Bible Commentaries
Luke 21

Verse 1

THE WIDOWS MITE V. 1-4

1) "And he looked up;" (anablepsas de) "Then he looked up;" Mark 12:41 indicates that Jesus was seated in the court of the women where thirteen chests with trumpet-shaped mouths were placed and marked for offerings to be given for special causes.

2) "And saw the rich men," (eidon tous plousious) "And he saw the rich ones," 2 Kings 12:9; John 8:20, wealthy or plutocratic ones, Mark 12:41. Mark says He beheld "how much" they cast in, watching the attitude of their expressions as they gave; Luke 6:24; Luke 16:21; Luke 16:19-31, etc.

3) "Casting their gifts into the treasury." (ballontas eis to gazophulakeion ta dora auton) "Tossing, casting, or throwing their gifts into the treasury," free will offerings, not the tithe, Mark 12:41; Luke 18:23-27; Luke 19:2-10.

Verse 2

1) "And he saw also a certain poor widow," (eiden de tina cheran penichran) "Then he saw an impoverished widow," an indigent, Luke 18:3; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Mark 12:42. The widow was almost a "beggar," she was so poor.

2) "Casting in thither two mites." (ballousun ekei lepta duo) "Casting or tossing there (into the treasury) two (lepta) mites," Mark 12:42. The smallest amount the Rabbis allowed anyone to give. The mite was one eighth of one cent. The two mites made about one fourth of a penny, called a farthing. The mite was the smallest Jewish coin, but it was her all.

Verse 3

1) "And he said, of a truth I say unto you," (kai eipen alethos lego humin) "And he said, I tell you all truly," of a truth, based on what the woman had left, not on the amount given, and based on the attitude of her heart in giving.

2) "That this poor widow," (hoti he chera aute he ptoche) "That this impoverished (two mites giving) widow," this woman who was almost a beggar, so far as possessions go."

3) "Hath cast in more than they all:" (pleion panton ebolen) "Has really put into the treasury more than all the rich ones," because of her willing heart and mind, 2 Corinthians 8:12. She cast in more, in proportion to what she had left, which is God’s standard of judgment, Proverbs 3:9.

Verse 4

1) "For all these have of their abundance," (pantes gar houtoi ek tou perisseuontos autois) "For all these rich ones of their abundance and asset wealth," of their superlativity, of what they had to spare, beyond what they needed. A sharp contrast with the percentage that the wealthy gave, Mark 12:44.

2) "Cast in unto the offerings of God:" (ebalon eis ta dora) "Tossed into the gifts," for the temple of God, Mark 12:44.

3) "But she of her penury," (aute de ek tou husterematos autes) "Yet this woman out of her want," very poor estate condition.

4) "Hath cast in all the living that she had." (panta ten bien hon eichen ebalen) "Has tossed in all the living which she had or held," Not just a tithe or small free-will offering. All her substance with all her heart, her entire devotion of life, as well as her livelihood.

Verse 5

THE OLIVET ADDRESS V. 5, 6

1) "And as some spake of the temple," (kai tinon legonton peri tou hierou) "And as some repeatedly spoke about the temple," Matthew 24:11; Mark 13:1; John 2:21. It was the apostles who were discussing it, while sitting on the mount of Olives, perhaps looking down upon it as the sun was setting.

2) "How it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said," (hoti lithois kalois kai anathemasin kekosmetai eipon) "How that it had been and was adorned With gifts and beautiful stones, he said," Mark 13:1. The gifts that adorned the temple included the "golden chain of Agrippa," crowns, shields, and goblets of gold given by different persons, and the "golden vine, with its vast clusters," given by Herod. Some stones were said to be forty cubits (60 ft.) long and ten cubits (15 ft.) high, with alternate slabs of red and white marble.

Verse 6

1) "As for these things which ye behold," (tauta ha theoteite) "These things which you all behold," the expensive art work, decorations, architecture etc., Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2.

