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Luke Chapter
Twenty-One
Luke 21
The Lord's discourse in chapter 21 displays the character
of the Gospel in a peculiar manner. The spirit of grace, in contrast with the
Judaic spirit, is seen in the account of the poor widow's offering. But the
Lord's prophecy requires more detailed notice. Verse 6, as we saw at the end of
chapter 19, speaks only of the destruction of Jerusalem as she then stood. This
is true also of the disciples' question. They say nothing of the end of the
age. The Lord afterwards enters upon the duties and the circumstances of His
disciples previous to that hour. In verse 8 it is said, "The time draweth
near," which is not found in Matthew. He goes much more into detail with
regard to their ministry during that period, encourages them, promises them
necessary help. Persecution should turn to them for a testimony. From the
middle of verse 11 to the end of verse 19 we have details relative to His
disciples, that are not found in the corresponding passage of Matthew. They
present the general state of things in the same sense, adding the condition of
the Jews, of those especially who, more or less, professedly received the word.
The whole stream of testimony, as rendered in connection with Israel, but
extending to the nations, is found in Matthew to the end of verse 14. In Luke
it is the coming service of the disciples, until the moment when the judgment
of God should put an end to that which was virtually terminated by the
rejection of Christ. Consequently the Lord says nothing in verse 20 of the
abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, but gives the fact of the siege
of Jerusalem, and its then approaching desolation-not the end of the age, as in
Matthew. These were the days of vengeance on the Jews, who had crowned their
rebellion by rejecting the Lord. Therefore Jerusalem should be trodden down by
the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled, that is, the
times destined to the sovereignty of the Gentile empires according to the
counsel of God revealed in the prophecies of Daniel. This is the period in
which we now live. There is a break here in the discourse. Its principal
subject is ended; but there are still some events of the last scene to be
revealed, which close the history of this Gentile supremacy.
We shall see also that, although it is the commencement of the
judgment, from which Jerusalem will not arise until all is accomplished and the
song of Isaiah 40 is addressed to her, nevertheless, the great tribulation is
not mentioned here. There is great distress, and wrath upon the people, as was
indeed the case in the siege of Jerusalem by Titus; and the Jews were also led
away captive. Neither is it said, "Immediately after the tribulation of
those days." Nevertheless, without designating the epoch, but after having
spoken of the times of the Gentiles, the end of the age comes. There are signs
in heaven, distress on earth, a mighty movement in the waves of human
population. The heart of man, moved by a prophetic alarm, foresees the
calamities which, still unknown, are threatening him; for all the influences
that govern men are shaken. Then shall they see the Son of man, once rejected
from the earth, coming from heaven with the ensigns of Jehovah, with power and
great glory-the Son of man, of whom this Gospel has always spoken. There the
prophecy ends. We have not here the gathering together of the elect Israelites,
who had been dispersed, of which Matthew speaks.
That which follows consists of exhortations, in order
that the day of distress may be a token of deliverance to the faith of those
who, trusting in the Lord, obey the voice of His servant. The
"generation" (a word already explained when considering Matthew)
should not pass away till all was fulfilled. The length of the time that has
elapsed since then, and that must elapse until the end, is left in darkness.
Heavenly things are not measured by dates. Moreover that moment is hidden in
the knowledge of the Father. Still heaven and earth should pass away, but not
the words of Jesus. He then tells them that, as dwelling on earth, they must be
watchful, lest their own hearts should be overcharged with things that would
sink them into this world, in the midst of which they were to be witnesses. For
that day would come as a snare upon all those who had their dwelling here, who
were rooted here. They were to watch and pray, in order to escape all those
things, and to stand in the presence of the Son of man. This is still the great
subject of our Gospel. To be with Him, as those who have escaped from the
earth, to be among the 144,000 on Mount Zion, will be an accomplishment of this
blessing, but the place is not named; so that, supposing the faithfulness of
those whom He was personally addressing, the hope awakened by His words would
be fulfilled in a more excellent manner in His heavenly presence in the day of
glory.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》
Luke 21
Chapter Contents
Christ commends a poor widow. (1-4) His prophecy. (5-28)
Christ exhorts to watchfulness. (29-38)
Commentary on Luke 21:1-4
(Read Luke 21:1-4)
From the offering of this poor widow, learn that what we
rightly give for the relief of the poor, and the support of God's worship, is
given unto God; and our Saviour sees with pleasure whatever we have in our
hearts to give for the relief of his members, or for his service. Blessed Lord!
the poorest of thy servants have two mites, they have a soul and a body;
persuade and enable us to offer both unto thee; how happy shall we be in thine
accepting of them!
