1 And G1161 he looked up, G308 and saw G1492 the rich men G4145 casting G906 their G846 gifts G1435 into G1519 the treasury. G1049
2 And G1161 he saw G1492 also G2532 a certain G5100 poor G3998 widow G5503 casting G906 in thither G1563 two G1417 mites. G3016
3 And G2532 he said, G2036 Of a truth G230 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 that G3754 this G3778 poor G4434 widow G5503 hath cast G906 in more than G4119 they all: G3956
4 For G1063 all G537 these G3778 have of G1537 their G846 abundance G4052 cast G906 in unto G1519 the offerings G1435 of God: G2316 but G1161 she G3778 G846 of G1537 her G846 penury G5303 hath cast G906 in all G537 the living G979 that G3739 she had. G2192
5 And G2532 as some G5100 spake G3004 of G4012 the temple, G2411 how G3754 it was adorned G2885 with goodly G2570 stones G3037 and G2532 gifts, G334 he said, G2036
6 As for these things G5023 which G3739 ye behold, G2334 the days G2250 will come, G2064 in G1722 the which G3739 there shall G863 not G3756 be left G863 one stone G3037 upon G1909 another, G3037 that G3739 shall G2647 not G3756 be thrown down. G2647
7 And G1161 they asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 but G3767 when G4219 shall G2071 these things G5023 be? G2071 and G2532 what G5101 sign G4592 will there be when G3752 these things G5023 shall G3195 come to pass? G1096
8 And G1161 he said, G2036 Take heed G991 that ye be G4105 not G3361 deceived: G4105 for G1063 many G4183 shall come G2064 in G1909 my G3450 name, G3686 saying, G3004 G3754 I G1473 am G1510 Christ; and G2532 the time G2540 draweth near: G1448 go ye G4198 not G3361 therefore G3767 after G3694 them. G846
9 But G1161 when G3752 ye shall hear G191 of wars G4171 and G2532 commotions, G181 be G4422 not G3361 terrified: G4422 for G1063 these things G5023 must G1163 first G4412 come to pass; G1096 but G235 the end G5056 is not G3756 by and by. G2112
10 Then G5119 said he G3004 unto them, G846 Nation G1484 shall rise G1453 against G1909 nation, G1484 and G2532 kingdom G932 against G1909 kingdom: G932
11 And G5037 great G3173 earthquakes G4578 shall be G2071 in G2596 divers places, G5117 and G2532 famines, G3042 and G2532 pestilences; G3061 and G5037 fearful sights G5400 and G2532 great G3173 signs G4592 shall there be G2071 from G575 heaven. G3772
12 But G1161 before G4253 all G537 these, G5130 they shall lay G1911 their G846 hands G5495 on G1909 you, G5209 and G2532 persecute G1377 you, delivering G3860 you up G1519 to the synagogues, G4864 and G2532 into prisons, G5438 being brought G71 before G1909 kings G935 and G2532 rulers G2232 for G1752 my G3450 name's G3686 sake. G1752
13 And G1161 it shall turn G576 to you G5213 for G1519 a testimony. G3142
14 Settle G5087 it therefore G3767 in G1519 your G5216 hearts, G2588 not G3361 to meditate before G4304 what ye shall answer: G626
15 For G1063 I G1473 will give G1325 you G5213 a mouth G4750 and G2532 wisdom, G4678 which G3739 all G3956 your G5213 adversaries G480 shall G1410 not G3756 be able G1410 to gainsay G471 nor G3761 resist. G436
16 And G1161 ye shall be betrayed G3860 both G2532 by G5259 parents, G1118 and G2532 brethren, G80 and G2532 kinsfolks, G4773 and G2532 friends; G5384 and G2532 some of G1537 you G5216 shall they cause to be put to death. G2289
17 And G2532 ye shall be G2071 hated G3404 of G5259 all G3956 men for G1223 my G3450 name's sake. G3686
18 But G2532 there shall not G3364 an hair G2359 of G1537 your G5216 head G2776 perish. G622
19 In G1722 your G5216 patience G5281 possess ye G2932 your G5216 souls. G5590
20 And G1161 when G3752 ye shall see G1492 Jerusalem G2419 compassed G2944 with G5259 armies, G4760 then G5119 know G1097 that G3754 the desolation G2050 thereof G846 is nigh. G1448
21 Then G5119 let them G5343 which are in G1722 Judaea G2449 flee G5343 to G1519 the mountains; G3735 and G2532 let them G1633 which are in G1722 the midst G3319 of it G846 depart out; G1633 and G2532 let G1525 not G3361 them that are in G1722 the countries G5561 enter G1525 thereinto. G1519 G846
22 For G3754 these G3778 be G1526 the days G2250 of vengeance, G1557 that all things G3956 which G3588 are written G1125 may be fulfilled. G4137
23 But G1161 woe G3759 unto G1722 them that are with child, G1064 G2192 and G2532 to them that give suck, G2337 in G1722 those G1565 days! G2250 for G1063 there shall be G2071 great G3173 distress G318 in G1909 the land, G1093 and G2532 wrath G3709 upon G1722 this G5129 people. G2992
24 And G2532 they shall fall G4098 by the edge G4750 of the sword, G3162 and G2532 shall be led away captive G163 into G1519 all G3956 nations: G1484 and G2532 Jerusalem G2419 shall be G2071 trodden down G3961 of G5259 the Gentiles, G1484 until G891 the times G2540 of the Gentiles G1484 be fulfilled. G4137
