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Luke Chapter
Twenty-one
I.
Content of the Chapter
Teachings Concerning Offering and the Last
Time
II. He predicted that the holy temple would be
destroyed (v.5-6).
III. The things that must take place before the last
time (v.7-19).
IV. The disaster of the sacred land and the coming of
the Son of Man (v.20-28).
V. The parable of the budding of the fig tree------the
VI. Warnings concerning the last time (v.34-36).
VII. In the daytime He was teaching in the temple and
at night He stayed on the mountain called Olivet (v.37-38).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Luke. 21:1 “And He looked up and saw
the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,”
YLT: “And having looked up, he saw those who did cast
their gifts to the treasury rich men,”
The Background:
the
outermost part of the
Literal Meaning: “putting their gifts
into the treasury” “Gifts” refers to money that is offered to God; “treasury”
refers to the collection box.
This verse shows that the Lord Jesus attached great
importance to the offering of money------He did not count the amount of money
there, but saw how the people put money into the treasury.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord is also sitting opposite the “treasury”------the
status of devotion, and sees how we “put money into the treasury”!
2) What the Lord cares is not the amount of money
that we devote, but the heart and attitude of our devotion of money.
3) Each according as he is purposed in his heart;
not grievingly, or of necessity. For God loves a cheerful giver (2Cor. 9:7).
Luke. 21:2 “and He saw also a certain
poor widow putting in two mites.”
YLT: “and he saw also a certain poor widow casting there
two mites,”
The Background:
“mite” (lepton)
was the smallest one of the Jewish coppers at that time, and it was almost worthless. “Two mites” were equal to
“a quadrans” (“quadran”
was the smallest one of the Roman coppers at that time).
Literal Meaning: from the
description of this
verse, we can see that widow’s devotion has the characteristics as follows:
1) She
was “a poor widow”------the word “poor” showed that
she was rather poor in the external things besides the body. “Widow” indicated
that she was alone and helpless and rather weak.
2) She
came to devote------note that it was a
voluntary devotion instead of a reluctant
tax. Considering her condition, it was rather good of her if
she did not complain or seek the relief. Who would rebuke her if
she did not devote? She did have the
necessity to come
to devote.
3) She
“put in two mites”------Note that what she had put
were two mites instead of a quadran (please note that two mites were equal to
one quandran).
If it was a quadran which could not be divided, she had to devote it. However, she could keep one of the two mites and only devote the other and it was unnecessary for her to devote both of them. Here we could see that
how absolute the attitude of her devotion
was.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What the poor men like the widow could devote
was rather a few. The amount of money in the treasury might not be less even
though they did not devote. Why on earth did they devote? Today many believers
may have such thoughts------let those rich men take the responsibility for the needs
of the Lord’s works! Is it possible that the Lord needs such several mites of
mine?
2) Someone also says that those who have money
devote their money and those who have strength devote their strength, and since
I have no money, I devote my strength and I do not need to devote money.
3) Other men are reluctant to devote money in big
bills. They purposely change the money in big bills into that in small bills
before going to the church lest there is no small money to devote.
4) The Scriptures only mentioned that she was a
poor widow did not record her name, which let us learn that: (a) we shall not
devote with the purpose of good reputation; (b) we shall not escape devotion
because of poverty.
5) The widow’s two mites were remembered by the
Lord. In like manner, though we are spiritually naïve and poor, as long as we
show our little love and devotion to the Lord, all these will be remembered by
the Lord.
Luke. 21:3 “So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more
than all;”
YLT: “and he said, ‘Truly I say to you, that this poor
widow did cast in more than all;”
Literal Meaning: this verse indicated two matters:
1) The Lord was moved by the devotion of the poor widow and
taught the disciples to follow her example.
2) The
Lord held different views upon devotion from men in the world. The real value
of the money that one devotes lies in the
quality instead of the amount.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If our devotion is set upon our own wealth (the
rich) with a view that we have something to devote, there will be of little
spiritual value. However, if our devotion is built upon our poverty and
helplessness, we will surely be acceptable to the Lord.
2) Some believer humbly confesses that what he has
devoted counts nothing and it is only the two mites of the widow. Though he
intended to show his modesty, he actually lowered the value of the widow’s two
mites, for what the poor widow had put in was more than all in the sight of the
Lord.
3) What the Lord focuses on is different from what
men focus on. Men look on what is visible, and the Lord looks on what is
invisible. Men see the visible money ------they ask how much you have devoted.
The Lord sees the invisible thing------He will ask how you love Him. Men count
how much you have devoted, and the more the better, but the Lord sees that how
much you have remained-----the less what you should devote and actually you have
not devoted, the better it will be.
