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 21:28 mean?

Explanation

Luke 21:28 is a verse that offers hope and anticipation of redemption for the followers of Jesus.

This statement is uttered by Jesus in the context of His discourse about the end times, where He describes various signs that will indicate the coming of the end.

The signs include natural disasters, social turmoil, and cosmic disturbances.

The verse encourages believers to perceive these signs not with fear but with hope because their ultimate deliverance or 'redemption' is coming closer.

Here, 'redemption' refers not only to being saved from these calamities but also to the ultimate Christian hope of salvation through Christ and the establishment of God's kingdom.

"Lift up your heads" metaphorically means to be confident and to look towards the heavens with expectation, as opposed to bowing down in despair.

Most interpretations suggest that it signifies a change in posture from suffering to one of hopeful anticipation.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written in a Greco-Roman context around the late first century CE, possibly between 80 and 110 CE.

At this time, early Christians were a minority group, often encountering persecution and distress.

The passage from which Luke 21:28 is drawn is known as the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus is teaching on the Mount of Olives.

The subject matter of Luke 21 is eschatological, focusing on the events leading up to the end of the age and the return of Christ.

The context suggests that Jesus is providing comfort to His followers, knowing that they will face tribulation. He wanted them to know that these difficult events would not be random but would indicate that God's plan for the world was unfolding.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Luke 21:28 encompasses several key themes:

Eschatology: The study of the end times. In Christian theology, the return of Christ and the events leading up to it are central tenets.
Redemption: A fundamental Christian concept that highlights the belief in Jesus as the redeemer of humankind, pointing towards a future where believers will be saved from sin and its consequences.
Perseverance: The verse is often seen as an exhortation for believers to persevere through hardships, maintaining faith that their struggles have divine significance and they will ultimately be rewarded.

Different theological perspectives might emphasize different aspects of this verse. For example, Preterists might argue that this prophecy was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, while Futurists might claim that it refers to events yet to occur.

Practical Applications

Practically, the verse serves as a source of comfort and encouragement. In daily life, it encourages believers to:

Remain hopeful and steadfast in moments of crisis.
Look beyond current troubles to the larger promise of salvation.
Maintain a posture of preparedness for the return of Christ.

It challenges individuals to live righteously and to offer hope to others amidst chaos and turmoil.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Romans 8:24: "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?"
1 Thessalonians 5:6: "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."

Language Study

"Look up": The original Greek word (ἀνακύπτω, anakypto) typically means to "stand up" or "straighten up", implying a metaphorical shift in attitude.
"Redemption" (ἀπολύτρωσις, apolutrosis) often refers to the act of releasing or buying back, as in freeing a slave; in Christian theology, it refers to salvation through Jesus' sacrifice.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be drawn between the Judeo-Christian anticipation of redemption and similar concepts in other ancient cultures:

Zoroastrianism speaks of a final renovation of the universe when evil will be destroyed, and righteousness will be restored.
Greek mythology included the notion of 'golden ages' and 'cataclysms' as cyclical events that lead to the renewal of the world.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of cosmology and natural disasters do not align with the apocalyptic events described as signs in the biblical text.

However, the human response to existential threats, such as lifting one's head and looking upward in a gesture of hope, can be related to psychological coping mechanisms in the face of fear.

Commentaries

Some prominent commentaries on Luke 21:28 include:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the importance of patience and faith until the signs of the end are fulfilled, encouraging believers to be comforted in the hope of Christ's return.
The Pulpit Commentary highlights the contrast between the terrors happening on earth and the uplifting redemption through God's intervention.
William Barclay underscores the positive outcome that comes with the completion of the trials, offering a reassuring perspective to the faithful.

Luke 21

Luke 21

What does Luke 21:28 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 21:28 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?