| Luke 21 | |
|---|---|
 TheLatin text of Luke 19:7–22:38 inCodex Gigas (13th century) | |
| Book | Gospel of Luke |
| Category | Gospel |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 3 |
Luke 21 is the twenty-first chapter of theGospel of Luke in theNew Testament of theChristianBible. It records the observations andpredictions ofJesusChrist delivered in thetemple inJerusalem,[1] and his exhortation "to be watchful".[2] The book containing this chapter isanonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed thatLuke the Evangelist composed thisGospel as well as theActs of the Apostles.[3]
The original text was written inKoine Greek. Some earlymanuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
This chapter is divided into 38 verses.
Verses 1–4 record Jesus's observation that a poorwidow, offering twomites, had genuinely contributed more to the temple than the gifts offered by rich people.Mark 12:41–44 records the same event.
The words "for God" are based on the text in some early manuscripts, but many other manuscripts omit these words.[5]
TheNew International Version translates verse 5:Greek:τινων λεγοντων περι του ιερου,tinōn legontōn peri tou hierou) as "Some of his disciples ...",[7] but some other versions suggest "some people" i.e. not specificallydisciples of Jesus.[8] Protestant theologianHeinrich Meyer argues that "it is plain from the discourse itself" that Jesus was speaking to his disciples.[5]
The "beautiful stones" and the "gifts dedicated to God" both contribute to the splendor of the temple. Luke sets this dialogue inside the temple itself, whereas inMatthew andMark it is set outside the temple.[5][9][10]
Matthew and Mark state that Jesus spoke privately to his disciples onMount Olivet about the end times and the destruction of Jerusalem: seeOlivet Discourse. In contrast, Luke does not present this teaching as delivered privately:
He tells them,These things which you see: the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.[12] They (whether it be his disciples or his audience more generally) ask when this will be. In Mark's account, the question is asked byPeter,James,John andAndrew.[13]
Luke 21:24 finishes by saying that Jerusalem will be underGentile control until the "times of the Gentiles" comes to an end.Thomas Ice writes that bothpreterists andfuturists believe this passage refers to thedestruction of the Second Temple.[14]
Thisparable about theKingdom of God is also found inMatthew24:32–35 andMark13:28–31. The parable involves afig tree, as does the equally briefparable of the barren fig tree, with which it should not be confused. Luke presents this parable aseschatological in nature:[15] like the leaves of the fig tree, the signs spoken of in theOlivet Discourse of Luke 21:5–28[16] indicate the coming of theKingdom of God.
Some versions read "it will come down on you like asnare".[18]
Irish ArchbishopJohn McEvilly comments that
The day of the Lord shall insnare unto ruin and destruction, those men who "sit", inidleness and unconcern, absorbed in the enjoyment of sensual and illicit pleasures, with all their thoughts on earth, just as a snare catches those birds that settle on the earth when they least expect it, while the birds that are borne aloft in air escape it.[2]
He notes1 Thessalonians 5:2–3,Isaiah 24:17 andPsalm 10:7 (Vulgate numbering),Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, as offering comparable texts.[2]
| Preceded by Luke 20 | Chapters of the Bible Gospel of Luke | Succeeded by Luke 22 |