4) She put in two mites without advertising herself
and went away quietly. Men disdained to pay attention to her, but the Son of
God the Lord Jesus knew what she had done. He did not praise the money devoted
by rich men, but praised the two mites devoted by the widow. The motivation of
believers’ devotion is not gaining men’s praise, but gaining the Lord’s praise.
The Lord’s praise is a priceless treasure.
5) The Lord did not care for the amount of our
devotion, but the heart of our devotion. When we put the money into the
offertory box, do we also devote our hearts to Him?
Luke. 21:4 “for all these out of
their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put
in all the livelihood that she had.’”
YLT: “for all these out of their superabundance did cast
into the gifts to God, but this one out of her want, all the living that she
had, did cast in.’”
Meaning of Words: “offerings”: gifts; “livelihood”:
the money to live, life, property.
Literal Meaning: “for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God”, it showed that they
still had something to keep their life after devotion.
“But she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood
that she had”,
it indicated that she had to live her life in reliance on God after devotion.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord does not see how much you have devoted,
but how much you have left in your pocket.
2) What she had put into the box was not “out of
their abundance”, but “out of her whole livelihood”, in other words, she
devoted the indispensible and only part that kept her life. It manifested her
complete obedience and confidence.
3) Though two mites were rather minute, it had
sufficiently manifested her love toward God. She poured her whole love to God
through this action. She preferred to be starved to death, but was unwilling to
fail in loving God. She regarded God as worthy of her love that she did put her
life into consideration. Since God was the object of her love, she would no
longer be alone in her life as a widow.
Luke. 21:5 “Then, as some spoke of
the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,”
YLT: “And certain saying about the temple, that with
goodly stones and devoted things it hath been adorned, he said,”
The Background:
“spoke of the temple” The temple that they
spoke of referred to the temple that was rebuilt by Herod the Great who wanted
to please the Jews, around B.C. 20, after the temple which was rebuilt by
Zerubbabel (See Ezra. 3:8) was thrown down. When the Lord Jesus began to serve
on the earth, the temple had already been built for forty-six years (See John.
2:20) and had not been finished yet. According to the records of the Jewish
historian Joseph, the whole temple was finished in A.D. 64. This temple was magnificent
and grand------some of the marble extended more than 10 meters and there were
colossal golden decorations in it. How enormous and glittering it was!
Literal Meaning: “as some spoke of
the temple” “Some” referred to the disciples (See Mark. 13:1). The disciples
may sing the praise of the magnificence and beauty of the temple.
“How it was adorned with beautiful
stones and donations.” “Donations” referred to the gifts that the citizens of
God pay unto God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “How it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations.” What they care about are the temporary
things that are seen, not the eternal glory which are not seen (See 2Cor.
4:17-18).
2) What on earth do we boast? Our “temple”------such
as numerous people, thriving works, and beautiful buildings? Or “the Lord” in
the temple?
Luke. 21:6 “‘These
things which you see--the days will come in which not one stone shall be left
upon another that shall not be thrown down.’”
YLT: “`These things that ye behold days will come, in
which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown
down.’”
Literal Meaning: “these things which
you see” What the disciples saw was the appearance of the temple.
“The days will come” Here it referred to
the things that would be fulfilled in A.D. 70.
“In which not one stone shall be left
upon another that shall not be thrown down.” It was fully fulfilled in A.D.70 literally. At
that time, the Romans, under Titus’s leadership, completely destroyed
Spiritual Meaning: “the temple”
typifies the church. “Stones” typifies believers (See Eph. 2:20-22; 1Pet. 2:5).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Today, no matter how beautiful and civilized the
world is in men’s physical eyes, all the elements shall melt with fervent heat
in the spiritual eyes (See 2Pet. 3:12).
2) The glory of the temple does not lie in gold,
silver, or gem but in the presence of God. Since the church is God’s temple, we
should value God’s presence more than the outward large scale.
3) If the temple lacks the spiritual reality within,
the “big-scale” appearance is of no use and it will be torn down sooner or
later. May the Lord make us pay attention to the spiritual reality more than
the outward extension------the numerous men, the expansion of works and
spiritual high statuses and etc.
4) The church that has thriving appearance but does
not have the presence of the Lord will be fallen apart sooner or later. And its
members will not be able to get along with each other (“not one stone shall be left
upon another”), for the Lord
allows such churches to be “destroyed” by the demolishing hands.
5) The natural men (stones) cannot accompany with
each other and be built together. Therefore if our natural lives have not been
destructed, we can neither let the Lord have position in us nor partake in the
true building.
6) All the material beauties (See v.5) will pass
away. Only Christ abides forever (See Heb. 1:12). And therefore we should not
love the vanity of the world but value the living Christ.
Luke. 21:7 “So they asked Him,
saying, ‘Teacher, but when will
these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to
take place?’”