2) "The days will come, in the which," (eleusontai hemerai) "Days will come," very soon, Matthew 24:2.

3) "There will not be left one stone upon another," (en hais ouk aphethesetai lithos epi litho) "When there will not be left a stone upon a stone," Micah 3:12; Matthew 23:37; Mark 13:2; 1 Kings 9:7-9; Jeremiah 5:10; Jeremiah 7:11; Jeremiah 7:14; La 2:6-8; Ezekiel 7:20-22. This artful, ornamented edifice, like the world today, was to pass away, in a prophesied destruction very soon.

4) "That shall not be trodden down." (hos ou kataluthesetai) "Which will not be overthrown," or torn down, Luke 19:44; Psalms 79:1; Isaiah 64:11; Mark 13:2.

Verse 7

THE DISCIPLE’S INQUIRY OF SIGNS OF THE TIMES V. 7

1) "And they asked him, saying," (eperotesan de auton legontes) "And they questioned him, saying;" Mark 13:3 indicates that it was Peter, James, and John, the inner-circle disciples, who questioned Him, on the mount of Olives, after leaving the temple.

2) "Master, but when shall these things be?" (didaskale pote oun tauta estai) "Teacher, when therefore will these things be?" Come to be or occur, Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:4.

3) "And what sign will there be," (kai ti to semeion) "And what will be the sign or signal?" Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:4.

4) "When these things shall come to pass?" (hotan melle tauta ginesthai) "When these things are about to happen?" Matthew 24:3. Matthew indicates that these questions were asked of Jesus on the mount of Olives, by His disciples privately, after He had walked with them in the temple area.

Verse 8

THE CURSE OR DIRECTION OF THIS AGE V. 8-19

1) "And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived," (ho de eipen blepete me planethete) "Then he said, you all beware or (be cautious) lest you be led away," These words of caution, and this address, were delivered to the church disciples privately, or in a church fellowship capacity, Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3; Mark 13:5; Matthew 24:4.

2) "For many shall come in my name, saying," (polloi gar eleusontai epi to onomati mou legontes) "For many will come upon (leaning upon) my name, repeatedly saying," alleging, again and again, with a strong claim, Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6; Of such Paul also warned, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:13.

3) "I am Christ; and the time draweth near" (ego eimi kai ho karios engiken) "I am (exist as the Messiah) and the season has drawn near," Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6. Or be very cautious of their claims or of any of their duped advocates, 1 John 4:1; Revelation 12:9.

4) "Go ye not, therefore after them." (me poreuthete opiso auton) "You all do not go after them," or be led or drawn away after, to follow them, Mark 13:21-23; Matthew 24:11-12; Matthew 24:23-26; Matthew 7:15-16; Matthew 7:21-22.

Verse 9

1) "But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions," (hotan de akousete polemous kai akatastasias) "Then when you all hear of wars and commotions," Matthew 24:6; Revelation 6:2-4; Mark 13:7, of unsettled affairs and instabilities.

2) "Be not terrified:" (me ptoethete) "Be not scared," or affrighted, Matthew 24:6; Do not come apart, come unglued, as my disciples, my flock, my house, my temple, my church, Mark 13:7.

3) "For these things must first come to pass;" (dei gar tauta genesthai proton) "For it is necessary that these things occur or happen first," Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:6.

4) "But the end is not by and by." (air ouk eutheos to telos) "But the end is not immediately at hand," the end of time and earthly events. All end time (period) prophecies do not occur in one hour, one day, one week, one month, or even one year, not immediately at hand. It requires time, in time, to fulfill prophetic matters definitively and specifically occurring over a span or period of extended or divided prophetic time events, Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:6.

Verse 10

1) "Then said he unto them," (tote elegen autois) "At that point he said to them," to His own company of church disciples He had chosen as His followers, John 15:16; John 15:27; John 20:21.

2) "Nation shall rise against nation," (egerthesetai ethnos ep’ ethnos) "Nation will be raised against nation," in conflict, or race will clash with (against) race, Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Haggai 2:22.

