Luke 21:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once."

NIV: When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

NASB: And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.'

CSB: When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away."

NLT: And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

Jesus continues describing what the world will go through during the church age: between His ascension and His second coming. He's already mentioned that false messiahs will pop up, claiming to be Him. Now, He talks about war.

At the time this commentary is being written, Israel is at war with Hamas in Gaza. That conflict began in October of 2023. When Hamas first struck, many people wondered if this was the beginning of the end: if the end times were upon us. Few of these people realized that Israel has been at war since its re-establishment in 1948. Surrounding nations regularly attack, trying to destroy the Jews.

People have the same fear when they hear of other conflicts. But it's questionable if the whole world has ever been at peace. Even if North America and Europe are stable, conflicts abound in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. "Tumults" refer to instability or disorder, something like an insurrection; few countries regularly have a peaceful change of power.

Jesus is clear, however, that war should not leave us terrified. War must happen before He returns. "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Luke 21:10). Even the millennial kingdom, when Jesus reigns physically on the throne in Israel, will end when Satan rallies an army to rebel against Jesus, and Jesus destroys them all (Revelation 20:7–10). The human addiction to war proves mankind, as a whole, can never save itself. The world needs Jesus.

Matthew 24:6 and Mark 13:7 don't mention "tumults." They say the disciples will "hear of wars and rumors of wars."

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.