YLT: “And they questioned him, saying, ‘Teacher, when,
then, shall these things be? and what [is] the sign when these things may be
about to happen?’”
Meaning of Words: “sign”: miracle, token,
wonder.
Literal Meaning: “but when will these
things be?” “These things” referred to the Lord’s prophecy concerning the temple
(See v.6).
“And what sign will there be when these
things are about to take place?” In the minds of
the disciples, they seemed to only care about when the temple would be
destroyed. But there were three matters in the answer of the Lord:
1) The sign before the scared place’s being
destroyed (v.8-19);
2) The Tribulation (v.20-24);
3) The second coming of the Lord (v.25-28).
The Lord Jesus mentioned the three things at the
same time. It might imply that the destruction of
Luke. 21:8 “And He said: ‘Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in
My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”
YLT: “And he said, ‘See ye may not be led astray, for
many shall come in my name, saying I am [he], and the time hath come nigh; go
not on then after them;”
Meaning of Words: “take heed”, look out, see
carefully; “deceive”: be out of the way, cheat.
Literal Meaning: “take heed that you
not be deceived.” “Take heed” indicated that we should take heed of all the
situations that we are confronted with, lest we make mistakes. “Deceive”, it
means making it difficult to discern true or false with deceitful means.
“For many will come in My name, saying,
‘I am He’.” They referred to
those who called themselves Christ. The Lord’s words show that the appearance
of “false christs” is the first sign of the destruction of the temple. The
Jewish historian Joseph recorded that during the forty years from the Lord’s
resurrection to the destruction of
“And, ‘The
time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after
them.” “The time”
referred to the day of trouble of the sacred land. The false christs certainly
would draw men to go after them by messages centering on the last days.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should “take heed” because there are “deceits”.
Only those who take heed could avoid being “deceived”.
2) It is good for us to hold on the cautious
attitude towards the speeches of others concerning Christ.
3) All the prophecies in the Bible, as a lamp that
shines in a dark place (2Pet. 1:19), provide us light and keep us from being
deceived. Therefore if we do not want to be deceived, we should pay attention
to prophecies and discern cautiously so as to prevent us from confusing right
and wrong.
4) One of the signs of the
last day is that men like to boast themselves with Christ. However, Christ is the spiritual reality instead of a flag.
5) Today anyone who calls himself
Christ is actually false. Some deceivers do not declare openly that he is
Christ but mislead others to regard him as Christ unconsciously.
Luke. 21:9 “But when you hear of wars
and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first,
but the end will not come immediately.’”
YLT: “and when ye may hear of wars and uprisings, be not
terrified, for it behoveth these things to happen first, but the end [is] not
immediately.’”
Meaning of Words: “end”: final, conclusion.
Literal Meaning: “But when you hear
of wars and commotions.” This was the second sign before the temple was destructed.
After the death of the Lord, the rumor that wars were going to take place made
men scared and jittery.
“Do not be terrified.” It is of no help
for men to be troubled once they have heard wars. What they should do is to
prepare themselves to face these things calmly.
“For these things must come to pass
first.” It is the reason for one “not be terrified”. Since wars are
unavoidable, “being terrified” is of no help.
“But the end will not come immediately.”
“End” refers to “the end of the age” (See Matt.24:3), i.e. the Tribulation of
the three and a half years (See Rev. 11:2).
Luke. 21:10 “Then He said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom.”
YLT: “Then said he to them, ‘Nation shall rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom,”
Literal Meaning: “Nation will rise
against nation” It refers to the wars between nations and tribes and even
villages.
“And kingdom against kingdom.” It refers
the international wars.
From the Lord’s ascension till now, wars had been
taken place incessantly from ages and from generations.
Spiritual Meaning: “Nation will rise
against nation” It symbolizes that the earthly people would rise against the
heavenly people.
“And kingdom against kingdom.” It
indicates that the
Luke. 21:11 “And there will be great
earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be
fearful sights and great signs from heaven.”
YLT: “great shakings also in every place, and famines,
and pestilences, there shall be; fearful things also, and great signs from
heaven there shall be;”
Literal Meaning: “And there will be
great earthquakes in various places” From all the past dynasties, “earthquakes”
have increased constantly and they will become stronger in the last days (See Rev.
6:12; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18).
“And famines and pestilences” Wars (See v.10)
always bring in “famines”.
“And there will be fearful sights and
great signs from heaven.” According to the record of the Jewish history, there
was sight in the air before the ruin of
Spiritual Meaning: “earthquakes” symbolizes that all things beyond God shall be removed (See Heb. 12:27). “Famines” indicates
that the lack of spiritual food everywhere makes God’s people hungry. “Pestilences”
symbolizes God’s judgment and punishment (See 2Sam. 24:10-15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Wars, famines and earthquakes all bring men
tribulations in the flesh. God allows tribulations to come to us for the sake
of giving us hope instead of frustrating us.