Commentary on Luke 21:5-28
(Read Luke 21:5-28)
With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time
when the great desolation should be. He answers with clearness and fulness, as
far as was necessary to teach them their duty; for all knowledge is desirable
as far as it is in order to practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most
common in gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ
tells them what hard things they should suffer for his name's sake, and
encourages them to bear up under their trials, and to go on in their work,
notwithstanding the opposition they would meet with. God will stand by you, and
own you, and assist you. This was remarkably fulfilled after the pouring out of
the Spirit, by whom Christ gave his disciples wisdom and utterance. Though we
may be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot be losers by him, in the end.
It is our duty and interest at all times, especially in perilous, trying times,
to secure the safety of our own souls. It is by Christian patience we keep
possession of our own souls, and keep out all those impressions which would put
us out of temper. We may view the prophecy before us much as those Old
Testament prophecies, which, together with their great object, embrace, or
glance at some nearer object of importance to the church. Having given an idea
of the times for about thirty-eight years next to come, Christ shows what all
those things would end in, namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the utter
dispersion of the Jewish nation; which would be a type and figure of Christ's
second coming. The scattered Jews around us preach the truth of Christianity;
and prove, that though heaven and earth shall pass away, the words of Jesus
shall not pass away. They also remind us to pray for those times when neither
the real, nor the spiritual Jerusalem, shall any longer be trodden down by the
Gentiles, and when both Jews and Gentiles shall be turned to the Lord. When
Christ came to destroy the Jews, he came to redeem the Christians that were
persecuted and oppressed by them; and then had the churches rest. When he comes
to judge the world, he will redeem all that are his from their troubles. So
fully did the Divine judgements come upon the Jews, that their city is set as
an example before us, to show that sins will not pass unpunished; and that the
terrors of the Lord, and his threatenings against impenitent sinners, will all
come to pass, even as his word was true, and his wrath great upon Jerusalem.
Commentary on Luke 21:29-38
(Read Luke 21:29-38)
Christ tells his disciples to observe the signs of the
times, which they might judge by. He charges them to look upon the ruin of the
Jewish nation as near. Yet this race and family of Abraham shall not be rooted
out; it shall survive as a nation, and be found as prophesied, when the Son of
man shall be revealed. He cautions them against being secure and sensual. This
command is given to all Christ's disciples, Take heed to yourselves, that ye be
not overpowered by temptations, nor betrayed by your own corruptions. We cannot
be safe, if we are carnally secure. Our danger is, lest the day of death and of
judgment should come upon us when we are not prepared. Lest, when we are called
to meet our Lord, that be the furthest from our thoughts, which ought to be
nearest our hearts. For so it will come upon the most of men, who dwell upon
the earth, and mind earthly things only, and have no converse with heaven. It
will be a terror and a destruction to them. Here see what should be our aim,
that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things; that when the
judgements of God are abroad, we may not be in the common calamity, or it may
not be that to us which it is to others. Do you ask how you may be found worthy
to stand before Christ at that day? Those who never yet sought Christ, let them
now go unto him; those who never yet were humbled for their sins, let them now
begin; those who have already begun, let them go forward and be kept humbled.
Watch therefore, and pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and
make the most of every opportunity to do good. Pray always: those shall be
accounted worthy to live a life of praise in the other world, who live a life
of prayer in this world. May we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending
to Christ's word, obeying his precepts, and following his example, that
whenever he comes we may be found watching.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》
Luke 21
Verse 5
[5] And
as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts,
he said,
Goodly stones —
Such as no engines now in use could have brought, or even set upon each other.
Some of them (as an eye witness who lately measured them writes) were forty -
five cubits long, five high, and six broad; yet brought thither from another
country.
And gifts —
Which persons delivered from imminent dangers had, in accomplishment of their
vows, hung on the walls and pillars. The marble of the temple was so white,
that it appeared like a mountain of snow at a distance. And the gilding of many
parts made it, especially when the sun shone, a most splendid and beautiful
spectacle. Matthew 24:1; Mark 13:1.
Verse 8
[8] And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after
them.
I am the Christ; and the time is near — When I will deliver you from all your enemies. They are the words of the
seducers.
Verse 9
[9] But
when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things
must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Commotions —
Intestine broils; civil wars.
Verse 11
[11] And
great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and
fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Fearful sights and signs from heaven — Of which Josephus gives a circumstantial account.
Verse 12
[12] But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute
you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought
before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Verse 13
[13] And
it shall turn to you for a testimony.
