Hello everyone,
what do you think of this commentary on scripture. Thanks. Peace.
From: Luke 21:5-19
Discourse on the Destruction of Jerusalem and the End of the World
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[5] And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and
offerings, He (Jesus) said, [6] "As for these things which you see, the days will
come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be
thrown down." [7] And they asked Him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will
be the sign when this is about to take place?" [8] And He said, "Take heed that
you are not led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and,
'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of wars and
tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be
at once."
[10] Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom; [11] there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and
pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. [12] But before
all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to
the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors
for My name's sake. [13] This will be a time for you to bear testimony. [14] Settle
it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; [15] for I will
give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to with-
stand or contradict. [16] You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and
kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; [17] you will be ha-
ted by all for My name's sake. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] By
your endurance you will gain your lives."
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
*********************************************************************************************
5-36. The disciples are in awe of the magnificence of the temple, and Jesus uses
the occasion to give a long discourse, known as the "eschatological discourse"
because it has to do with the last days of the world. The account given here is
very similar to those in the other Synoptic Gospels (cf. Mt 24:1-51; Mk 13:1-37).
The discourse deals with three inter-connected subjects -- the destruction of Jeru-
salem (which took place some forty years later), the end of the world, and the se-
cond coming of Christ in glory and majesty. Jesus, who also predicts here the per-
secution of the Church will experience, exhorts His disciples to be patient, to pray
and be watchful.
Our Lord speaks here in the style and language of prophecy, using images taken
from the Old Testament; also, in this discourse prophecies which are going to be
fulfilled very soon are mixed in with others which have to do with the end of the
world. It is not our Lord's intention to satisfy people's curiosity about future events,
but to protect them from being discouraged and scandalized about what is going
to happen in the days immediately ahead. This explains why He exhorts them:
"Take heed that you are not led astray" (v. 8); "do not be tempted" (v. 9); "watch
at all times" (v. 34).
8. On hearing that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed, the disciples ask what
sign will be given as a warning of these events (vv. 5-7). Jesus answers by telling
them "not to be led astray," that is to say, not to expect any warning; not to be
misled by false prophets; to stay faithful to Him. These false prophets will come
along claiming to be the Messiah ("I am He!"). Our Lord's reply in fact refers to
two events which in the Jewish mind were interrelated -- the destruction of the Ho-
ly City and the end of the world. This is why He goes on to speak of both events
and implies that there will be a long gap between the two; the destruction of the
temple and of Jerusalem are a kind of sign or symbol of the catastrophes which
will mark the end of the world.
9-11. Our Lord does not want His disciples to confuse just any catastrophe -- fa-
mine, earthquake, war -- or even persecution with the signals of the end of the
world. He exhorts them quite clearly: "Do not be tempted," because although all
these has to happen, "the end will not be at once;" in spite of the difficulties of all
kinds the Gospel will spread to the ends of the earth. Difficulties should not para-
lyze the preaching of the faith.
19. Jesus foretells all kinds of persecution. Persecution itself is something inevi-
table: "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Ti-
mothy 3:12). His disciples will have need to remember the Lord's warning at the
Last Supper: "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me,
they will persecute you" (John 15:20). However, these persecutions are part of
God's providence: they happen because He lets them happen, which He does in
order to draw greater good out of them. Persecution provides Christians with an
opportunity to bear witness to Christ; without it the blood of martyrs would not a-
dorn the Church. Moreover, our Lord promises to give special help to those who
suffer persecution, and He tells them not to be afraid: He will give them of His
own wisdom to enable them to defend themselves; He will not permit a hair of
their heads to perish, that is, even apparent misfortune and loss will be for them
a beginning of Heaven.
From Jesus' words we can also deduce the obligation of every Christian to be
ready to lose life rather than offend God. Only those will attain salvation who per-
severe until the end in faithfulness to the Lord. The three Synoptic Gospels lo-
cate His exhortation to perseverance in this discourse (cf. Matthew 24:13; Mark
13:13) and St. Matthew gives it elsewhere (Matthew 10:22) as does St. Peter
(1 Peter 5: 9) -- all of which underlines the importance for every Christian of this
warning from our Lord.
what do you think of this commentary on scripture. Thanks. Peace.
