Luke — Chapter 21

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1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4For 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.

5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

6As 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.

7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

8And 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.

9But 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.

10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

12But 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.

13And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16And 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.

17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19In your patience possess ye your souls.

20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21Then 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.

22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23But 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.

24And 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.

25And 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;

26Men’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.

27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34And 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.

35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36Watch 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.

37And 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.

38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

1And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.

2And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:

4for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.

5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said,

6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

7And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign when these things are about to come to pass?

8And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he]; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

9And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.

10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;

11and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.

12But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name`s sake.

13It shall turn out unto you for a testimony.

14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:

15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.

16But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name`s sake.

18And not a hair of your head shall perish.

19In your patience ye shall win your souls.

20But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.

21Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein.

22For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.

24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;

26men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

29And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:

30when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.

31Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.

32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.

33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:

35for [so] shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.

36But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

37And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.

38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

1Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.

2He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

3He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

4For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”

5Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said,

6“As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”

7So they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”

8He said, “Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them!

9And when you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be afraid. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.”

10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.

12But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

13This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.

14Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense.

15For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death.

17You will be hated by everyone because of my name.

18Yet not a hair of your head will perish.

19By your endurance you will gain your lives.

20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

21Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it,

22because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people.

24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.

26People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.

28But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”

29Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.

30When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near.

31So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

32I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34“But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.

35For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth.

36But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives.

38And all the people came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.

1He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.

2He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.

3He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,

4for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”

5As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,

6“As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”

7They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”

8He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.

9When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”

10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.

13It will turn out as a testimony for you.

14Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.

16You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.

17You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

18And not a hair of your head will perish.

19“By your endurance you will win your lives.

20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.

22For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.

24They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;

26men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

29He told them a parable. “See the fig tree, and all the trees.

30When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.

31Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near.

32Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.

33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

34“So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

35For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.

36Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.

38All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jesus commends the poor widow's sacrificial giving, prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, describes signs of the end, and calls His disciples to watchfulness — "your redemption is drawing near."

Authorship & Background

Author: Luke (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 21 is Luke's version of the Olivet Discourse — Jesus' prophetic teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming. It begins with the widow's offering (vv.1-4) and then moves to prophecy about the Temple's destruction (vv.5-6), signs of the end (vv.7-19), the fall of Jerusalem (vv.20-24), the coming of the Son of Man (vv.25-28), and the call to watchfulness (vv.29-38).
The Widow's Mites (vv.1-4): A brief but powerful observation. Rich people gave large amounts from their abundance; a poor widow gave two tiny coins — all she had. Jesus says she gave more than all of them. God measures giving not by amount but by sacrifice.
The Fall of Jerusalem (vv.20-24): Luke's version is more specific than Matthew's about the destruction of Jerusalem — "when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" (v.20). This was fulfilled literally in AD 70 when Roman armies under Titus besieged and destroyed the city. Early Christians, remembering Jesus' words, fled to Pella across the Jordan and were saved.
"In your patience possess ye your souls" (v.19): The key to enduring persecution and tribulation — patient endurance. Not escape but perseverance.

Map & Geography

  • The Temple in Jerusalem: The widow's offering and the Olivet Discourse (vv.1-36). Jesus observed the widow in the Temple treasury and then prophesied the Temple's destruction.
  • Jerusalem (v.20): "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" — Jesus prophesied the Roman siege of AD 70.
  • The mountains (v.21): Jesus warned that those in Judea should flee to the mountains when they see the siege coming.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the widow's offering, the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction, the signs of the end, and the call to watchfulness.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Widow's Mites" on vv.1-4 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 581) "She cast in all the living that she had. Not her surplus, not her comfortable margin — all. That is what God sees. Not the size of the gift but the size of the sacrifice. The rich gave what they would never miss; she gave what she could not afford to lose." Sermon: "Look Up" on v.28 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1315) "When these things begin — look up. Not down in despair, not around in fear — up. Lift up your heads. Your redemption draws near. The worse things get in the world, the closer your deliverance is. The darkest hour is just before dawn."

Reflection

  • 1. The widow gave "all the living that she had" (v.4). God measures generosity by sacrifice, not amount. How sacrificial is your giving? Are you giving from your surplus or from your substance?
  • 2. "In your patience possess ye your souls" (v.19). Endurance — not escape — is the mark of genuine faith. What are you enduring right now that requires patient perseverance? How are you holding up?
  • 3. "Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (v.28). When the world gets darker, believers should look up — not down in despair. Where is your gaze right now — on the problems around you or on the Christ above you?
  • 4. "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life" (v.34). Three things that dull spiritual alertness: overindulgence, substance abuse, and worry. Which of these is most threatening to your spiritual readiness?
  • 5. Jesus watched people give (v.1) — He notices how you handle money. If Jesus evaluated your giving the way He evaluated the widow's, what would He say? Are you giving sacrificially or comfortably?
  • 6. Jesus predicted the Temple's destruction (v.6) — the most impressive building in the Jewish world. Nothing man builds is permanent. What are you putting your confidence in that could be "thrown down"?
  • 7. Jesus promised "I will give you a mouth and wisdom" (v.15) when facing persecution. You don't need to prepare a defense in advance — the Spirit will provide. How does this promise affect your willingness to speak up for Christ in hostile environments?
  • 8. "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away" (v.33). Everything physical is temporary; only God's Word is eternal. How much of your life is invested in temporary things vs. eternal things?
  • 9. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always" (v.36). Watchfulness and prayer are the two disciplines that keep you ready for Christ's return. How is your watchfulness? How is your prayer life? Are you ready if He came today?