Luke 21:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

NIV: Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

NASB: So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

CSB: In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

NLT: In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.

KJV: So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

NKJV: So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Ever since Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51), He has been teaching His disciples about the kingdom of God. Then and now, the kingdom of God is any situation, place, or event where God's love, power, sovereignty, and authority shine through human fallenness. It is the motivating force in the hearts of His faithful followers. It is the spread of the gospel. But it is also the judgment of those who reject Him.

The kingdom of God will be fulfilled when Jesus returns, destroys Satan's forces, and takes the throne in Jerusalem. Despite what many "prophets" claim, we can't know when this is going to be at this time. Jesus specifically says, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority" (Acts 1:7).

What we know is that it will be at the end of the tribulation which Jesus describes in Luke 21:25–27:

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

He gives even more detail in the book of Revelation. When the events of the tribulation come, the kingdom of God will be near. Then, Jesus' full authority, which He defended on the temple Mount (Luke 20), will come.

Luke 21:29–33 is Jesus' practical application to the warnings in Luke 21:25–28. His prophecies begin when the disciples are first persecuted and continue through His second coming at the end of the tribulation (Luke 21:8–28). Now, Jesus tells them to keep watch for the signs of His return. If they are to faithfully serve Him, they need to focus on God's kingdom, not their earthly comforts or decadent and avoidant behavior. Matthew 24:32–35 and Mark 13:28–31 cover the same material, but Matthew continues in a great deal more detail in Matthew 24:36—25:46.

Luke 21 records the last of Jesus' teachings before the Last Supper, His arrest, and His crucifixion. Luke 21:1–4 fits well with the themes of Luke 19:28—20:47. Luke 21:5–11 describes how false messiahs, war, and natural disasters will become normal. Luke 21:12–24 prophesies challenges prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Luke 21:25–28 moves to the tribulation. Luke 21:29–36 is Jesus' instructions about the disciples' lives and ministries with respect to the delayed kingdom. Luke 21:37–38 is a note about Jesus' schedule in the days between the triumphal entry and His arrest.

Luke 21 finishes the presentation of Jesus in Jerusalem as the Messiah of the Jews. This lays a foundation for the Passion Narrative: the final days before Jesus is crucified. Luke 19:28—20:47 covered most of the discussions about His authority which are completed with His words about the widow's sacrificial offering (Luke 21:1–4). The rest of the chapter records His warnings to the disciples about the violence they, the temple, Jerusalem, and the world will face between His ascension and His return. Matthew 24 and Mark 12:41—13:37 cover the same material.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.