1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall 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 before what ye 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 ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, 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 of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they 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 draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
The 21st chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a continuation of Jesus' teachings, particularly about the end times prophecy. It introduces the themes of sacrifice, forewarnings of future tribulations, the destruction of the temple, the signs of the end times, and the second coming of Christ. This chapter serves as a critical reference point for the Christian faith as it emphasizes the importance of vigilance, faith, and endurance in the face of trials and tribulations.
The chapter begins with Jesus observing the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He then notices a poor widow who puts in two small copper coins. Despite the meager amount, Jesus praises the widow's offering, stating, "Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had." (Luke 21:3-4). The widow’s offering is a lesson on sacrifice and generosity. It emphasizes that the value of a gift is not measured by its amount, but by the spirit of the giver. The widow, in her poverty, gave all she had, which was a greater sacrifice than the rich who gave out of their abundance.
Jesus then prophesies the destruction of the temple, a significant symbol of Jewish religious life. The disciples, astonished by this prediction, ask when this will happen and what signs will precede it. Jesus warns them not to be deceived by false prophets who will come in His name, claiming, "the time draweth near." (Luke 21:8). He further predicts wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and fearful events as signs but emphasizes that these are not the end but just "the beginning of sorrows". Jesus' prophecy came to pass in 70 A.D., when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its temple. This prophecy serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly things and the importance of spiritual rather than material investments.
Jesus further prophesies about the persecutions His followers would face. He cautions them that they will be betrayed by family and friends and will be hated because of His name. However, He assures them that not a hair of their heads will perish and by standing firm, they will gain life. This prophecy underscores the theme of endurance in the face of trials and tribulations. It encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith even when faced with persecution.
The latter part of the chapter is devoted to the signs of the end times and the second coming of Christ. Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to illustrate that just as people know summer is near when the fig tree sprouts leaves, so will they know the kingdom of God is near when they see the signs He has described. He assures them that "This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." (Luke 21:32). He warns them to be vigilant and pray for the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man. These teachings inspire hope and anticipation for the return of Christ, while also emphasizing the need for spiritual vigilance and preparedness.
In conclusion, Luke 21 is a chapter of prophetic teachings and warnings about the future. It begins with a lesson on sacrificial giving, then moves onto prophetic warnings about the destruction of the temple, persecutions, and the signs of the end times. The overarching themes include sacrifice, vigilance, faith, endurance, and the transient nature of earthly things. The chapter serves as a reminder that believers should not focus on earthly possessions but should instead prepare for the kingdom of God. It encourages them to remain steadfast in their faith, despite the trials and tribulations they may face, and to look forward with hope to the second coming of Christ.
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