Luke 21:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

NIV: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

NASB: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

CSB: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

NLT: Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

KJV: Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

NKJV: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Jesus has given several prophecies, including experiences the entire world will face before His return (Luke 21:8–11). He also mentioned persecution which His disciples will see in the following decades (Luke 21:12–19). He predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 (Luke 21:20–24), and the supernatural signs of the tribulation which will precede His return (Luke 21:25–28). Now, He promises that what He has said will happen. God's creation will cease to exist before His prophecies fail.

He has used similar wording before. When expressing the importance of God's law, He said, "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void" (Luke 16:17). The Old Testament has a similar sentiment: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8).

Jesus' words here, paralleled in Matthew 24:35 and Mark 13:31, are stronger in their comparison. Heaven and earth will pass away. Second Peter 3:10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." Revelation 21:1 says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."

The meaning of the verse isn't to predict the destruction of the heavens and earth. The point is that ultimate truth—represented by Jesus' words—are more sure than the heavens and earth. As a side discussion, in the context of the chapter, His oath has interesting repercussions. The disciples began worried about the temple. Jesus warned them about earthquakes, war, persecution, and the disturbance of angels and demons. But the heavens and earth will be destroyed! That certainly adds some interesting perspective.

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.