Luke 21 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Luke 21:1-6: On giving  

A. Find Out:    

1. Who did Jesus first observe giving? v.1
   • As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.
2. But then who did he see doing what? v.2
   • He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
3. What did he say about her? v.3
   • Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
4. How did he explain that? v.4
   • All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’
5. What his disciples go on to do? v.5
   • Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.
6. What did Jesus warn? v.6 
   • But Jesus said, 6 ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’

B. Think:

1. Why did Jesus commend the widow?
2. How do the disciples’ words then seem incongruous?
3. Why do you think Luke records the two incidents together?

C. Comment:

Jesus, you will remember, is teaching in the Temple courts. As he does so, it gives him a good view of all that is going on, and so he sees that nearby is the place for bringing offerings to the Temple treasury. He observes the rich people giving and then his heart is warmed by an obviously poor lady who drops in two small coins. He takes this opportunity to teach through it.

This lady, he says, who is obviously very poor, gave considerably more than anyone else. I’m sure his listeners looked or sounded surprised at this, so he explains that all the rich people gave out of their riches and so it cost them little. She is someone who had to count every penny, and so for her those two small coins were worth an immense amount. She gave to God out of her poverty and that blessed Jesus.

A little while later, it seems, the disciples are commenting on the greatness of the temple buildings. Herod’s Temple was apparently a glorious building but it had been built by an almost unbelieving king, just to impress. God is not impressed. In fact, says Jesus, every stone will soon be thrown down. In AD70 the Temple was destroyed by the Romans. It won’t last, says Jesus. Don’t be impressed. Get a right value system from the widow is what is implied.

D. Application:

1. Do we give? Is our giving sacrificial?
2. Do we have right values or are we impressed by the big and the beautiful?  Will we learn from these incidents?

Passage: Luke 21:7-13: Signs of the Last Days  

A. Find Out:

1. What did some of Jesus’ followers ask? v.7
   • ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’
2. What did Jesus give as the first sign? v.8
   • He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and, “The time is near.” Do not follow them.
3. What was the second thing not to be concerned about? v.9,10
   • When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.’ 10 Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
4. What was the third thing that will happen? v.11
   • There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
5. Yet what will happen first? v.12
   •  ‘But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
6. How will that have a positive result? v.13
   • And so you will bear testimony to me.

B. Think:

1. How do these verses flow on from the previous verses?
2. What things are we NOT to consider signs of his coming?
3. Yet what things are sure?

C. Comment:

Many people, considering Jesus’ return say, “WHEN you see these things then he’s about to come.” but Jesus says, “These things are a sign that I’m NOT coming!” i.e. these things will happen, but they are a natural part of history of the Fallen world. Yes, they’ve got to happen first, but THESE things aren’t a sign that the end is imminent. What are the things Jesus mentions?

First there is the coming of deceivers. There will always be freaky characters who think they are the Messiah. They’re not – he’s coming powerfully in the clouds (v.27).

Second, there are wars and revolutions. When we’re involved in such things our tendency is to hope for Jesus to come and save us out of them, but they’re just a feature of the sinful world.

Third, there will natural catastrophes. Again, in such a thing we want Jesus to come and take us out of them, but again they are expressions of this world that is no longer running as God originally designed it.

Fourth, and before all these other things, Jesus warned his followers that persecution would be a characteristic of their lives, and that we see clearly being worked out throughout the Acts of the Apostles. More than that, persecution has come throughout church history, right up to the present day. Consider this positively, says Jesus, but we’ll consider that more in the next study.

D. Application:

1. While waiting for Jesus, the call is not to be afraid.
2. While waiting for Jesus, the call is to remain faithful.

Passage: Luke 21:14-19: Coping with persecution

A. Find Out:

1. How does Jesus instruct them to prepare for that future? v.14
   • But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
2. Why won’t they need to worry? v.15
   • For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
3. What do they need to realise? v.16,17
   • You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.
4. Yet how can they be reassured? v.18
   • But not a hair of your head will perish.
5. How will they do what? v.19
   • Stand firm, and you will win life.

B. Think:

1. What is the bad news in verses 12,16 & 17?
2. Yet what assurances are given by Jesus?

C. Comment:

First of all the bad news: persecution will come to believers and that may even mean that some believers are martyred (v.16). Persecution is seen in Acts 5:17-, 6:12-, 8:1-, 9:1,2, 12:1-, 13:50, 14;2-,14:19, 16:19, 17:5-, 17:13-, 18:12-, 19:23-, 20:3, 21:27-. 22:22 -, 23:12-, which also included deaths ( 7:59 ,60, 12;2). When we read Acts with this in mind we see that opposition came almost everywhere the gospel was preached.