2) God’s will is to make us turn to Him more by
these disasters. The Lord gives us the environmental disasters for the sake of
love. We won’t learn to look upon and rely on the Lord closely without the
oppression of disasters.
Luke. 21:12 “But before all these
things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up
to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for
My name's sake.”
YLT: “and before all these, they shall lay on you their
hands, and persecute, delivering up to synagogues and prisons, being brought before
kings and governors for my name’s sake;”
Meaning of Words: “rulers”: dominator (including
governors and magistrates).
Literal Meaning: “they will lay their
hands on you” “Synagogue” was the place where the Jews from various regions
gather together, read the Bible and worship God.
Spiritual Meaning: “synagogues” symbolizes
the religious circumstance.
“Kings and rulers” symbolizes the power
of the world.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A true believer
of the Lord may usually give rise to religionists’ envy, opposition and
persecution. Therefore, we have to watch out for them.
2) The organized
system (synagogue) of God’s elect even became the organization that persecuted
those who were really of God. Today, there are also some organizations in Christianity
who are willing to help the tyrant to do evil------to help the evil political
power to persecute true Christians.
3) Since we are not
of the world, the world hates us. They have persecuted the Lord, they will also
persecute us (John 15:19-20).
4) The church does
not lack men who give sermons, but lacks men who can stand for the Lord and
bear witness of the Lord.
Luke. 21:13 “But it will turn out for
you as an occasion for testimony.”
YLT: “and it shall become to you for a testimony.”
Literal Meaning: “it” refers to the
disciples’ being laid hands on, persecuted, questioned, delivered up to prison
and brought to officers in v.12.
“Turn out as an occasion for testimony.”
It indicates that the above-mentioned conditions are good chances to “bear
witness” to the Lord, showing how the Lord is whom one believes.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The experiences of life of Christians,
especially the experiences in disasters, are the best testimonies.
2) The persecutions in the last days will turn out
for believers for testimony. When persecutions come, if we are willing to stand
for the Lord’s name’s sake (See v.12), they will turn out for us as occasions
for testimony before God and men.
Luke. 21:14 “Therefore settle it in
your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;”
YLT: “`Settle, then, to your hearts, not to meditate
beforehand to reply,”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When we are confronted with persecutions and
oppositions, we shall not answer by ourselves.
2) When we believers
are faced with persecutions and oppositions, we shall not deal with them by
ourselves, but commit ourselves to the Lord in faith. He who believes the Lord
shall not be ashamed (Rom. 9:33).
3) If men insist on
speaking by themselves, the Lord won’t say for us. If men are willing to not
speak for themselves, the Lord will manifest His words.
Luke. 21:15 “for I will give you a
mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or
resist.”
YLT: “for I will give to you a mouth and wisdom that all
your opposers shall not be able to refute or resist.”
Literal Meaning: “I will give you a
mouth and wisdom” The status of “I” in the original specially strengthens the
tone of this sentence. The Lord Himself will give His disciples God’s help
which enables them to conquer the accusation of the adversaries.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If we are persecuted for the sake of the Lord,
the Lord will not only be with us but also give us words to enable us to answer
those who persecute us. The Lord’s attendance is so careful that we need not be
frightened.
2) Many times, believers can say what they are
unable to say and what they have not expected to say, for it is the Lord who
gives us “an occasional mouth and wisdom”.
3) We
shall learn to face persecutions not by ourselves and retreat to the spirit to
rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit of God abides in our
spirit (Rom 8:9).
4) The Holy Spirit is our helper and comforter,
when we suffer persecutions because of the service of the Lord.
5) In the wars of the last days, the words and
wisdom given by the Lord are the sharp weapons that could conquer the
adversaries. “Brothers overcame it (Satan) by the word of their testimony”
(Rev. 12:11). Therefore we should not keep silent, but blow the trumpet.
Luke. 21:16 “You will be betrayed even
by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you
to death.”
YLT: “`And ye shall be delivered up also by parents, and
brothers, and kindred, and friends, and they shall put of you to death;”
Meaning of Words: “be betrayed”:
transmit, surrender.
Literal Meaning: the family’s division resulted from conflicts over faith
has been very common and will be increasingly severe in the future. There are
two reasons for opposition of family members and friends:
1) Because they hate the Lord and the
word the Lord (John. 15:18).
2) They are afraid to be involved in and
therefore they report to offices and accuse believers.
Spiritual Meaning: “brothers” symbolizes the brothers in the church.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many believers even betray brothers and sisters
in order to preserve themselves because of being unwilling to suffer hardships
and death.
2) Believers should
love one another. However, since they hold distinct views and stand in
different statuses, they will become at enmity toward each other and even kill
one another.