25 And G2532 there shall be G2071 signs G4592 in G1722 the sun, G2246 and G2532 in the moon, G4582 and G2532 in the stars; G798 and G2532 upon G1909 the earth G1093 distress G4928 of nations, G1484 with G1722 perplexity; G640 the sea G2281 and G2532 the waves G4535 roaring; G2278
26 Men's G444 hearts failing them G674 for G575 fear, G5401 and G2532 for looking after G4329 those things which are coming on G1904 the earth: G3625 for G1063 the powers G1411 of heaven G3772 shall be shaken. G4531
27 And G2532 then G5119 shall they see G3700 the Son G5207 of man G444 coming G2064 in G1722 a cloud G3507 with G3326 power G1411 and G2532 great G4183 glory. G1391
28 And G1161 when these things G5130 begin G756 to come to pass, G1096 then look up, G352 and G2532 lift up G1869 your G5216 heads; G2776 for G1360 your G5216 redemption G629 draweth nigh. G1448
29 And G2532 he spake G2036 to them G846 a parable; G3850 Behold G1492 the fig tree, G4808 and G2532 all G3956 the trees; G1186
30 When G3752 they now G2235 shoot forth, G4261 ye see G991 and know G1097 of G575 your own selves G1438 that G3754 summer G2330 is G2076 now G2235 nigh at hand. G1451
31 So G3779 likewise G2532 ye, G5210 when G3752 ye see G1492 these things G5023 come to pass, G1096 know ye G1097 that G3754 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 is G2076 nigh at hand. G1451
32 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 G3754 This G3778 generation G1074 shall G3928 not G3364 pass away, G3928 G302 till G2193 all G3956 be fulfilled. G1096
33 Heaven G3772 and G2532 earth G1093 shall pass away: G3928 but G1161 my G3450 words G3056 shall G3928 not G3364 pass away. G3928
34 And G1161 take heed G4337 to yourselves, G1438 lest at any time G3379 your G5216 hearts G2588 be overcharged G925 with G1722 surfeiting, G2897 and G2532 drunkenness, G3178 and G2532 cares G3308 of this life, G982 and G2532 so that G1565 day G2250 come G2186 upon G1909 you G5209 unawares. G160
35 For G1063 as G5613 a snare G3803 shall it come G1904 on G1909 all G3956 them that dwell G2521 on G1909 the face G4383 of the whole G3956 earth. G1093
36 Watch ye G69 therefore, G3767 and pray G1189 always, G1722 G3956 G2540 that G2443 ye may be accounted worthy G2661 to escape G1628 all G3956 these things G5023 that shall G3195 come to pass, G1096 and G2532 to stand G2476 before G1715 the Son G5207 of man. G444
37 And G1161 in the day time G2250 he was G2258 teaching G1321 in G1722 the temple; G2411 and G1161 at night G3571 he went out, G1831 and abode G835 in G1519 the mount G3735 that is called G2564 the mount of Olives. G1636
38 And G2532 all G3956 the people G2992 came early in the morning G3719 to G4314 him G846 in G1722 the temple, G2411 for to hear G191 him. G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 21
Commentary on Luke 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Lu 21:1-4. The Widow's Two Mites.
1. looked up—He had "sat down over against the treasury" (Mr 12:41), probably to rest, for He had continued long standing as he taught in the temple court (Mr 11:27), and "looking up He saw"—as in Zaccheus' case, not quite casually.
the rich, &c.—"the people," says Mr 12:41 "cast money into the treasury, and many rich east in much"; that is, into chests deposited in one of the courts of the temple to receive the offerings of the people towards its maintenance (2Ki 12:9; Joh 8:20).
2. two mites—"which make a farthing" (Mr 12:42), the smallest Jewish coin. "She might have kept one" [Bengel].
3. And he said—"to His disciples," whom He "called to Him" (Mr 12:43), to teach from it a great future lesson.
more than … all—in proportion to her means, which is God's standard (2Co 8:12).
4. of their abundance—their superfluity; what they had to spare," or beyond what they needed.
of her penury—or "want" (Mr 12:44)—her deficiency, of what was less than her own wants required, "all the living she had." Mark (Mr 12:44) still more emphatically, "all that she had—her whole subsistence." Note: (1) As temple offerings are needed still for the service of Christ at home and abroad, so "looking down" now, as then "up," Me "sees" who "cast in," and how much. (2) Christ's standard of commendable offering is not our superfluity, but our deficiency—not what will never be missed, but what costs us some real sacrifice, and just in proportion to the relative amount of that sacrifice. (See 2Co 8:1-3.)
Lu 21:5-38. Christ's Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem and Warnings to Prepare for His Second Coming, Suggested by It—His Days and Nights during His Last Week.