’3) "And kingdom against kingdom:" (kai basileia epi basilelan) "And kingdom will be raised against kingdom," organized government, incited by race against race, Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8.

Verse 11

1) "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places," (seismoi te megaloi kai kata topous) "And great earthquakes will exist in different places," Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8, with growing frequency and intensity, as the return of Jesus draws nearer.

2) "And famines and pestilences;" (loimoi kai limoi esontai) "And famines and pestilences will come to be," exist, Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8.

3) "And fearful sights," (phobetra te) "And terrors," sites and conditions to cause terror, beginnings of sorrows, the great sorrows, terrifying phenomena, Mark 13:8, or birthpangs, Revelation 6:1-17.

4) "And great signs shall there be from heaven." (kai ap’ ouranou semeia megala estai) "And there will be (exist) great signs out of and from heaven," the throne and abode of God, at the approach of Jesus, constituting a part of earth’s terrifying phenomena of that time.

Verse 12

1) "But before all these," (pro de touton panton) "Yet, prior to all these things," or preceding these things.

2) "They shall lay their hands on you," (epibalousin eph’ humas tas cheiras auton) "They will lay their hands heavily upon you all," with malicious intent, Matthew 10:16-22; John 16:2; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Peter 4:14.

3) "And persecute you," (kai dioksousin) "And they will persecute," Matthew 24:9; Matthew 10:17-18; also described by our Lord, John 15:20.

4) "Delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons," (paradidontes eis tas sunagogas kai phulakas) "Delivering you into prisons and the synagogues," for imprisonment and floggings, Acts 4:3; Acts 4:5; Acts 5:18; Acts 12:4; Acts 16:24; Revelation 2:10.

5) "Being brought before kings and rulers," (apagomenos epi basileis kai hegemonas) "Being led on and away (to appear) before kings and governors," Acts 12:1-4; Acts 16:19-24; Acts 24:10; Acts 24:22-27; Acts 25:1-7; Acts 26:1; Acts 26:13; Acts 26:19-29. Such experiences came to be known to Paul, Silas, and John before the Bible was finished.

6) "For my name’s sake." (heneken tou onomatos mou) "For the sake of my name," or because you represent me so faithfully, as a body of my New Covenant church disciples, John 15:10; 1 Peter 2:13.

Verse 13

1) "And it shall turn to you," (apobesetai humin) "And it will turn out to you," as an occasion, give you an opportunity to testify for your Lord, Philippians 1:12-13; Philippians 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5.

2) "For a testimony." (eis marturion) "As a testimony or witness," Philippians 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:5, for His name, a thing Peter and the apostles did, and as Paul also repeatedly did, Acts 24:24-26, to King Agrippa, Acts 26:19-28.

Verse 14

1) "Settle it therefore in your hearts," (thete oun en edis kardiais humon) "Therefore you all settle it in your hearts," or let it be fixed in your hearts or affections, Matthew 10:19; Be calmed when it comes, Job 5:8.

2) "Not to meditate before what ye shall answer" (me promeletan apologethenai) "Not to premeditate to defend yourselves," or how to defend yourselves, Matthew 10:19; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11.

Verse 15

1) "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom," (ego gar dodo humin stoma kai sophian) "For I will (then) give you both a mouth and wisdom," Matthew 10:19; Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 10:3.

2) "Which all your adversaries," (he antikeimenoi humin) "Which those who oppose you," can not successfully withstand, for "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world," 1 John 4:4.

3) "Shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (ou dunesontai antistenai e anteipein hapantes hoi) "All those will not be able to withstand (stand against) or contradict," because of the power of the Holy Spirit in you, Luke 12:12; Acts 6:10. You will be enabled to refute wicked accusations put against you.

Verse 16

1) "And ye shall be betrayed both by parents," (paradothesesthe de kai hupo goneon) "Then you all will also be betrayed by parents," Micah 7:6.