Luke. 21:17 “And you will be hated by
all for My name's sake.”
YLT: “and ye shall be hated by all because of my name”
Literal Meaning: “you will…for My
name’s sake” “You” referred to the disciples, for they were both the Jews and
the disciples. Therefore, the troubles mentioned here are both related with the
Jews and believers in the New Testament.
“Be hated by all.” “All” referred to the
unbelieving Gentiles. Both the Jewish believers and Gentile believers be hated
and persecuted and killed by unbelievers (See Matt. 5:11) for the sake of the
Lord.
Luke. 21:18 “But not a hair of your
head shall be lost.”
YLT: “and a hair out of your head shall not perish;”
Literal Meaning: This verse seems to
contradict with the former sentence “they will put some of you to death”
(v.16). However, it actually expresses that:
1) That they have been put to death are
permitted by the will of God.
2) None of hairs of their head shall be
lost apart from the will of God (See Matt. 10:29-30).
Enlightenment in the Word: if we could die for the sake of the Lord, we will
thank Him because He counts us worthy of that age (See 20:35). If we are safe
and sound in persecutions, we shall also thank Him because He keeps us.
Luke. 21:19 “By your patience possess
your souls.”
YLT: “in your patience possess ye your souls.”
Meaning of Words: “patience”:
constancy, cheerful endurance; “possess”: gain, purchase; “soul”: the life of
soul, breath.
Literal Meaning: “by your patience”
It means that in various disastrous environments, one keeps the word of the
Lord and the name of the Lord (See Rev. 3:8-11).
“Possess your souls” It does not refer
to one’s being redeemed but one’s enjoyment of soul in the kingdom.
Disasters made our souls suffer pain and
“patience” indicates that one keeps the faith and stays unmoved in pain and on
the contrary saves his soul (See 17:33).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Through many tribulations, we must enter into
the
2) Believers are fellow-partakers in the
tribulations and kingdom and patience of Jesus (Rev. 1:9).
Luke. 21:20 “‘But
when you see
YLT: “`And when ye may see
Meaning of Words: “surround”: compass,
encircle, embarrass.
The Background:
According to the records of historians, the
Jews betrayed
Literal Meaning: these scriptures
(v.20-24) predict the things that would happen in the sacred land and the holy
city from A.D. 66-70.
“When you see
Luke. 21:21 “Then let those who are in
YLT: “then those in
Literal Meaning: “Then let those who are in
“Let those who are in the midst of her
depart, and let not those who are in
the country enter her”------depart from the
crowed places and avoid fleeing to the crowed places. In old times, in the
scourge of wars men usually fled to the inside of the city wall. However, in the
day of God’s punishment, the city of
Spiritual
Meaning: “flee to the
mountains” It symbolizes paying price to live in the spiritual realm. “Those who live in the midst of her depart”
symbolizes those who live under the worldly influence. “Those who live in the
country” symbolizes those who have been delivered from the worldly influence.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When suffering persecutions, God’s people are
supposed to “flee” instead of resisting (See Matt. 10:23, Rev. 12:6).
2) If believers want
to escape the Tribulation at the last day, the best way is to pay price to seek
to reach the high spiritual realm (“flee to the mountains”) and then would be
raptured by the Lord.
Luke. 21:22 “For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
YLT: “because these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all
things that have been written.”
Literal Meaning: this verse explains
the reason why the city of
Luke. 21:23 “But woe to those who are
pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be
great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.”
YLT: “`And wo to those with child, and to those giving
suck, in those days; for there shall be great distress on the land, and wrath
on this people;”
Literal
Meaning: “woe to those who
are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies” because they are tied by the leg and
there’s not enough time for them to flee.
“For there will be great distress in the land and wrath
upon this people.” According to the
records of the Jewish history, about a million Jews had been killed in the case
in A.D.70, and most of them were crucified. Not a few of the Jews were sold
into slavery and seriously suffered bitterness to death finally. However, this
situation could not catch up with the severity of the Tribulation at the last
day.
Spiritual Meaning: “who are pregnant” refers to
those who have conceived various lusts; “who are nursing babies” symbolizes those who have fleshly entanglements.
Luke. 21:24 “And they will fall by the
edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And
YLT: “and they shall fall by the mouth of the sword, and
shall be led captive to all the nations, and
Meaning of Words: “all nations”:
various nations, Gentiles.
Literal Meaning: “
“Until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled” “The times of the
Gentiles” refers to the days when the city of
How to count “the times of the Gentiles”?
