Luke 21: Prediction of Calamities
Why did Jesus say the rich weren’t giving much?
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Luke 21:1–4 In the Temple, Jesus watched the rich people putting their money into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow put in two copper coins that were worth next to nothing. Jesus said, “The truth is, the poor widow has given more than all the others. Everyone else gave a portion of their abundance that they will never miss, but she has given all she had to live on.”
King James
Luke 21:1–4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, 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.
Why did the poor widow give all she had?
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Luke 21:1–4 In the Temple, Jesus watched the rich people putting their money into the offering box. He also saw a poor widow put in two copper coins that were worth next to nothing. Jesus said, “The truth is, the poor widow has given more than all the others. Everyone else gave a portion of their abundance that they will never miss, but she has given all she had to live on.”
King James
Luke 21:1–4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, 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.
Why did Jesus tell people that the beauty of the Temple wouldn’t last?
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Luke 21:5–6 Some were talking about the Temple, how magnificent the stonework was and the beauty of the furnishing that had been given.
“Do you see these things as something great?” Jesus said. “Their destruction will be so great, one stone will not be left standing on the other.”
King James
Luke 21:5–6 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 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.
What gave the disciples confidence that Jesus knew the future?
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Luke 21:7 His disciples said, “Teacher, when will all these things happen? How will we know when the time is at hand?”
King James
Luke 21:7 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?
Why would anyone else claim to be the Messiah? Who was Jesus referring to?
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Luke 21:8 “Be careful,” Jesus said. “Do not let anyone deceive you. Many will claim to be the Messiah and say the time has come. Do not follow them.”
King James
Luke 21:8 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.
If not “the end,” what do “wars and battle threats” signify?
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Luke 21:9–10 “Do not panic when you hear about wars or battle threats. Such things must happen, but that does not mean the end has come. Nation will war against nation and kingdom against kingdom.”
King James
Luke 21:9–10 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. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
What should we know when we see “terrifying events and great signs from above”?
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Luke 21:11 “There will be earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrifying events and great signs from above.”
King James
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Before the end, what should we be doing?
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Luke 21:12–13 “Before the end, people will arrest you and have you flogged because you follow me. They will deliver you to their synagogues and prisons. You will stand before kings and magistrates, but this will be an opportunity for you to testify about me.”
King James
Luke 21:12–13 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. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
What kinds of charges can be brought against those who are serving the Lord?
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Luke 21:14 “Do not worry about how you will answer the charges brought against you.”
King James
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
What kind of defense cannot be refuted?
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Luke 21:15 “I will give you words of wisdom that your adversaries cannot refute.”
King James
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
How did Jesus’ followers feel when told they would be hated everywhere and face betrayal and execution?
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Luke 21:16–17 “Even relatives and friends will betray you, and some of you will be executed. Because of my name, you will be hated by people everywhere.”
King James
Luke 21:16–17 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. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
If Jesus knew people would be executed, how could he say not even a hair would be lost?
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Luke 21:18 “Don’t worry. Not even a hair of your head will actually be lost.”
King James
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
What happened to those who did not stand firm until the end?
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Luke 21:19 “By standing firm until the end, you will be saved.”
King James
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
What future event was Jesus describing when he said Jerusalem would be surrounded by soldiers?
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Luke 21:20–24 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by soldiers, you will know its destruction is at hand. Those in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those in the city must escape, and those in the country must not return to the city. These will be days of vengeance when all that has been written will be fulfilled. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers. There will be disaster in the land, and people will suffer horribly. They will die by the sword or be taken captive. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until their time has been fulfilled.”
King James
Luke 21:20–24 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 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. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 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. 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.
For thousands of years, people have observed the earth in turmoil and signs in the skies, so what does this tell us about Jesus’ return?
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Luke 21:25–28 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. The earth will be in turmoil, with violent tides and furious seas. People will be terrified when they see what is happening in the earth, how the powers of the universe will be shaken. They will see the Son of Man arrive in the clouds, with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, look up and be glad, for your redemption is near.”
King James
Luke 21:25–28 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; 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. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Many generations have come and gone, each one anticipating the Kingdom of God. What “budding of trees” should we see to tell us that the day will come soon?
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Luke 21:29–32 Jesus gave this illustration about the fig and other trees: “When the branches bud and start to put on leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things come to pass, you will know the Kingdom of God is near. You can be sure, when all these things have been fulfilled, this age will come to its close.”
King James
Luke 21:29–32 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
How certain can we be that Jesus’ words are absolutely true?
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Luke 21:33 “The skies above and the earth below will pass away, but my words will stand forever.”
King James
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
How can Jesus’ return catch people by surprise?
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Luke 21:34–36 “Be careful. Do not let partying and the pursuit of pleasures overcome your heart, or that day will come unexpectedly, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone on Earth. Always be watching. Constantly pray so you can escape the terrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
King James
Luke 21:34–36 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. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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.
Why did Jesus spend nights on the Mount of Olives and not in someone’s home?
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Luke 21:37 During the day, Jesus taught in the Temple. He spent each night on the Mount of Olives.
King James
Luke 21:37 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.
If people had heard Jesus teach many times before, why did they come early to hear him again?
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Luke 21:38 People came early to hear him in the Temple.
King James
Luke 21:38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.