2) "And brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends;" (kai adelphon kai sungenon kai philon) "And of brothers in the flesh, and relatives (those near you in the family) and of friends;" It is believed, taught by tradition, that Peter, James, and John who asked the Lord these questions all died violent deaths, Luke 21:7; Mark 13:3.

3) "And some of you shall they cause to be put to death." (kai thanatosousin eks humon) "And they will put to death, some out of and from among you all." These who do it will often be your friends, Judas was mine, see? Your company or church fellowship, John 15:20; John 15:27; Mark 13:12; Acts 7:59; Acts 12:2.

Verse 17

1) "And ye shall be hated of all men," (kai esesthe misoumenoi hupo panton) "And you all will be being continually hated by all men," as opponents of idolatry and immorality, as a new covenant fellowship company of my disciples, as my church, Matthew 10:11; John 15:18-19; Acts 28:22; 2 Timothy 3:12.

2) "For my name’s sake." (dia to onoma mou) "Because of my name," what I have said and done, and because you have chosen to follow me, not Moses, Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:20-21.

Verse 18

1) "But there shall not," (kai ou me) "And there will not at all be," or come to be, because of the masters perpetual presence and care, Hebrews 13:5.

2) "An hair of your head perish." (thriks ek tes kephales humon apoletai) "An hair of your head perish," Matthew 10:30; Acts 27:34. The idea is, without His attention and care. For heroic people must be people of faith, optimism, and assurance.*

Verse 19

1) "In your patience," (en te hupomone humon) "in your endurance," in what you endure, undergo, or experience, whatever it is. "For tribulation worketh patience," Romans 5:3-4.

2) "Possess ye your souls." (ktesesthe tas psuchas humon) "You all get control of your soul-life," or be master over, keep under control, your whole life and passions, Hebrews 10:36; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; James 1:4. Exercise your faith in Jesus Christ with perseverance under all obstacles.

Verse 20

DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, DISPERSION OF JEWS V. 20-24

1) "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies," (hotan de idete kekloumenen hupo stratopedon lerousalem) "Then when you all behold Jerusalem being, surrounded by camps," Matthew 24:15. Camps of soldiers on every side, apparently a judgment prophecy of the destruction of the city, and dispersion of the Jews, AD 70.

2) "Then know ye that," (tote gnote) "At that point you all know," or simply realize that the time when, "one stone shall not be left upon another," in the temple’s destruction, was at hand, Matthew 24:2.

3) "The desolation therefore is nigh." (hoti engiken he eremosis autes) "That its desolation has drawn near," Mark 13:2; Matthew 23:38; Luke 21:6; Luke 21:24.

Verse 21

1) "Then let them which are in Judea," (tote hoi en te loudaia) "The ones then in Judea," the territory in which Jerusalem and the Jewish temple were located, Matthew 24:16.

2) "Flee to the mountains;" (pheugetosan eis ta hore) "Let them flee into the mountains," the mountain ranges, away from the temple and Jerusalem, the Christians especially.

3) "And let them which are In the midst of it depart out;" (kai hoi en meso autes ekshoreitosan) "Let those who are in the midst of it (of her, Jerusalem proper) let them depart out and away," from the city. For it and the temple were abandoned of the Lord to destruction, and He did not want His disciples to defend it.

4) "And let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto." (kai hoi en tais chorais me eiserchesthosan eis auten) "And let not those in the fields or suburban districts enter into it," into the city, for any purpose, at that period when Titus of Thespacias’ Roman army came into the province, Matthew 24:17-18. This destruction of the temple, dispersion of the Jews, was a presage of what shall happen after the temple sacrifices are restored, shortly before the coming of Jesus, Daniel 9:26-27.

Verse 22

1) "For these be the days of vengeance," (hoti hemerai ekdikeseos hautai eisin) "Because these are (exist as) the days of vengeance," retribution against Israel for a time, for the Gentile age, because of her rejection of Jesus, Matthew 23:37-39; Romans 11:20-26.

2) "That all things which are written may be fulfilled." (tou plesthenai panta ta gegrammena) "That are to be the days when all things will be fulfilled that have been written," Deuteronomy 28:25; Deuteronomy 28:48; Zechariah 11:1; Zechariah 11:6, of judgment on Jerusalem and her people at that hour, Luke 18:7-8; Hosea 9:7; Isaiah 65:12-15. Even that the church should be brought in as His new name servant, as described by Isaiah in the above passage, alluded to as a revealed mystery to and by Paul, Ephesians 3:3-10; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 23

1) "But woe unto them that are with child," (ouai tais en gastri echousais) "Woe be to the women who are with child (pregnant)," or there shall be woe, at that time of vengeance, when the Roman armies should sweep down upon Jerusalem to destroy it and disperse Israel among all nation, Luke 21:20; Luke 21:24; La 4:10; Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17.

2) "And to them that give suck, in those days!" (kai tais thelazousais en ekeinais tais hemerais) "And to those who are breast-feeding in those days," Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17.

3) "For there shall be great distress in the land," (estai gar anagke megale epi tes ges) "For there will be great distress (emotional strain) upon the land," Mark 13:19, the land of Judea, when the Roman army swept down to bring an expression of Divine judgment upon Jerusalem and Israel because of her unbelief, a foreshadow of The Tribulation The Great, at the end of the Gentile dispensation, Matthew 24:14; Daniel 9:26-27.

4) "And wrath upon this people." (kai orge to lao touto) "And wrath to this people," to those who have rejected Jesus Christ and persecuted His church disciples to that hour, to the Jewish race in particular. Israel is the "this people," Daniel 9:14; Daniel 9:17.

Verse 24

1) "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword," (kai pesountai stomati machaires) "And they will fall by the mouth-edge of the sword;" Josephus says that 1,100,000 Jews were slain and 97,000 were sold into Egypt as slaves in that war with the Romans AD 70. That led to their dispersion among the nations, where they remained without a Jewish government for near 1900 years, until 1948. Both individual Jews fell and their nation fell by the sword of Titus.

2) "And shall be led away captive into all nations:" (aichmlotisthesontai eis ta ethne panta) " And they will be led captive into ’ all nations," as conquered people, among the Gentiles, heathen, or races, which they were, until the beginning of the regathering in this twentieth century.

3) "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles," (kai lerousalem estai patoumene hupo ethnon) "And Jerusalem will be trodden down, dominated, or overrun by Gentiles, heathen, or the races," Revelation 11:2, other than the Jews themselves. And it was successively, by the Romans, Saracens, Persians, Franks, Norsemen, and the Turks; And it still is of the Arabs, so long as their heathen mosque of Omar stands for worship of Mohammed, in the court of the Gentiles area of the temple.

4) "Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (archiou plerothosin kairoi ethnon) "Until the time seasons of the Gentiles are accomplished or achieved," or been fulfilled, Deuteronomy 28:10-24. It is now the Gentile dispensation and the church age, in which Christ "called from among the Gentiles," a people for His name’s sake, to carry on His program of Divine worship and service, till He comes again. Only then will the Gentile dispensation be over, Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 12:32; Luke 24:46-51; John 15:17; John 15:26; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Acts 10:37; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Mark 13:34-35; Hebrews 3:3-6; Revelation 19:5-9.

Verse 25

1) "And there shall be signs in the sun," (kai esontai semeia en helio) "And there will be signs in (the) sun," or sun signs, sun spots. This is a projection of events that shall occur as the approach of the end of the Gentile dispensation, and the coming of The Tribulation The Great, Matthew 24:29. At this time Jesus is to come.

2) "And in the moon, and the stars;" (kai selene kai astrois) "And in the moon and signs in the stars," various visible planetary signs, moon signs and star signs, or moon spots and star spots of marred light, Mark 13:24-25.