The Bible exegetes had two kinds of opinions:
1) From the time when God took away the
authority to rule the
2) From the time of the king
Nebuchadnezzar to the day when
The time of the above-mentioned
two kinds of data is quite long and they are at least about two thousand and
five or six hundred years. Moreover, we could find arguments to support both
the calculations in the Lord’s prophecies in this chapter. Concerning the first
calculation, from v.25-28 in which the Lord predicted that Jerusalem would be
trampled by Gentiles and immediately talked about the Lord’s coming in a cloud
in the last days, we could know that it was up to His second coming. However,
the Lord predicted the parable of the budding of the fig tree (v.29-31) which
refers to the restoration of
Enlightenment in the Word: the historical changes are in the charge of God and
the reigns of government of all nations are of God’s establishment.
Luke. 21:25 “‘And
there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth
distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;”
YLT: “`And there shall be signs in sun, and moon, and
stars, and on the land [is] distress of nations with perplexity, sea and billow
roaring;”
Literal
Meaning: from v.23-27, we
could know that that
the Lord’s second coming happens at the end of the Tribulation. Moreover, when
He comes, the signs of the heaven will change greatly (See
Zech. 14:5-6; Joel. 2:31; 2Pet. 3:10).
Spiritual Meaning: the change of the signs of heaven sometimes also symbolizes the upheaval of social
condition and the rise and fall of dynasties and nations (See Ezek. 32:7-8; Amos. 8:9). It also indicates the
shake-up of nature.
Enlightenment in the Word: the sun, the moon and stars all typify
Christ; when the body comes, the shadow is not essential (See Col. 2:16-17). The moment Christ appears, all light
bearers will be overshadowed.
Luke. 21:26 “men's hearts failing them
from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
YLT: “men fainting at heart from fear, and expectation
of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken.”
Meaning of Words: “the earth”: the
world, the habitable earth; “men’s hearts failing them from fear”: breathe our,
faint.
Literal Meaning: “those things which
are coming on the earth” refers to the Tribulation of three and a half years that
would come in the last days (See Matt. 24:21; Rev. 3:10; 11:2; 13:5).
Luke. 21:27 “Then they will see the
Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
YLT: “`And then they shall see the Son of Man, coming in
a cloud, with power and much glory;”
Literal Meaning: “then” refers to the
time when “there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars”
(v.25-26).
“They will see the Son of Man coming in
a cloud with power and great glory.” “The Son of Man” is the title for the Lord
when He became flesh and suffered pain. When the Lord comes, He will show the “power”
and “Great glory” because the Lord shall consume the antichrist with the spirit
of his mouth (power), and shall destroy it with the brightness (Great glory) of
his coming (See 2Thess. 2:8).
“Coming in a cloud” At that time, He
will not be hidden in the clouds of air, but will come in a cloud.
Luke. 21:28 “Now when these things
begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws
near.’”
YLT: “and these things beginning to happen bend
yourselves back, and lift up your heads, because your redemption doth draw
nigh.’”
Literal Meaning: “these things”
refers to the things mentioned in v.25-26. At that time, the sun and the moon
will not shine, the heaven will fall, the earth will crack and the sea will
churn.
“Look up and lift up your heads” means “rejoice”.
“Because your redemption draws near” It
expresses the reason why we should “look up and lift up our heads”. “Redemption”
does not refer to the salvation of spirit because we have got it when we
believe in Him. The “redemption” here refers to “the redemption of our body”
(See Rom. 8:23).
When we believe in the Lord, we have
received the eternal salvation and our spirits have been saved. However, our
bodies still groan, travail, are under the bondage of corruption and suffer the
pain of diseases and senescence in the old creation. We shall receive the
redemption of our body until the coming of the Lord. When the Lord comes, He
would redeem and change our body that is under the bondage of the old creation and
bring us into the glory of freedom of the new creation. At that time, our lowly
body will be transformed that it may be conformed to His glorious body (Pill.
3:21). It is the meaning of the so-called “redemption of body” in the Bible.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When the Lord comes, men’s hearts fail them from
fear (See v.26), however, believers should “look up and lift up our heads” to
meet Him. On one hand, it is our hope of glory and on the other, it encourages
us to preach the glad tidings to the poor world, lest they perish forever when
the Lord comes.
2) We could “look up and lift up our heads” until
the Son of Man comes in glory (v.27). It shows that:
A. The glorious appearing of Christ brings those
who have received grace into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Rom.
8:21) and reaches God’s highest will towards men.
B. Before the coming of that day, we have to bow
our heads and walk on the narrow way of cross. Just as Watchman Nee had said, “since
my glories lie ahead, now patient I must be. I will not go before my Lord, much
glory to receive”.
Luke. 21:29-30 “Then He spoke to them a
parable: ‘Look at the fig tree, and
all the trees. When they are already
budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. When they may now cast
forth, having seen, of yourselves ye know that now is the summer nigh;”
YLT: “And he spake a simile to them: `See the fig-tree,
and all the trees,”
Literal
Meaning: “When they are
already budding”
refers to the time when the tree flourishes, showing that it is spring already and therefore summer is not
far away.
