Luke 21

King James Version

Full text for Luke Chapter 21

1¶ And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3And 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.›

7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign [will there be] when these things shall come to pass?

8And 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.›

10Then 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.›

37And 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.

38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus first commends a poor widow's sacrificial offering over the rich, then prophesies the complete destruction of the temple. He subsequently details signs of the end times, including wars, famines, and the persecution of his followers, culminating in the desolation of Jerusalem and the glorious return of the Son of Man. He concludes by urging watchfulness and prayer, comparing the signs to the budding of a fig tree indicating summer.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with Jesus observing temple offerings, highlighting a poor widow's two mites as a greater gift than the rich men's abundance, for she gave all her living. He then prophesies the complete destruction of the temple, prompting disciples to ask about the timing and signs. Jesus warns against deception and foretells a period of global turmoil, marked by wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. He also predicts severe persecution for his followers, who will be betrayed and hated, yet promised divine wisdom and ultimate preservation. The discourse continues with a prophecy of Jerusalem's desolation, surrounded by armies, and its subsequent trampling by Gentiles. Finally, Jesus describes cosmic signs preceding the glorious coming of the Son of Man, urging his disciples to watch and pray, comparing these events to the seasonal budding of a fig tree, signifying the nearness of the Kingdom of God.

Long Summary

Luke 21 opens with Jesus observing the temple treasury, where he notes rich men casting in large gifts. He then points out a poor widow who casts in two mites, declaring that her offering is more significant than all the others, as she gave out of her penury all the living that she had, while the rich gave from their abundance. Following this, as some marvel at the temple's adorned stones and gifts, Jesus prophesies its complete destruction, stating that not one stone shall be left upon another. His disciples inquire about the timing and signs of these events. In response, Jesus warns against being deceived by false Christs and advises against terror when hearing of wars and commotions, as these must precede the end. He foretells nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and fearful signs from heaven. Before these global calamities, he predicts his followers will face intense persecution, being delivered to synagogues and prisons, brought before rulers for his name's sake, and even betrayed by family and friends, with some put to death. Yet, he promises them divine wisdom for their defense and assures them that not a hair of their head shall perish, exhorting them to possess their souls in patience. Jesus then gives a specific sign for Jerusalem's desolation: when it is compassed with armies, inhabitants of Judaea should flee to the mountains. He describes these as days of vengeance, where Jerusalem will fall by the sword, its people led captive, and the city trodden down by Gentiles until their appointed times are fulfilled. The discourse culminates in a description of cosmic signs—in the sun, moon, and stars—accompanied by distress of nations and men's hearts failing for fear, preceding the glorious coming of the Son of Man in a cloud. He encourages his followers to look up for their redemption when these signs appear. Jesus concludes with the parable of the fig tree, illustrating that just as its budding signifies summer, these signs indicate the Kingdom of God is nigh. He emphasizes the certainty of his words and warns against spiritual complacency through surfeiting, drunkenness, and worldly cares, urging constant watchfulness and prayer to be worthy to stand before the Son of Man. The chapter closes by noting Jesus' daily teaching in the temple and his nightly retreat to the Mount of Olives, with people eagerly seeking him in the mornings.

Core Concepts

  • Sacrificial GivingJesus highlights the poor widow's offering of two mites as more significant than the rich men's gifts, emphasizing that true generosity is measured by the proportion given from one's means, not the absolute amount.
  • Temple's DestructionJesus prophesies the complete demolition of the magnificent Jerusalem temple, stating that not a single stone will remain upon another, signifying a profound shift in religious and historical paradigms.
  • Signs of the End TimesJesus outlines various global and cosmic disturbances—wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and celestial phenomena—as indicators preceding the coming of the Son of Man and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
  • Persecution of BelieversThe chapter foretells intense suffering for Christ's followers, including betrayal by family, imprisonment, and death, but also promises divine wisdom for their defense and ultimate spiritual preservation.
  • Desolation of JerusalemJesus specifically warns of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, leading to its destruction, its people being led captive, and the city being trodden down by Gentiles until a prophesied period is fulfilled.
  • Coming of the Son of ManThe climactic event described is the glorious return of the Son of Man in a cloud with power and great glory, a moment of redemption for the faithful amidst global distress and cosmic signs.
  • Watchfulness and PrayerJesus repeatedly exhorts his disciples to remain vigilant, sober-minded, and prayerful, lest the day of judgment come upon them unawares, emphasizing preparedness to stand before him.