Bible Commentaries
Luke 21

Verses 1-4

The widow’s two mites. Mark 12:41-44 .

Verse 3

The value, in the sight of God, of what is given for his worship or for charitable purposes, depends not so much on the amount, as on the amount compared with the ability and the motives with which it is done.

Verse 5

Goodly stones ; great and beautiful.

Gifts ; donations which had been received, and were suspended in different parts of the temple.

Verses 5-24

Destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 24:1-22 . For the principles on which this prophecy is to be interpreted, and the double reference contained in it to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world.

Verse 11

Fearful sights and great signs shall there be ; these words had their primary fulfilment in the fearful appearances which were seen previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, and which are particularly described by Josephus in the sixth book of his history of the Jewish wars. A more awful fulfilment awaits them when "the end of the world" draws nigh.

Verse 13

Turn to you for a testimony ; it shall give you the opportunity of bearing testimony to my gospel before kings and rulers. This will be a testimony in your behalf of your faithfulness, and against them, if they reject it. Compare Matthew 24:14 ; Mark 13:9 .

Verse 15

A mouth and wisdom ; ability rightly to speak, a gift which no man or angel could bestow.

Verse 18

Not a hair-perish ; you shall suffer no real harm, though you die for my sake. Compare Romans 8:28-39 ; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 ; 1 Peter 3:13 . However great the wickedness of men, and however active their opposition to the people of God, they shall not in the end be able to injure them. His people should therefore be calm and quiet, as well as active and persevering in their labors for the promotion of his cause, trusting in him for whatever they need.

Verse 19

In your patience possess ye your souls ; the word "possess" is here to be taken in the sense of gaining or saving. The whole verse might be rendered, By your endurance save ye your souls; the same as, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13 .

Verse 24

By the edge of the sword ; eleven hundred thousand were slain.

Led away captive ; ninety-seven thousand were carried into captivity.

Trodden down ; desolated, oppressed. This has been done successively by the Romans, Saracens, Mamulukes, Franks, and by the Turks who continue to exercise dominion over and oppress it.

The times of the Gentiles be fulfilled ; the times during which God has determined that the Gentiles shall tread down Jerusalem.

Verse 25

The waves roaring ; in the first application of the prophecy to the overthrow of Jerusalem, these words are to be understood figuratively of commotions among the nations.

Verses 25-33

Signs of Christ’s coming-parable of the fig-tree. For the exposition of these verses and their twofold reference, see notes on Matthew 24:29-35 .

Verse 26

The powers of heaven ; the same as the hosts of heaven; that is, the sun, moon, and stars.

Verse 34

Be overcharged with surfeiting ; made heavy and careless by immoderate eating and drinking.

That day ; the day when Christ will come to save his people and take vengeance on his foes. These exhortations were applicable to the day of which he had been speaking, to the day of death, and to the day of judgment. Excessive eating and drinking tend not only to produce various bodily diseases, but to blind the mind, stupefy the conscience, and corrupt the heart. Christians should not indulge in these sins, which unfit them for the discharge of their duty, and prevent their being prepared for the coming of Christ.

Verses 34-36

Warning to be ready for Christ’s coming. Matthew 24:36-51 .

Verse 36

Always ; habitually.

Escape all these things ; the woes that would come on the wicked.

Stand ; stand with acceptance.

Verses 37-38

These verses show the manner in which Jesus Christ spent the last days of his life, teaching the people the great truths of salvation. All who heard ought with the heart to have believed and been saved. So it is with all who hear the gospel now.