Spiritual Meaning: “the fig tree” typifies the
“Summer” is in contrast with winter
and winter symbolizes the time of the Tribulation (See Mark. 13:18-19). Summer symbolizes
the age of the restoration of the kingdom (See Luke. 21:30-31) and this age will start from the Lord’s second coming.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Look at the fig tree.” The Lord wants us to
learn the second coming of Christ from the budding of the fig tree. It shows that
the principle of Christ fills all in all (See Eph. 1:23) and all things
manifest Christ. And therefore we should learn to know Christ from all.
2) Christ reigns in life (See Rom. 5:17) and His kingdom must be full of abundant
life. The more abundant life believers have (See
John. 10:10), the more they will partake in the
Luke. 21:31 “So you also, when you see
these things happening, know that the
YLT: “so also ye, when ye may see these things happening,
ye know that near is the reign of God;”
Literal Meaning: “when you see these
things happening” “These things” refers to the Lord’s prophecies that
had been fulfilled in the past two thousand years.
“Know that the
Spiritual
Meaning: the
Lord’s words remind us that as long as we see that the
Luke. 21:32 “Assuredly, I say to you,
this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.”
YLT: “verily I say to you This generation may not pass
away till all may have come to pass;”
Literal
Meaning: “this generation
will by no means pass away” “Generation” in the Bible usually does not mean men’s physical years
in the world, but men’s moral state before God (See
Deut. 32:5, Matt. 11:16; 12:39, 41, 42, 45; 23:36). In other words, the situation
of evil, adultery and wickedness in the world determines the length of the
generation. Therefore “this generation” shall be the whole age until the Lord’s
second coming.
“Till all tings take place.”------“All
things” include all things before the Lord
comes back.
What the Lord has said must be fulfilled.
The Restoration of Israel was fulfilled in A.D. 1948. Therefore we can hear
indistinctly the steps of His second coming. Saints should never ignore the
Lord’s words.
Luke. 21:33 “Heaven and earth will
pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
YLT: “the heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my
words may not pass away.”
Literal
Meaning: “heaven and earth
will pass away”
The singular form of the word “heaven” shows that it is
the heaven in contrast with the earth. One day, the old heaven and earth will
perish (See 2Pet. 3:10; Heb.
1:11-12).
“But my words will by no means pass away.”------The Lord’s word is settled in the heaven (Ps. 119:89) and
must be fulfilled.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the Lord’s words are more stable and permanent than the
heaven and the earth. However, men often make a fetish of the permanent heaven
and earth, but they have doubt in the Lord’s
words.
Luke. 21:34 “‘But
take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing,
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”
YLT: “`And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts may
be weighed down with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and anxieties of life, and
suddenly that day may come on you,”
Meaning of Words: “carousing”:
drunkenness, excessive drinking; “drunkenness”: intoxication, alcoholism; “cares”:
anxieties, worry; “weigh”: burden, overcharge; “expectedly”: accidentally.
Luke. 21:35 “For it will come as a
snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.”
YLT: “for as a snare it shall come on all those dwelling
on the face of all the land,”
Meaning of Words: “dwell on”: sit,
ride.
Literal Meaning: this verse shows
that the second coming of the Lord is to all human beings.
Luke. 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray
always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’”
YLT: “watch ye, then, in every season, praying that ye
may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are about to come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’”
Meaning of Words: “watch”: be on the
alert, be sleepless, keep awake; “be counted worthy”: overcome, defeat.
Literal Meaning: “watch therefore,
and pray always” The definition of “watch” is “keep awake and be on alert”. “Watch
therefore, and pray always” means that one keeps awake both in praying and by
praying.
“All these things that will come to pass”
refers to the Tribulation.
“And to stand before the Son of Man” It
implies that those who watch and pray always in the Spirit shall be kept from
the hour of the Tribulation which is about to come upon all the world (See Rev.
3:10), in other words, they shall be caught up to Christ before the Tribulation
(See 1Thess. 4:17). If men have not been watchful or ready, they won’t pass
through the judgment before the judgment-seat of Christ and therefore they
cannot stand.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) As to the Lord’s second coming, it is better for
us to pay attention to our real spiritual states inside than to spare much time
to research the problems such as time, signs and prophecies and etc. It makes
no difference to those whose spiritual states are normal, no matter when the
Lord comes. Moreover, they have already tasted the real meaning of the Lord’s
second coming in spiritual reality.
2) “Watching” is the most important thing in welcoming
the kingdom. All those who do not care about the Lord’s second coming are not
watchful enough.
3) Jessie Penn-Lewis said, “Christians should watch
from the first day of their Christian life”. We should be watchful for the
enemy, the world and ourselves.