It shall turn to you for a testimony — Of your having delivered your own souls, and of their being without
excuse.
Verse 16
[16] And
ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends;
and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Verse 17
[17] And
ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Verse 18
[18] But
there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Not a hair of your head — A proverbial expression, shall perish - Without the special providence
of God. And then, not before the time, nor without A full reward.
Verse 19
[19] In
your patience possess ye your souls.
In your patience possess ye your souls — Be calm and serene, masters of yourselves, and superior to all
irrational and disquieting passions. By keeping the government of your spirits,
you will both avoid much misery, and guard the better against all dangers.
Verse 21
[21] Then
let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in
the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter
thereinto.
Let them that are in the midst of it — Where Jerusalem stands (that is, they that are in Jerusalem) depart out
of it, before their retreat is cut off by the uniting of the forces near the
city, and let not them that are in the adjacent countries by any means enter
into it.
Verse 22
[22] For
these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be
fulfilled.
And things which are written — Particularly in Daniel.
Verse 24
[24] And
they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into
all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the
times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and
shall be led away captive — Eleven hundred thousand perished in the
siege of Jerusalem, and above ninety thousand were sold for slaves. So terribly
was this prophecy fulfilled! And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the Gentiles -
That is, inhabited. So it was indeed. The land was sold, and no Jew suffered
even to come within sight of Jerusalem. The very foundations of the city were
ploughed up, and a heathen temple built where the temple of God had stood.
The times of the Gentiles — That is, the times limited for their treading the city; which shall
terminate in the full conversion of the Gentiles.
Verse 25
[25] And
there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon
the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
And there shall be —
Before the great day, which was typified by the destruction of Jerusalem: signs
- Different from those mentioned Luke 21:11, etc. Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24.
Verse 28
[28] And
when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads;
for your redemption draweth nigh.
Now when these things — Mentioned Luke 21:8,10, etc., begin to come to pass, look
up with firm faith, and lift up your heads with joy: for your redemption out of
many troubles draweth nigh, by God's destroying your implacable enemies.
Verse 29
[29] And
he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Behold the fig tree and all the trees — Christ spake this in the spring, just before the passover; when all the
trees were budding on the mount of Olives, where they then were.
Verse 30
[30] When
they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now
nigh at hand.
Ye know of yourselves — Though none teach you.
Verse 31
[31] So
likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of
God is nigh at hand.
The kingdom of God is nigh — The destruction of the Jewish city, temple, and religion, to make way
for the advancement of my kingdom.
Verse 32
[32]
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be
fulfilled.
Till all things be effected — All that has been spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem, to which the
question, Luke 21:7, relates: and which is treated of from
Luke 21:8-24.
Verse 34
[34] And
take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon
you unawares.
Take heed, lest at any time your hearts be
overloaded with gluttony and drunkenness —
And was there need to warn the apostles themselves against such sins as these?
Then surely there is reason to warn even strong Christians against the very
grossest sins. Neither are we wise, if we think ourselves out of the reach of
any sin: and so that day - Of judgment or of death, come upon you, even you
that are not of this world-Unawares. Matthew 24:42; Mark 13:33; Luke 12:35.
Verse 35
[35] For
as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
That sit —
Careless and at ease.
Verse 36
[36]
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape
all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch ye therefore —
This is the general conclusion of all that precedes.
That ye may be counted worthy — This word sometimes signifies an honour conferred on a person, as when
the apostles are said to be counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ, Acts 5:41. Sometimes meet or becoming: as when
John the Baptist exhorts, to bring fruits worthy of repentance, Luke 3:8. And so to be counted worthy to escape,
is to have the honour of it, and to be fitted or prepared for it.
To stand —
With joy and triumph: not to fall before him as his enemies.
Verse 37
[37] And
in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and
abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
Now by day — In
the day time, he was teaching in the temple - This shows how our Lord employed
his time after coming to Jerusalem: but it is not said, he was this day in the
temple, and next morning the people came. It does not therefore by any means
imply, that he came any more after this into the temple.
Verse 38
[38] And
all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
And all the people came early in the morning
to hear him — How much happier were his disciples in
these early lectures, than the slumbers of the morning could have made them on
their beds! Let us not scruple to deny ourselves the indulgence of unnecessary
sleep, that we may morning after morning place ourselves at his feet, receiving
the instructions of his word, and seeking those of his Spirit.
── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》
Chapter 21. Foretell the End of the Age
Watch Always
Pray Always
I. Gifts of the
Poor Widow
II. Prediction
about the Temple
III. Wait for
the Return of Christ
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》