Second, the good news, which comes in two parts: first, that Jesus promises to give us the words we’ll need when it comes to defending ourselves. We can rest assured that he will give us whatever words we need and that we WILL overcome the opposing arguments. Be warned: people may have to submit to our arguments but they will still oppose us, and often with violence!

The second part is that Jesus promises that not a hair on our head will perish. How do we square that with a warning that some will be put to death? The distinction is between the words ‘death’ and ‘perish’. To perish means to be utterly obliterated. Death simply means moving on into the next realm. The promise is not that we will not die in persecution, but that when we do die our eternal future is still guaranteed. We will lose NOTHING (hence not even a single hair on our head!).

This is realism in the Christian faith: opposition will come, and it may involve death – but eternity will always be ours!

D. Application:

1. Do I live with the assurance of eternity?
2. Do I understand opposition is part of being a Christian?

Passage: Luke 21:20-28: Warnings for the End Times

A. Find Out:

1. What then does Jesus warn will happen? v.20-23
   • ‘When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.
2. What will happen until when? v.24
   •  They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
3. Of what further does Jesus warn? v.25
   • ‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
4. How will people respond? v.26
   • People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken
5. What will then happen? v.27
   •  At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
6. How should his followers view all this? v.28 
   • When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the warnings of v.20-24?
2. How are the events of v.25-28 different?

C. Comment:

In speaking of the times to come, Jesus has warned about things that will happen in history, of the persecution that will come both imminently and in the long-term, and now of the destruction of Jerusalem and of the final anguish of the earth before his return.

First, let’s consider what he says about Jerusalem . It will be surrounded by enemies (v.20), its occupants should flee (v.21) for it will be punished (v.22). Many will be taken prisoner or killed (v.24) and it will be handed over to the Gentiles for a set period (v.24). In AD70 the Romans attacked and largely destroyed Jerusalem and the Jews did not have it back until the 20th century.

Second, observe the other warnings of v.25-28. These are quite different. They involve calamities of massive proportions that will bring fear to the world (v.25,26). In the book of Revelation we find mention of such catastrophes – 6:8,12-17, 8:7-13, 9:15 ,18-21, 16:1-21 – and all these are but a prelude to the return of Christ (v.27) which will be clear and visible to the entire world. When Jesus comes again, make no mistake, he will be seen by EVERYONE!    

Finally observe Jesus’ call of encouragement. Quite clearly Christians will be there, going through all this, but we are to be encouraged and look up in anticipation of His coming, not afraid or dejected by all these other things happening! Rejoice, he’s coming! 

D. Application:

1. Upheavals may come but God’s grace is there for Christians.
2. Upheavals indicate his coming draws near. Be encouraged!

Passage: Luke 21:29-38: Challenge to read the signs

A. Find Out:

1. What picture did Jesus give and with what point? v.29-31
   • He told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig-tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
2. What did he say about this generation and his words? v.32,33
   •  ‘Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
3. What did he warn against? v.34,35
   • Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
4. So what did he say to do? v.36
   •  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.’
5. What was Jesus daily routine? v.37
   • Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,
6. What response did he get? v.38 
   • and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

B. Think:

1. How do these verses flow on from the ones before?
2. What warnings does Jesus give here about the future days?
3. So what is the call to us today?

C. Comment:

In these verses Jesus draws to a close his explanations about the future of history. He starts these verses with a call to be watchful and he does it by means of a mini-parable. Just as you observe a fig tree and know that Summer is coming because of the sprouting leaves, you will know that my coming is drawing near when these things I’ve been speaking about are happening.

The meaning of verse 32 is uncertain. Younger people living then certainly saw his predicted fall of Jerusalem, but the bigger picture suggests that ‘generation’ simply means the human race. What he’s saying is that these things are guaranteed in the history of mankind. This is how history will end.    

He then gives a clear warning to avoid the temptations that will come – of dissipation (excessive indulgence in pleasure which comes when people turn to pleasure for comfort to counter tough times), drunkenness (when people use drink to forget the difficult times) and anxieties of life (which understandably will come with all these catastrophes). The temptation will be to be weighed down by these things and to become sloppy in your Christian life. Jesus’ call is not only to be watchful, but also to remain faithful, pure and holy in the face of these things. They will come, these ‘natural judgements’ with increasing ungodliness and the call to us is to remain faithful. 

D. Application:

1. My call is not to worry at end times events.
2. My call is to remain faithful and true.