4) Believers should not be careless (watch), but
live and work with the attitude of waiting for the Lord everyday and all our
walking and thoughts should also be prepared to meet the Lord and please Him.
5) Satan always makes
us not feel the need of prayer. And it makes us only have the form of prayer and
lack the desire and burden of prayer. Therefore, we should pray watchfully.
6) Dr. Miguel said, “a watchful state in one’s
spirit guarantees right prayers, and lifeless and depressed thoughts may hold
back the effect of prayers” (it is translated from the Chinese version),
Luke. 21:37 “And in the daytime He was
teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain
called Olivet.”
YLT: “And he was during the days in the temple teaching,
and during the nights, going forth, he was lodging at the mount called of
Olives;”
Literal Meaning: “but at night He went out
and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.” The Lord Jesus spent the night in
Spiritual Meaning: the city of
“The mountain called Olivet” As implied
in the name, it is a place abounding in olive oil. The olive oil typifies the Holy
Spirit. The Lord finds rest where it is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
2) A normal church should be filled with the Holy
Spirit (what “the mountain called Olivet” stands for), thus the Lord could have
rest.
3) A normal church should be full of life
(Lazarus), love (Mary) and service (Martha), thus the Lord will have rest.
4) Christ only dwells in our hearts by our faith
and love (See Eph. 3:17).
Luke. 21:38 “Then early in the morning
all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.”
YLT: “and all the people were coming early unto him in
the temple to hear him.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
early in the morning is best time
for one to hear the voice of the Lord and therefore every day we’d better come
to the Lord early in the morning, have communion with Him and read His
word------the Bible.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Special Features of the Widow’s Devotion
(v.1-4)
I. Others devoted because they had been blessed
with treasure (the rich) and the widow devoted because of her love to the Lord.
II. Others out of their abundance have put in
offerings for God and the widow out of her poverty still put in.
III. Others devoted the external things and the
widow devoted all the livelihood.
IV. Others devotion did not concern “the life of
self” and the widow devoted her “life of self”.
V. Others’ devotion was reasonable and the widow’s
devotion was praised by the Lord.
The Signs before the Sacred Land Suffered
Disasters
II. There will be wars and rumors of wars (v.9-10).
III. There will be earthquakes and famines and
pestilences (v.11a).
IV. There will be sights from the heaven (v.11b).
The Danger and Counterplot for the Saints to
Preach the Glad Tidings
I. Dangers:
A. They
will be laid hands on and persecuted and delivered up to the synagogues
(v.12a)------be persecuted by the nominal groups in Christianity or by the
nominal Christians in the church.
B.
They will be delivered up to prisons and brought before kings and rulers
(v.12b)------be persecuted and judged by the political power of the world.
C. They
will be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives and friends (v.16)------be
hated by family members according to the flesh.
D. They
will be hated by all (v.17)------be hated and despised by men in the world.
II. Resolutions:
A.
Settle it in one’s hearts (v.14a).
B. Do
not meditate beforehand on what you will answer (v.14b).
C.
Look upon the Lord that He will give you a mouth and wisdom (v.15).
D. By
your patience possess your souls (v.19).
The Lord’s Prophecies and Exhortations
towards the Disaster of the
I. Prophecies:
A. When
you see
B. These
are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled (v.22).
C. The
holy city will be trampled by Gentiles (v.24).
D. Until
the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (v.24)------there will be a time limit.
II. Exhortations:
A. Let
those who are in
B. Let
those who are in the midst of her depart (v.21b).
C. Let
not those who are in the country enter her (v.21c).
D. Woe
to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days (v.23).
The Prophecies and Exhortations of the Lord’s
Second Coming
I. Prophecies:
A. The
Lord comes after the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (v.24b).
B.
When the Lord comes, there will be great changes in the sun, in the moon and in
the stars (v.25-26a).
C. Men’s
hearts fail them from fear (v.26b).
D. The
Lord will come in a cloud (v.27).
E.
When the Lord comes, the redemption of believers draws near (v.28).
II. Exhortations:
A. When
the fig trees are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer------the
B. The
words of the Lord’s prophecies must be fulfilled (v.32-33).
C. That
Day comes on you unexpectedly (v.34-35).
D.
Watch and pray always (v.36).
The Preparations that Believers should Make
for the Coming of the Lord
I. The positive aspect:
A.
Take heed to yourselves (v.34a)------lest you be deceived (See v.8).
B. Do
not carouse or drink to excess (v.34b)------do not be greedy for the pleasures
of this life.
C. Lay
down the cares of this life (v.34c)------do not worry about the life on the
earth.
II. The negative aspect:
A.
Watch (v.36a)------draw near to the Lord always and never depart from Him.
B.
Pray always (v.36b)------trust the Lord in everything and commit everything to the
Lord.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren