Luke 21:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"

NIV: "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

NASB: They asked Him questions, saying, 'Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?'

CSB: "Teacher," they asked him, "so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"

NLT: Teacher,' they asked, 'when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?'

KJV: 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?

NKJV: So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

The disciples are shocked. Despite His suggestions otherwise (Luke 17:22–23; Matthew 16:21; 20:18), they still think Jesus has come to Jerusalem to become king. They expect Him to drive out the Romans and install His inner circle as counselors. Recent events seem to affirm their assumptions. Jesus was celebrated as a king when He arrived in the city (Luke 19:37–38). Despite religious and civil leaders cleverly attacking Jesus' claim to authority, He drove them back with logic and a depth of scriptural understanding of which they could only dream. He ended by inferring He is David's son but also the Messiah and therefore superior to David. Then He warned the crowd against the unscrupulous scribes (Luke 20).

Jesus is spending His days at the temple, where the people come to listen to Him, and His nights on the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37). One day the disciples are struck by the beauty of the temple and invite Jesus to join their joy (Matthew 24:1; Mark 13:1; Luke 21:5). Instead, He does something they do not expect: He tells them the temple is going to fall. It will be destroyed so thoroughly, not one stone will stand on another (Luke 21:6).

A little while later, the brothers Peter and Andrew with James and John talk to Jesus privately (Mark 13:3). They don't ask how or why the temple will fall; they ask when. Jesus gives them a vague timeline. That begins with an overview. Throughout the church age, false messiahs will plague the world. War, earthquakes, and famine will become normal. God will throw down supernatural judgment (Luke 21:8–11). Before that, however, Jesus' disciples will be persecuted. Not only will they be arrested, their own families and friends will give them up (Luke 21:12–17). Then, Jerusalem will fall (Luke 21:20–24). Finally, Jesus will return to judge the world (Luke 21:25–28).

As to the onset of those events, Jesus tells them it will be obvious to anyone who is paying attention. They know enough to tell when summer is coming by looking at the leaves of a fig tree. If they watch the world, they will also know when Jerusalem will fall and when His return is coming (Luke 21:29–33).

Luke 21:7–11 continues Jesus' prophecies. First, He gives an overall snapshot about hardships the world will face during the church age. Second, He warns about the persecutions the disciples will face at the beginning of the church age (Luke 21:12–19). Third, Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem which would occur in AD 70 (Luke 21:20–24). Finally, He talks about His second coming (Luke 21:25–28). As is the custom in the Bible, prophecies about the church age—in between the fall of Jerusalem and the rapture—are vague. Matthew 24:3–8 and Mark 13:3–8 have much of the same information.

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.