What does Luke 21:20 mean?

Explanation

Luke 21:20 is part of what is commonly referred to as the Olivet Discourse, a teaching given by Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age.

In this verse, Jesus warns His listeners that when they see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, it will be a sign that its destruction is imminent. The literal meaning here is straightforward: the physical city of Jerusalem will be under siege by foreign military forces.

However, the deeper meaning entwines this event with prophecies about God's judgment and the end times. It not only forecasts a significant historical event but also symbolizes the suffering and tribulation that will occur before the ultimate redemption and restoration at the end of the age.

Historical Context

During the time when the Gospel of Luke was written, probably around 60-70 A.D., Jerusalem was a Jewish city under Roman occupation.

Political and social tensions ran high, eventually leading to the Jewish Revolt in 66 A.D.

This statement by Jesus can be seen as a prophetic anticipation of the Roman siege of Jerusalem which culminated in the city's destruction in 70 A.D., including the burning of the Second Temple, a pivotal event in Jewish history.

Readers of this Gospel might very well have witnessed these events or the aftermath, giving the warning a chilling immediacy.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is significant for multiple viewpoints:

• Preterist View: Some theologians see this prediction as being completely fulfilled in the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem.

The desolation mentioned is the loss of the Temple and the city.

• Futurist View: Others believe that this prophecy was partially fulfilled in the first century but also points to future events that are yet to happen before the Second Coming of Christ.

• Historicist View: There are also those who apply this to a span of historical church periods, seeing it as describing the ongoing struggle between the church and the world's systems.

In all views, there is an understanding of divine foreknowledge and sovereignty at work in the unfolding of these events.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse can be shaped in the form of preparedness and discernment:

• Spiritual Vigilance: Believers might interpret the warning to remain spiritually alert and recognize the signs of the times, ensuring they are living in a way that is faithful and ready for whatever may come.

• Historical Awareness: The verse can also encourage Christians to be knowledgeable of history and to learn from it, as the cyclical nature of events often reflects past occurrences.

• Community Responsibility: The destruction of Jerusalem could be seen as a cautionary tale about the consequences a community or nation might face due to collective decisions against divine mandates.

Cross-References

• Matthew 24:15-16 - "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:"

• Mark 13:14 - "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:"

• Daniel 9:27 - "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Language Study

A linguistic analysis reveals critical aspects of the original language used:

• Compassed (Greek: κυκλουμένην - kykloumenēn): This verb, in the passive participle form, carries the sense of being surrounded, encircled, or encompassed, typically by hostile forces.

• Desolation (Greek: ἐρήμωσις - erēmosis): This noun denotes desolation, devastation, or abandonment.

In the biblical context, it often refers to God's judgment resulting in a place being left empty or in ruins.

Understanding these terms in the original Greek emphasizes the sense of inevitable disaster and abandonment implied in the verse.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing the themes in this verse to other ancient traditions:

• The Siege Motif: The idea of a city being besieged is a common trope in ancient literature and often represents divine judgment or the culmination of a civilization's sins, as seen in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the fall of Troy.

• Desolation: Themes of desolation as a result of divine wrath are found in different cultures, though the context and understanding of the divine may differ.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, a verse like Luke 21:20 doesn't intersect directly with physical sciences but can interact with social sciences such as archaeology and anthropology:

• Archaeology: There's significant archaeological evidence of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. that corroborates the historical claims of the verse.

• Anthropology and Psychology: From these fields, one might explore the impact of societal collapse or desolation on communities, both historically and in contemporary situations.

Commentaries

Various commentaries offer divergent interpretations:

• Historical-Critical Commentators: These experts focus on the verse's context within the Roman-Jewish conflict and view Jesus' words as a straightforward prediction of historical events.

• Theological Commentaries: Depending on their eschatological position, commentators might argue about the complete or partial fulfillment of the prophecy and its relevance to end-times theology.

• Pastoral Commentaries: These works might highlight the need for continual repentance and the warning against complacency in spiritual life.