣ "redemption" This means "purchased release" (found only here in the Gospels). It is the common OT term for God's gracious acts toward His people.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSON/REDEEM

▣ "is drawing near" This same word is used in Matt. 24:32-33. The parable used in Matt. 24:32-35 and Mark 13:28-32 is also in Luke 21:29-33.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN

÷LUKE 21:29-33

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:29-33
 ²⁹Then He told them a parable: "Behold the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. ³¹So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."

21:29 "He told them a parable" This is also recorded in Matt. 24:32-35 and Mark 13:28-31. The little phrase "and all the trees" is unique to Luke and widens the warning. Although believers cannot know the specific time of Jesus' coming, they can know the general time (cf. Luke 21:30-31).

SPECIAL TOPIC: PARABLE INTERPRETATION

21:31 "the kingdom of God" This refers to God's temporal coming in judgment of Jerusalem. This understanding is possible because of the last phrase, "is near."

SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGDOM OF GOD

The inflected form of "know" can be a

1. PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE (NASB, NKJV, NJB)
2. PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE (NRSV, TEV, REB)

▣ "is near" Believers cannot know the exact time of Jesus' return, even He did not know (cf. Matt. 24:36). They will be surprised by it (cf. Matt. 24:44), but they can know the general season (Matt. 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31) and be prepared for it.

The concept of the soon return has been a problem for dispensational interpreters because of the 2,000-year gap.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANY MOMENT RETURN OF CHRIST vs. NOT YET

SPECIAL TOPIC: A DELAYED SECOND COMING

21:32 "Truly I say to you" This is literally, "amen." It is parallel to the idiom found in Luke 21:3.

SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN

▣ "this generation will not pass away until all things take place" This is a strong DOUBLE NEGATIVE. There has been much discussion about the interpretation of "this generation" (cf. Matt. 11:16; 12:39,41,42,45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36; 24:34; Mark 8:12,38; 9:19; 13:30; Luke 7:31; 9:41; 11:29,30,31,32,50,51; 17:25; 21:23). There are two major theories.

1. this refers specifically to the Jewish War which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 66-70
2. this phrase is used in its OT sense of a people (cf. Deut. 32:5,20)

Both are true and both fit this context. However, for me, other texts and historical information from Josephus strongly imply this is another time marker related to the soon coming of God's judgment on "those who pierced Him" (cf. Rev. 1:7).

21:33 This is another strong DOUBLE NEGATIVE. It is a powerful affirmation of the eternality of God's promises (cf. Isa. 40:8; 55:11) and is repeated in Luke 16:17 and Matt. 5:18. Believers can trust these unconditional truths.

1. God's word
2. God's character
3. God's promises
4. God's Son
5. God's presence
6. God's purposes

Notice the emphasis of the similar wording of Matt. 5:18, which speaks of the fact that the OT has now been superceded by the words of Jesus (cf. Luke 21:21-48)! Jesus is the Father's ultimate and complete revelation of Himself (cf. John 1:1-18; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-23; Heb. 1:2-3).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONVENANT

÷LUKE 21:34-36

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:34-36
 ³⁴"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; ³⁵for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. ³⁶But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

21:34 "Be on guard" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. It is a recurrent warning (cf. Luke 12:40,45 Mark 4:19; Matt. 24:42-44) and is the major thrust of Jesus' eschatological teachings:

1. be ready
2. be watching
3. be active in My service

▣ "hearts" In this context "yourselves" and "hearts" are parallel.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART

▣ "weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life" This is addressed to the Apostles. The Christian life is a tension-filled pilgrimage. Many believers have damaged their witness and effective ministry by the temptations and cares of this age. Salvation is not the end of the struggle; sometimes it is the beginning (i.e., Romans 7; Eph. 6:10-19).

The parallel of the soils in Mark 4 and Matthew 13 is a shocking witness to the need for fruit bearing and perseverance, not just initial response (germination). Salvation is an ongoing relationship (cf. Matt. 10:32; Mark 13:13), not only a ticket to heaven or an insurance policy! Daily choices reveal the heart and the true self. Faithfulness and perseverance are evidence of a free salvation.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NEED TO PERSEVERE

▣ "and that day will come on you suddenly like a trap" "That day" is an OT idiom for God's visitation for blessing or judgment.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DAY OF THE LORD

21:35 This may be an allusion to Isa. 24:17 in the Septuagint. If so, then the verse division slightly changes.

The God coming visitation ("that day," Luke 21:34) will impact all human beings living and dead (i.e., 1 Thess. 4:13-18). All will give an account to God of the gift of life (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15).

For those who know God in Christ, it is a day of resurrection, reunion, and rejoicing. But, for those who have not responded to the gospel, it is a day of gloom, doom, rejection, and permanent judgment (separation).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS

▣ "those who dwell on the face of all the earth" Verse 36 seems to limit v. 35 in two ways.

1. "earth" (gē) can refer to Palestine
   SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH
2. "all the things that are about to take place" ‒ This denotes the immediate hearers. This is one of many time indicators in the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation. Jesus' words are directed to that generation, not 2,000+ years in the future!

▣ "and to stand before the Son of Man" At first glance this seems to relate to Matt. 24-25; Rev. 20, but as we have seen, these texts refer to the Jewish war (A.D. 66-70).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SON OF MAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

21:36 "keep on the alert at all times" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE denoting constant attention (cf. Mark 13:33; Eph. 6:18). This verse reminds me of Eph. 6:19. There is a daily price to be paid!

Paul uses a form of this term to describe his suffering for Christ and the gospel in 2 Cor. 6:5 and 11:27.

▣ "praying" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) PARTICIPLE used in the sense of an IMPERATIVE. Luke uses this term often in the sense of

1. beseech or pray, Luke 5:12; 8:38; 10:2; 21:36; 22:32; Acts 4:31; 8:22,24; 10:2
2. beg, Luke 8:28; 9:38,40; Acts 21:39; 26:3
3. please tell, Acts 8:34

All of these senses are found in the Septuagint.

This is a purpose clause (hina) with an AORIST ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE (a note of contingency) and an AORIST ACTIVE INFINITIVE. Some believers will be caught unaware and unprepared when the events of the end-time begin to rapidly unfold. They will have to face Christ ashamed and will receive no reward (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).

There is a Greek manuscript variant in this phrase.

1. kataxiōthēte (AORIST PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE), "may be judged/counted worthy" (cf. MSS A, C, D; Peshitta, NKJV)
2. katischusēte (AORIST ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE), "may have strength" (cf. MSS א, B, L, W and in UBS⁴; NASB, TEV, REB, NJB)

÷LUKE 21:37-38

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: LUKE 21:37-38
 ³⁷Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet. ³⁸And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

21:37 "during the day He was teaching in the temple" Jesus did not hide or decrease His public ministry (cf. Luke 20:1). These regular teaching sessions took place at Solomon's Portico.

▣ "spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet" This refers to the fact that Jesus camped out on the Mount of Olives several nights and did not spend every night with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. This place was well known to Judas and will be the site of Jesus' arrest.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GETHSEMANE

21:38 This shows Jesus' popularity with both the pilgrims attending the Passover and the local townspeople. This popularity was one of several reasons that caused the religious leaders to fear Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. What spiritual truth about stewardship was Jesus communicating in Luke 21:1-4?
2. Why were the Jews so proud of the temple?
3. Why is the discussion of the destruction of Jerusalem mixed with end-time events of the End of the Age?
4. What does the phrase in verse 25, "the times of the Gentiles," mean?
5. What is the major emphasis of Jesus' teachings concerning His Second Coming?
6. Do Luke 21:34-36 refer to believers? If so what is the implication?

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