3) "And upon the earth distress of nations," (kai epi tes sunoche ethnon) "And there will be anxiety (emotional stress) of nations (races) upon the earth," racial tensions and conflicts, Luke 21:23; yet such is not to separate a believer from his first love for God, Romans 8:35; 1 Thessalonians 3:7.

4) "With perplexity;" (en aporia) "In a state or condition of perplexity," uncertainty or confusion, where men are without moral, ethical, or spiritual direction, having turned away from the Word of God, 2 Peter 3:10; 2 Peter 3:12.

5) "The sea and the waves roaring;" (echous thalasses kai salou) "Of the sound nature of (the) sea and the surf," Popular tumults or uprisings, without ceasing, or without any rest day or night. This appears to refer to fomenting turmoil among the masses of humanity, with trouble and strife on every hand. For "there is (exists) no peace with the wicked," Isaiah 57:20-21; Revelation 21:1.

Verse 26

1) "Men’s hearts failing them for fear," (apopsuchonton anthropon apo phobou) "While men faint (fall out) from fear," Luke 23:30; That is those unprepared for His coming, Romans 8:15.

2) "And for looking for those things which are coming upon the earth:" (kai peosdokias ton eperchomenon te oikoumene) "And from expectation of things coming on the inhabited (areas of the) earth:" Revelation 6:12-17 graphically describes the falling wrath of God, and nature of fear, that it will bring to the hearts of men.

3) "For the powers of heaven shall be shaken." (hai gar dunameis ton ouranon saleuthesontai) "For the sustaining powers of the heavens will be shaken," Matthew 24:29.

Verse 27

1) "And then shall they see the Son of man," (kai tote opsontai ton huion tou anthropou) "And at that time-point they will see the Son (heir) of mankind," the Savior they rejected, John 1:11-12; Matthew 23:37-39; Proverbs 1:20-29; Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

2) "Coming In a cloud," (erchomenon en nephele) "Coming in a cloud," as He went away, Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 14:14; Deuteronomy 30:3. For He makes the cloud His chariot, Psalms 104:3.

3) "With power and great glory." (meta dunameos kai dokses polles) "With dynamic power and much glory," accompanying Him, to be glorified "in His saints," the church, and "admired in all them that believe," 2 Thessalonians 1:10-11; Luke 24:25-26. This majesty and splendor will be with an attendant train of glory, Matthew 25:31.

Verse 28

1) "And when these things begin to come to pass," (archomenon de touton ginesthai) "Then when these things begin to occur or happen," these end time Gentile dispensation events and church age events, Romans 11:26; John 14:1-3.

2) "Then look up, and lift up your heads;" (anakupsate kai eparate tas kephalas humon) "You all stand erect and lift up your heads," with faith, hope, and joy; Stand respectfully, as a church people, like a subject before a king, or a soldier before a general, attentive to receive his orders, or to go forth to meet the Inspector General of Heaven’s army, Matthew 24:42; Matthew 24:44.

3) "For your redemption draweth nigh." (dioti engizes he apolutrosis humon) "Because your final redemption (or release) draws near," Hebrews 10:36-37; Mark 13:34-37; Luke 21:34-36; Romans 8:19; Romans 8:23. Your final and complete deliverance from all that sin has ever done to you in body, mind, and spirit, will then be realized.

Verse 29

THE FIG TREE PARABLE V. 29-33

1) "And he spake to them a parable;" (kai eipen parabolen autois) "And he told them (his church disciples) a parable," concerning His return to the earth, Mark 13:28.

2) "Behold the fig tree," (idete ten suken kai panta ta dendra) "You all perceive the fig tree, and all the trees," or the fig tree’s relationship to all trees, observe them for a moment, Matthew 24:32. For there is a similarity or parallel, regarding them and my return, to which I call your attention.

Verse 30

1) "When they now shoot forth," (hotan probalosin ede) "When they burst into leaf, right now," or almost in a moment, in the springtime, both the fig leaves and all the other kind of trees, Matthew 24:32; Mark 13:28.

