Luke 21:19-36

We have been leaning heavily on Matthew’s account of the Olivet Discourse.  That is by necessity as it is the most complete.  But we would like to conclude with some notes from Luke’s account.  Luke supplements and compliments the others with some important thoughts that will be encouraging.

Amazing stones from Herodian time in Rabbinic Tunnels.

Pile of rubble from Second Temple.

·        21:5: The stones of the temple complex are said to be beautiful.  Visitors to the Western Wall and especially the Rabbinical Tunnels have the opportunity to see the amazing stones that supported and reinforced the retaining wall of the Temple Mount in Jesus’ day.  The largest, called the Western Stone, is estimated to weigh over 500 tons.  How these massive stones were set in place is a wonder to this day and attest to the testimony of Luke as to their beauty.  At the same time visitors can also see the pile of rubble from the stones of the temple and other buildings that lie to the south of the  Western Wall (see photo to right).  That pile of stones, where we saw children playing at our first visit to the area, is a testimony to Jesus’ prediction that not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.

·        21:14: Jesus gave His disciples two powerful encouragements that we would do well to hear.  First, in time of difficulty, settle it in your hearts to trust in the Lord.  This is a command (Greek imperative mood) to be definite in one’s attitude (Greek aorist tense).  But the choice to do this requires help from beyond ourselves (Greek middle voice).  We must not face the battle with uncertainty.  Be settled in your heart.  

·        21:19: The second encouragement is to remind us that in the face of difficulty, the safety and salvation of our souls depends on patience.  Thayer’s thesaurus defines patience thus: the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.  In this manner we are to acquire or own our own soul.  This command is the same as that above in v14, requiring decisive action on our part with total dependence upon the Lord.

·        21:20-24: We noted that Jesus ties this to the destruction of Jerusalem that would happen forty years hence.  When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies seems to point to that event.  Yet, as is often true, it may have double fulfillment to the time yet future when a similar event will take place (Rev. 11:1-2).  Vengeance is a “justice” term involving setting right the affairs of men.  What happened in 70AD involved justice from God exacted on rebellious Israel.  It was right for God to do this.  It is the law of the harvest bringing great distress in the land and wrath upon this people (v23).  These are always together for Israel: God promised Abraham a great nation and a blessed land (Gen. 12:1-3).

·        21:25-28: At the return of Christ there are great signs in the sky; the Scriptures are clear about this.  But note also that there will be signs on the earth involving the distress of nations.  Things will be so out of control for humanity and no government will be able to prevent or solve these problems so that men will be in great fear.  This is what it will be like when Christ returns.  It is at this time of greatest fear that the faithful remnant will need to look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.  Again, how vital will be the word of God: by your patience possess your souls!

·        21:34-35: Luke ends, as do Matthew and Mark, with encouragement to watch.  But with it he records another great word of encouragement: take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with filthiness and the worries of day-to-day life and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  The Church has a similar warning in Rom. 13:11-14 to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh.    

·        21:36: As always, watching is joined with prayer.  The commands to be settled in our hearts and to possess our souls require help beyond what we can muster in the flesh.  Those who watch… and pray are those who are counted worthy.  They express a faith that indicates they have, by grace, been saved.  Jesus says they should watch and pray that they might escape all these things that are coming and that they might then stand before Him.  This sounds similar to Jesus’ words to the Church in Philadelphia that those who persevere He will keep from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world (Rev. 3:10).  Some see a reference here to the catching away (rapture) of the Church because the Church is promised deliverance from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10) and will then stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10).  While there may be other explanations we believe this one cannot be denied.  

Jesus sought to encourage His disciples, and us, in the face of coming difficulties.  He did this at the point when He was about to face His own greatest hour of trial.  In the Garden of Gethsemane He will become settled in His own heart about the trial he will face.  And He will persevere on the cross until the moment that He commits His soul to His Father.  How we love and praise our Lord.  His words of encouragement are tried and proven in His own earthly life.