5-7. (See on Mt 24:1-3.)
8. the time—of the Kingdom, in its full glory.
go … not … after them—"I come not so very soon" (2Th 2:1, 2) [Stier].
9-11. not terrified—(See Lu 21:19; Isa 8:11-14).
end not by and by—or immediately, not yet (Mt 24:6; Mr 13:7): that is, "Worse must come before all is over."
10. Nation, &c.—Matthew and Mark (Mt 24:8; Mr 13:8) add, "All these are the beginning of sorrows," or travail pangs, to which heavy calamities are compared (Jer 4:31, &c.).
12. brought before, &c.—The book of Acts verifies all this.
13. for a testimony—an opportunity of bearing testimony.
18. not a hair … perish—He had just said (Lu 21:16) they should be put to death; showing that this precious promise is far above immunity from mere bodily harm, and furnishing a key to the right interpretation of the ninety-first Psalm, and such like. Matthew adds the following (Mt 24:12): "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many," the many or, the most—the generality of professed disciples—"shall wax cold." But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Sad illustrations of the effect of abounding iniquity in cooling the love of faithful disciples we have in the Epistle of James, written about this period referred to, and too frequently ever since (Heb 10:38, 39; Re 2:10). "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness, and then shall the end come" (Mt 24:14). God never sends judgment without previous warning; and there can be no doubt that the Jews, already dispersed over most known countries, had nearly all heard the Gospel "as a witness," before the end of the Jewish state. The same principle was repeated and will repeat itself to the end.
20, 21. by armies—encamped armies, that is, besieged: "the abomination of desolation" (meaning the Roman ensigns, as the symbols of an idolatrous, pagan, unclean power) "spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (Da 9:27) "standing where it ought not" (Mr 13:14). "Whoso readeth [that prophecy] let him understand" (Mt 24:15).
Then … flee, &c.—Eusebius says the Christians fled to Pella, at the north extremity of Perea, being "prophetically directed"; perhaps by some prophetic intimation still more explicit than this, which still would be their chart.
23. woe unto—"alas for."
with child, &c.—from the greater suffering it would involve; as also "flight in winter, and on the sabbath," which they were to "pray" against (Mt 24:20), the one as more trying to the body, the other to the soul. "For then shall be tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be"—language not unusual in the Old Testament for tremendous calamities, though of this it may perhaps be literally said, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (Mt 24:21, 22). But for this merciful "shortening," brought about by a remarkable concurrence of causes, the whole nation would have perished, in which there yet remained a remnant to be afterwards gathered out. Here in Matthew and Mark (Mt 24:24; Mr 13:22) are some particulars about "false Christs," who should, "if possible"—a precious clause—"deceive the very elect." (Compare 2Th 2:9-11; Re 13:13.)
24. Jerusalem … trodden down … until, &c.—Implying (1) that one day Jerusalem shall cease to be "trodden down by the Gentiles" (Re 11:2), as then by pagan so now by Mohammedan unbelievers; (2) that this shall be at the "completion" of "the times of the Gentiles," which from Ro 11:25 (taken from this) we conclude to mean till the Gentiles have had their full time of that place in the Church which the Jews in their time had before them—after which, the Jews being again "grafted into their own olive tree," one Church of Jew and Gentile together shall fill the earth (Ro 11:1-36). What a vista this opens up!
25-28. signs, &c.—Though the grandeur of this language carries the mind over the head of all periods but that of Christ's second coming, nearly every expression will be found used of the Lord's coming in terrible national judgments, as of Babylon, &c.; and from Lu 21:28, 32, it seems undeniable that its immediate reference was to the destruction of Jerusalem, though its ultimate reference beyond doubt is to Christ's final coming.
28. redemption—from the oppression of ecclesiastical despotism and legal bondage by the total subversion of the Jewish state and the firm establishment of the evangelical kingdom (Lu 21:31). But the words are of far wider and more precious import. Matthew (Mt 24:30) says, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven," evidently something distinct from Himself, mentioned immediately after. What this was intended to mean, interpreters are not agreed. But as before Christ came to destroy Jerusalem, some appalling portents were seen in the air, so before His personal appearing it is likely that something analogous will be witnessed, though of what nature it is vain to conjecture.
32. This generation—not "this nation," as some interpret it, which, though admissible in itself, seems very unnatural here. It is rather as in Lu 9:27.
34-37. surfeiting, and drunkenness—All animal excesses, quenching spirituality.
cares of this life—(See on Mr 4:7; Mr 4:19).
36. Watch … pray, &c.—the two great duties which in prospect of trial are constantly enjoined. These warnings, suggested by the need of preparedness for the tremendous calamities approaching, and the total wreck of the existing state of things, are the general improvement of the whole discourse, carrying the mind forward to Judgment and Vengeance of another kind and on a grander and more awful scale—not ecclesiastical or political but personal, not temporal but eternal—when all safety and blessedness will be found to lie in being able to "STAND BEFORE THE Son of Man" in the glory of His personal appearing.
37, 38. in the daytime—of this His last week.
abode in the mount—that is, at Bethany (Mt 21:17).