2) "Ye see and know of your own selves," (blepontes ap’ heauton ginoskete) "You all see (this) and now from yourselves, and know from experience of observation," Mark 13:28.

3) "That summer is now nigh at hand." (hot! ede engus to theros-estin)"’That the summer is already near," right at hand, Matthew 24:32; You know that spring is near over and the danger of freezing cold has passed and summer is now beginning. For the fig-tree, among all the trees to shoot forth leaves, is the last. Its leafing is infallible evidence that summer is at hand.

Verse 31

1) "So likewise ye," (houtos kai humeis) "Even so you all," or in a very similar, parallel manner, all of you, Matthew 24:33; Mark 13:29.

2) "When ye see these things come to pass," (hotan idete tauta ginomena) "When you (as my new covenant ones) see these things happening," also as described, Matthew 24:32-35, or occurring when you observe them, as they progressively come to pass, Matthew 24:33; Mark 13:29.

3) "Know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." (ginoskete hoti engus estin he basileia tou theou) "You all then may infallibly realize that the kingdom of God is near," the ultimate event of the merging of the "church age," ending of the Gentile dispensation, or times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, with the Golden millennial era, Luke 21:24; Romans 11:26. During this age Jesus will sit on David’s throne, and the twelve apostles of the church will sit on twelve thrones, judging or adjudicating matters of the twelve tribes of Israel, with His church, for one thousand years; This is an event that the "wise shall understand," and that the "children of light" who "look for Him," will understand; Luke 22:28-30; Matthew 19:27-29; Hebrews 9:28; Daniel 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Revelation 3:21; Luke 1:30-33; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Verse 32

1) "Verily I say unto you," (amen lego humin) "Truly I tell you all," Matthew 24:33-34; Matthew 12:45; Matthew 23:35-36. Regarding this "wicked generation", the Jews who had rejected Him.

2) "This generation shall not pass away," (hoti ou me parelthe he genea aute) "That this generation will by no means pass away," alluding to the Jewish generation of natural Israel who had rejected Him, Matthew 23:36-39. This race, generation, or family people of Israel is meant by the Gk. "genea."

3) "Till all be fulfilled." (heos an pants genetai) "Until all things happen," or come to be fulfilled, that have been prophesied concerning them, in their pre-dispersion suffering in Judea, the destruction of the temple, and the city of Jerusalem, and their being scattered throughout all nations, till near the end of the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, Luke 21:20-24; Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30.

Verse 33

1) "Heaven and earth shall pass away;" (ho ouranos kai he ge pareleusontai) "The heaven and the earth will pass away," Matthew 24:35; They shall be dissolved in a supernatural purging, one day In the not too distant future, Psalms 119:89; Psalms 119:160; Psalms 138:2; Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 1:25; Mark 13:31.

2) "But my words shall not pass away." (hoi de logoi mou ou me pareleusontai) "Yet my words will by no means pass away," for they are "true from the beginning," Psalms 119:160; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31. For His word is "true from the beginning," Psalms 119:160; John 10:35; Matthew 5:17-19; Acts 13:29.

Verse 34

DIRECT WARNING TO HIS CHURCH V. 34-38

1) "And take heed to yourselves," (prosechete de heautois) "Then you all (as my church disciples) take heed to yourselves," to your own deportment or behavior, as followers of me and witnesses in my church, Romans 13:13; 1 Peter 4:7; John 15:16; John 15:27; John 20:21; Acts 1:8. This warning was spoken not to the sum total of all saved, but to the church, Matthew 24:42; Matthew 24:44; Mark 13:33.

2) "Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged," (mepote barethosin humon hai kardiai) "Lest at any point in time your hearts become burdened," or you lose courage, faint or fall by the wayside, in spite of your high calling, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Galatians 6:9.

