There are Passages in our Bibles that get people worked up about the future, misdirected about what to do in the meantime, and off the guidance Jesus gave his people for living in the end times. Luke 21:5-38 is one such passage. What’s being said here? How should Christians understand this Text? Here are some brief thoughts to get the conversation started.
Luke 21:5-7 creates the setup for everything that follows in the Passage. Jesus points out that the adornments of the Temple they were admiring won't last, and in fact, will be destroyed. They ask when, but they also ask for the warning signs.
"These things" or "all this" (vv. 7, 9, 12, 28, 31, 36) hold the structure together and tie everything Jesus is answering to the two questions the discipled asked: "when will these things happen, and what will be the sign these things are about to take place. In the answer "these things" refers back to the statements that prompted the questions: "the days will come when there will not be one stone left apon another that will not be thown down." Jesus had previously mentioned no "stone on another" in Luke 19:41-44, where he gives more details about the specifics, which seem to point to the events of A.D. 70. However, in verse 9, Jesus states that the end will not come at once, suggesting that there is a progression, including an order that begins with things that must take place "first."
Furthermore, specific shifts in language suggest that there are two horizons in view — one close and one in the distance. Specific language like "you will be brought before kings" (21:14) and "when you see Jerusalem surrounded" (21:20) points to a near horizon. Yet, verse 27 seems to point to the Great Day of the Lord, promised in Daniel 7:13. There is a pronoun shift from "you," referring to the disciples and their lifetime, to "they," referring to a time in the future. Luke seems to overlap these horizons at times. While some events start closer in time to this Passage and others are further away, they all seem to fall within the end.
There are significant imperatives, mostly clustered together in this Passage. "See that you are not led astray" (21:8), "do not be terrified" (21:9), "settle it," that is, don't prepare a defense (21:14), "flee" and "do not enter" (21:21), "straighten up" (21:28), "rasie your heads" (21:28), "look" (21:29), "know" (21:31), "watch yourselves" (21:34), "stay awake" (21:36), and "pray" (21:36). While there are some instructions when he discusses the destruction of the Temple and city, most of these instructions fall toward the end after he has explained what will happen. It's a pastoral instruction, not just a statement about the end times or instructions about what to watch for. It's his pastoral instruction for how to live in light of the coming end and his return. It follows much of the same teaching that has led up to this point — live in this way and stay ready.
The structure contrasts what falls (stones, heaven, and earth) with what stands (his Word), bringing great weight to trusting and obeying his Word. Jesus shifts the focus and emphasis away from sign-watching and places it on the imperatives of taking up vigilance, prayer, and endurance. Luke wants his readers to trust in the certainty of Jesus' Word and adopt a posture of faithful endurance, regardless of the signs. He certainly doesn't want us to become enthralled with the speculation of signs. Therefore, we too should shift our focus from watching for the signs to maintaining vigilance, prayer, and endurance, regardless of when the signs appear.
There are fantastic grounds for assurance for those who are in Christ found in this Text. "For I will give your mouth wisdom" (21:15), "none of your adversaries will be able to withstand" (21:15), "not a hair of your head will perish" (21:18), and "by your endurance you will gain your lives" (21:19). This Text should not cause the Christian any worry or fear of what's coming.
Much of what Jesus says in this Text echoes Daniel. It may be more than simply fulfilling the proof texts. It may be that the circumstances for the Christian in this age resemble those of Daniel and the Jews during Daniel's time. They were living in a land that was not their home and encouraged to look with great hope for the future, longing for home, trusting that God would care for them, and remain faithful (like Daniel and his friends who went to the furnace). They didn't fully understand what was happening in the future, and they didn't spend all their time trying to figure it out. They gave their energy to remaining faithful in the moment.
The Gospel gives us great hope. Without it, the destruction of the Temple would signal nothing but doom and despair. But because of Christ, the perfect sacrifice, and his crucifixion, the people of God can be relieved. Something (someone) better than the Temple is here. At the point when Jesus spoke, they still had great reason to feel the tension of coming judgment, but in Christ, they could find hope. Today, we still see our hope in Jesus. Jesus calls his people to endurance, but this is only possible because of the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit--without these, there would be no way to endure. And it's terrific to see the Son of Man promised in Daniel, revealed in Luke and Acts, and glorified in Revelation.
Luke 21:5-38 is encouragement and a charge for Christians. Stand firm and endure by trusting in Christ's unfailing Word until our complete redemption dawns.
