Luke 21

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

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.

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.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

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.

And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

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.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

In your patience possess ye your souls.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

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.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

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.

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;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

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.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

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.

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.

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

What does Luke 21:27 mean?

Explanation

Luke 21:27 captures an image from Jesus Christ's discourse about the end times, describing the visual revelation of Christ's return.

The verse depicts the Son of Man, a title Jesus often used for himself, arriving on a cloud, symbolizing dignity, power, and divine presence.

The phrase "with power and great glory" underscores the authority and majesty that will accompany this event. This description is also intended to offer hope and consolation to believers who face hardship, indicating that their salvation and deliverance are drawing near.

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Historical Context

When this verse was written, the early Christian community was experiencing persecution and was anticipating the return of Christ. The gospel according to Luke was believed to have been written around AD 80-110.

The narrative fits into an apocalyptic discourse often referred to as the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus responds to questions from his disciples about the signs of his coming and the end of the age.

The image of coming on clouds draws from Old Testament prophetic imagery, such as in the book of Daniel, where divine figures or events are often associated with clouds.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, different Christian traditions interpret this verse, and eschatological (end times) beliefs vary. For example:

Preterists believe that this verse was fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Futurists see it as a description of the future second coming of Christ.
Historicists might interpret this as an ongoing fulfillment throughout church history.
Idealists view this symbolically, as representing the victory of Christ in the spiritual realm.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this verse is one of vigilance and hope.

Believers are encouraged to live righteously and remain steadfast in their faith amid trials, given the assurance of Christ's return and the ultimate victory over evil.

It also calls for Christians to be prepared at all times for the end times or Christ's return.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:30: "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Revelation 1:7: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.

Even so, Amen."

Daniel 7:13: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."

Language Study

In this verse, "Son of Man" (υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - huios tou anthropou) is a title that Jesus frequently used to refer to himself, which conveys both his identification with humanity and his divine authority.

"Coming in a cloud" echoes the Greek word "ἐρχόμενον" (erchomenon), alluding to a significant arrival.

"Power" (δύναμις - dynamis) implies miraculous strength, and "great glory" (δόξῃ μεγάλῃ - doxe megale) suggests resplendent majesty.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The portrayal of divine figures with clouds is not unique to Christianity.

In many ancient cultures, such as Greek and Norse mythology, gods were associated with sky and weather phenomena.

For example, Zeus in Greek mythology was depicted as controlling the skies and thunder, often enveloped in clouds.

The difference in Christianity is that these images are used more symbolically to suggest divine authority and presence rather than literal attributes of the deities.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse speaks in metaphorical and apocalyptic language, which typically does not correspond to scientific descriptions of phenomena.

However, the symbolism of clouds can be appreciated in a literary sense rather than a meteorological one, using natural elements to portray spiritual truth.

Commentaries

Most commentaries agree that Luke 21:27 describes the second coming of Christ.

They also concur that it speaks to the vindication of those who are faithful to Christ.

For example, Matthew Henry’s commentary emphasizes the comfort this promise should bring to believers in distress.

The commentary of Albert Barnes notes the parallel with Daniel 7:13 and suggests the certainty of Christ's return.

Meanwhile, the Expositor's Greek Testament discusses the apocalyptic nature of the language and its roots in Jewish eschatological expectations.

Luke 21

Luke 21

What does Luke 21:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 21:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?