Christ commends the poor widow, 1-4. He foretells the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem, 5-24; the signs also which shall be before the last day, 25-33. He exhorts them to be watchful, 34-38.
1 And he looked up and saw rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he also saw a certain poor widow casting in there two mites. 3 And he said, "Of a truth I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than all of them. 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in to the offerings of God, but she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had."
5 And as some spoke of the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6 "As for these things which you behold, the days will come in which there shall not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
7 And they asked him, saying, "Master, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?" 8 And he said, "Take heed that you do not be deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am Christ,' and, 'The time draws near.' Therefore, do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified. For these things must first come to pass, but the end will not come immediately."
10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 Great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences will be in various places. And there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all these, they will 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. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer. 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And you will be betrayed by parents, brothers, kinsmen, and friends, and some of you they will cause to be put to death. 17 And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not a hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience you possess your souls.
20 "And when you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of it depart from it, and do not let those who are in the countries enter into it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance so that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 "And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 Men's hearts will fail them for fear and for apprehension of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then they shall see 'the Son of man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near."
29 And he spoke to them a parable: "Behold the fig-tree and all the trees. 30 When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near at hand. 31 So likewise, when you see these things come to pass, you know that the kingdom of God is near at hand. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all is fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.
34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts are overcharged with surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come upon you unexpectedly. 35 For as a snare, it shall come on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Therefore, be watchful all the time, praying that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man."
37 In the day-time he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and stayed on the mountain that is called the Mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came to him early in the morning to hear him in the temple.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Luke, Chapter 21[➚]
[v.1-4] - Gospel Link: Mark 12:41-44.
[v.2] - "mites" - See the comment for Mark 12:42.
[v.5-11] - Gospel Link: Matthew 24:1-8; Mark 13:1-8.
[v.12-19] - Gospel Link: Matthew 24:9-14; Mark 13:9-13.
[v.20-24] - Gospel Link: Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-18.
[v.22] - "all things which are written" - Reference, Deuteronomy 28:20-68, 32:22-26; Isaiah 6:10-12; Daniel 9:26-27.
[v.25-28] - Gospel Link: Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27.
[v.27] - Quoting Daniel 7:13.
[v.29-33] - Gospel Link: Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31.
[v.33] - Reference, Isaiah 40:8.