From: Luke 21:5-19
Discourse on the Destruction of Jerusalem and the End of the World
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[5] And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and
offerings, He (Jesus) said, [6] "As for these things which you see, the days will
come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be
thrown down." [7] And they asked Him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will
be the sign when this is about to take place?" [8] And He said, "Take heed that
you are not led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and,
'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of wars and
tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be
at once."
[10] Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom; [11] there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and
pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. [12] But before
all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to
the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors
for My name's sake. [13] This will be a time for you to bear testimony. [14] Settle
it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; [15] for I will
give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to with-
stand or contradict. [16] You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and
kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; [17] you will be ha-
ted by all for My name's sake. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] By
your endurance you will gain your lives."
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
*********************************************************************************************
5-36. The disciples are in awe of the magnificence of the temple, and Jesus uses
the occasion to give a long discourse, known as the "eschatological discourse"
because it has to do with the last days of the world. The account given here is
very similar to those in the other Synoptic Gospels (cf. Mt 24:1-51; Mk 13:1-37).
The discourse deals with three inter-connected subjects -- the destruction of Jeru-
salem (which took place some forty years later), the end of the world, and the se-
cond coming of Christ in glory and majesty. Jesus, who also predicts here the per-
secution of the Church will experience, exhorts His disciples to be patient, to pray
and be watchful.
Our Lord speaks here in the style and language of prophecy, using images taken
from the Old Testament; also, in this discourse prophecies which are going to be
fulfilled very soon are mixed in with others which have to do with the end of the
world. It is not our Lord's intention to satisfy people's curiosity about future events,
but to protect them from being discouraged and scandalized about what is going
to happen in the days immediately ahead. This explains why He exhorts them:
"Take heed that you are not led astray" (v. 8); "do not be tempted" (v. 9); "watch
at all times" (v. 34).
8. On hearing that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed, the disciples ask what
sign will be given as a warning of these events (vv. 5-7). Jesus answers by telling
them "not to be led astray," that is to say, not to expect any warning; not to be
misled by false prophets; to stay faithful to Him. These false prophets will come
along claiming to be the Messiah ("I am He!"). Our Lord's reply in fact refers to
two events which in the Jewish mind were interrelated -- the destruction of the Ho-
ly City and the end of the world. This is why He goes on to speak of both events
and implies that there will be a long gap between the two; the destruction of the
temple and of Jerusalem are a kind of sign or symbol of the catastrophes which
will mark the end of the world.
9-11. Our Lord does not want His disciples to confuse just any catastrophe -- fa-
mine, earthquake, war -- or even persecution with the signals of the end of the
world. He exhorts them quite clearly: "Do not be tempted," because although all
these has to happen, "the end will not be at once;" in spite of the difficulties of all
kinds the Gospel will spread to the ends of the earth. Difficulties should not para-
lyze the preaching of the faith.
19. Jesus foretells all kinds of persecution. Persecution itself is something inevi-
table: "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Ti-
mothy 3:12). His disciples will have need to remember the Lord's warning at the
Last Supper: "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me,
they will persecute you" (John 15:20). However, these persecutions are part of
God's providence: they happen because He lets them happen, which He does in
order to draw greater good out of them. Persecution provides Christians with an
opportunity to bear witness to Christ; without it the blood of martyrs would not a-
dorn the Church. Moreover, our Lord promises to give special help to those who
suffer persecution, and He tells them not to be afraid: He will give them of His
own wisdom to enable them to defend themselves; He will not permit a hair of
their heads to perish, that is, even apparent misfortune and loss will be for them
a beginning of Heaven.
From Jesus' words we can also deduce the obligation of every Christian to be
ready to lose life rather than offend God. Only those will attain salvation who per-
severe until the end in faithfulness to the Lord. The three Synoptic Gospels lo-
cate His exhortation to perseverance in this discourse (cf. Matthew 24:13; Mark
13:13) and St. Matthew gives it elsewhere (Matthew 10:22) as does St. Peter
(1 Peter 5: 9) -- all of which underlines the importance for every Christian of this
warning from our Lord.