3) "With surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life," (en kraipale kai methe kai merimnais biotikais) "in surfeiting and deep drinking and anxieties of life;" The term "surfeiting" means "a dizziness of head, resulting from drunkenness," gluttony, and animal indulgence, an hangover or stupor, resulting from past debauchery; "And drunkenness" refers to a return to the bottle or glass, resulting from the hangover. The warning then continues against over-anxiety for the cares of this life, covetousness after the world, Luke 12:15; 1 John 2:15-17.

4) "And so that day come upon you unawares." (kai episte eph’ humas aphnidios he hemera ekeine) "And that day come upon you all suddenly," when all seems safe, Romans 13:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Peter 4:7; Hebrews 10:35-39.

Verse 35

1) "For as a snare shall It come," (hos pagis epeileusetai gar) "For it will come in as a snare," like a dead-fall or trap door failing over or upon unsuspecting bird or beast, 1 Thessalonians 5:2. The end of it all will be suddenly.

2) "On all them that dwell," (epi pantas tous kathemenous) "Upon all those sitting around," 1 Peter 3:10; On all those who sit around with imagined self security from harm and judgment for their sins.

3) "On the face of the whole earth." (epi prosopon pases tes ges) "Upon the face of all the earth," Revelation 3:13; Revelation 16:15.

Verse 36

1) "Watch ye therefore," (agrupneite de) "But you al I be watchful," Matthew 24:42; Matthew 24:44, as my New Covenant church people, as the "wise who shall understand," Daniel 12:10; As "children of light" 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; and as wise virgins, who are prepared, Matthew 25:1-13.

2) "And pray always," (en panti kairo deomenoi) "Begging in your own behalf, at all seasons," praying always, trusting the Lord for full and final triumph, giving heed, obeying, Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.

3) "That ye may be accounted worthy," (hina katischusete) "in order that you all may be able;" If salvation were all required to be able to escape the chastening tribulation judgment for believers, and believers would be caught away, no matter how they were living, this, "in order that" warning would be meaningless, Luke 17:33-37; Revelation 17:3.

4) "To escape all these things," (ekphugein taute panta ta mellonta ginesthai) "To escape all these things being about to happen," at that time period, that you be not one who may be left to be beheaded for refusing to take the mark of the beast, after the Lord has raised the righteous dead, and raptured His church, Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 13:15-18; Revelation 20:4.

5)"And to stand before the Son of man." (kai stathenai emprostehn tou huiou tou anthropou) "And prevail to stand up, before the heir-Son of mankind," at His coming in the air, as conqueror, Psalms 1:5; Ephesians 6:13; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:1-12; Mark 13:34-35. Some will be accounted worthy, and some will not.

Verse 37

1)"And in the day time he was teaching in the temple;" (en de tas hemeras en to hiero didaskon) "Then in the day-time (of those days) he was teaching in the temple," during the last week of His earthly ministry, every day, in spite of opposition, during the declining days of His life.

2) "And at night he went out," (tas nuktas ekserchomenos) "And then in the night he was going out and away," from the temple and from Jerusalem, to the east, toward Bethany, staying there part of the week at nights, Matthew 21:17; Mark 11:11.

3) "And abode in the mount," (eulezato eis to horos) "And he lodged in the mountain," overlooking the valley Kedron and the city of Jerusalem to the west, John 8:1. He perhaps slept, at lest one night of that week, with His disciples there in the open air.

4)"That is called the mount of Olives." (to kaloumenon elaion) "That is called (being called) mount of Olives," that reaches out beyond Bethany to the east, on the way down to Jericho, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea, Luke 22:39.

Verse 38

1) "And all the people came early in the morning," (kai pas ho laos orthrizen) "And all the people came in the morning," John 8:2, apparently arriving at the temple In the early part of the morning, to hear Him who “ spake as never man spoke," John 7:46.

2) "To him in the temple, for to hear him," (pros auton en to hiero akouein autou) "Directly to hear him in the temple," where He was teaching every day that week, with apparent zeal that motivated His hearers to come, again and again, Haggai 2:7; Malachi 3:1.