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 21:7 mean?

Explanation

Luke 21:7 highlights a question posed by the disciples to Jesus regarding the end times. The disciples had just heard Jesus predict the destruction of the temple, and they were curious about when these events would transpire and what signs would precede them.

In this verse, "Master" reflects a recognition of Jesus' authority and insight. The disciples' question reveals their desire to understand the timeline and the indicators of significant eschatological events.

The verse sets the stage for Jesus' detailed discourse on the signs of the times, which is sometimes referred to as the Olivet Discourse since it was given on the Mount of Olives.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of Luke, written around AD 60-90.

At this time, the early Christian community was dealing with persecution and the destruction of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans in AD 70.

In this context, the followers of Jesus were deeply interested in understanding the signs of the end times, thinking that these events would lead to the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

It is also important to note that apocalyptic expectations were common among Jewish people in the first century.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints offer varied interpretations of this verse.

Preterists view Jesus' predictions as relating primarily to the destruction of the temple in AD 70.

Futurists may interpret it as a reference to events that are still to come, often in the context of a broader eschatological framework.

Historicists see the fulfillment of the verse's predictions over the course of church history.

Lastly, idealists focus on the symbolic and spiritual lessons of this prophecy rather than specific historical events.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to seek wisdom and understanding in the midst of uncertainty.

It can also be seen as an admonition to be vigilant and observant of the signs of the times, urging believers to live with an awareness of God's unfolding plan.

The desire for discernment and a watchful attitude can apply to various aspects of daily life, encouraging continuous growth in faith and knowledge.

Cross-References

Matthew 24:3 - "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
Mark 13:4 - "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?"
1 Thessalonians 5:2 - "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"Master" (διδάσκαλε - didaskale): Refers to a teacher or instructor, connoting respect for Jesus as an authority.
"Sign" (σημεῖον - sēmeion): This word often refers to a miraculous event or an indicator pointing to a significant occurrence.
"Come to pass" (γίνεται - ginetai): A verb indicating the coming into being or occurrence of events.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient myths and religions, apocalyptic themes and prophecies about the end of the world are not uncommon.

For instance, Norse mythology speaks of Ragnarok, the end of the world; and in Hinduism, there are cycles of creation and destruction.

The Jewish cultural context of this verse also reflects a tradition of prophetic literature rich with apocalyptic symbolism, seen in books like Daniel and Ezekiel.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific understandings do not typically intersect directly with theological prophecies.

However, natural phenomena mentioned in eschatological contexts (e.g., earthquakes, famines, celestial signs) can be studied and explained scientifically.

Some may explore how cognitive and psychological sciences understand the human fascination with the end times and the interpretation of signs.

commentaries

Commentators offer a range of perspectives:

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges sees the query as sprung from curiosity about the 'when' and less about the spiritual preparedness.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible notes that this question comes from the concern that the temple and city's destruction would be dreadful and desires a sign to avoid it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible suggests that the disciples expected these events to occur during their lifetime and were anxious to prepare accordingly.

Scholars often emphasize that this question by the disciples reflects a common human desire to know the future, especially regarding significant and unsettling prophecies.

The responses to these questions found in the subsequent verses are therefore read with an interest in what they say about human destiny and divine sovereignty.

Luke 21

Luke 21

What does Luke 21:7 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 21:7 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?