(9) Commotions.—The word does not occur in the other Gospels, but is used by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:33 (“confusion”), 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 12:20 (“tumults”). Its exact meaning is unsettlement, disorder.Be not terrified.—The word is used by St. Luke only, here and in Luke 24:37, in the New Testament.By and by.—Better, as elsewhere, immediately. read more
(11) Famines and pestilences.—The mention of the latter is, as far as the best MSS. are concerned, a feature peculiar to St. Luke. Others, however, give the same combination in Matthew 24:7. The Greek nouns are all but identical in sound (limos = famine, and loimos = pestilence), and there is accordingly a kind of rhythmical emphasis of sound which cannot be reproduced in English.Fearful sights.—The Greek word, literally things of terror, is peculiar to St. Luke. He omits here “the beginning of... read more
(12) Before all these.—The special indication that the sufferings from persecution should precede those from wars, famines, and the like, is peculiar to St. Luke, and was, it need hardly be said, abundantly fulfilled. read more
The Presence of Christ (For Advent) Luke 21:5-6 This discourse of our Lord is one of the most difficult for us to follow and apply, and yet it has made a vivid impression on the imagination of the world. Our Advent hymns and services are full of reminiscences of it, while, like so much else in Holy Scripture, it has suffered from an irreverent literalism which has at times imposed too great a strain on the imagination until faith has closed her wings and dropped heavily to the earth. The Day... read more
CHAPTER 21 1. The Widow’s Mite. (Luke 21:1-4 ) 2. The Destruction of the Temple Predicted. (Luke 21:5-6 ) 3. The Disciple’s Question Concerning the Future. (Luke 21:7 ) 4. Things to Come. (Luke 21:8-19 ) 5. The Destruction of Jerusalem and the World-wide Dispersion of Israel. (Luke 21:20-24 ) 6. The Return of the Lord with Power and Great Glory. (Luke 21:25-28 ) 7. The Fig Tree and Warnings. (Luke 21:29-38 .) This entire chapter with the exception of the incident of the widow’s mite is... read more
21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come {b} in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.(b) Using my name. read more
21:9 {3} 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.(3) The true temple of God is built up even in the midst of incredible tumults and most severe miseries, and this through invincible patience, so that the end result can be nothing else but most happy. read more
THE WIDOW'S TWO MITES (vs.1-4) The first four verses are a continuation of the sublect of Chapter 20. If the scribes had no regard for widows, God takes full account of them. Rich men may donate large sums to the temple service and yet make no real sacrifice at all, however much it may impress others. The Lord of glory sees and discerns the motives of every heart as well as the actual gifts given. The poor widow, putting in only two mites, is commended above all the rich men, for she gave... read more
LAST TEACHING IN JERUSALEM The facts of this lesson are: (1) the challenge of the chief priests and scribes as to the authority of Jesus which, as we saw in Matthew 21:0 , was equivalent to their formal rejection of Him who had just entered their city as the Messiah in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy; (2) the parable of the vineyard which, as we saw in the same place, was equivalent to His formal rejection of the nation; (3) the questionings of the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 21:8
(8) Saying, I am Christ.—Literally, I am. The italics show that the word “Christ” is an interpolation. The sentence is better left in the vagueness of the original, or with only a pronoun as the predicate, I am He. The use of the words in John 1:21; John 8:58, may be referred to as showing that they had become significant even without a predicate.The time draweth near.—Better, the season has come near.Go ye not therefore . . .—The better MSS. omit the last words. read more