Luke 21 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1And he looked up (Anablepsas de). He had taken his seat, after the debate was over and the Sanhedrin had slunk away in sheer defeat, "over against the treasury" (Mr 12:41 ). The word for "treasury" (gazophulakion) is a compound of gaza (Persian word for royal treasury) and phulake guard or protection. It is common in the LXX, but in the N.T. only here and Mr 12:41,43; Joh 8:20 . Jesus was watching (Mr 12:41 ) the rich put in their gifts as a slight diversion from the intense strain of the hours before.
2Poor (penichran). A rare word from penes (penoma, to work for one's living). Latin penuria and Greek peinao, to be hungry are kin to it. Here only in the N.T. Mr 12:42 has ptoche, a more common word from ptosso, to be frightened, to strike and hide from fear, to be in beggary. And Luke uses this adjective also of her in verse 3.
3More than they all (pleion panton). Ablative case after the comparative pleion.
4All these did cast (pantes outo ebalon). Constative second aorist active indicative covering the whole crowd except the widow.
Living (bion). Livelihood as in Mr 12:44 , not zoen, principle of life.
5As some spake (tinon legonton). Genitive absolute. The disciples we know from Mr 13:1; Mt 24:1 .
How (ot). Literally, "that."
It was adorned (kekosmeta). Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, stands adorned, tense retained in indirect discourse, though English has to change it. Kosmeo, old and common verb for orderly arrangement and adorning.
With goodly stones and offerings (lithois kalois ka anathemasin). Instrumental case. Some of these stones in the substructure were enormous. "The columns of the cloister or portico were monoliths of marble over forty feet high" (Plummer). Cf. Josephus, War, V.5. The word anathema (here only in the N.T.) is not to be confused with anathema from the same verb anatithem, but which came to mean a curse (Ga 1:8; Ac 23:14 ). So anathema came to mean devoted in a bad sense, anathema in a good sense. "Thus knave, lad, becomes a rascal; villain, a farmer, becomes a scoundrel; cunning, skilful, becomes crafty" (Vincent). These offerings in the temple were very numerous and costly (2Macc. 3:2-7) like the golden vine of Herod with branches as tall as a man (Josephus, Ant. XV. ii.3).
6As for these things (tauta). Accusative of general reference.
One stone upon another (lithos ep litho). Stone upon stone (locative). Here both Mr 13:2; Mt 24:2 have ep lithon (accusative). Instead of ouk aphetheseta (future passive) they both have ou me aphethe (double negative with aorist passive subjunctive). It was a shock to the disciples to hear this after the triumphal entry.
8That ye be not led astray (me planethete). First aorist passive subjunctive with me (lest). This verb planao occurs here only in Luke though often in the rest of the N.T. (as Mt 24:4,5,11,24 , which see). Our word planet is from this word.
The time is at hand (o kairos engiken). Just as John the Baptist did of the kingdom (Mt 3:2 ) and Jesus also (Mr 1:15 ).
Go ye not after them (me poreuthete opiso auton). First aorist passive subjunctive with me. A needed warning today with all the false cries in the religious world.
9Be not terrified (me ptoethete). First aorist passive subjunctive with me from ptoeo an old verb to terrify, from ptoa, terror. In the N.T. only here and Lu 24:37 .
First (Proton). It is so easy to forget this and to insist that the end is "immediately" in spite of Christ's explicit denial here. See Mt 24:4-42; Mr 13:1-37 for discussion of details for Lu 21:8-36 , the great eschatological discourse of Jesus
11Famines and pestilences (loimo ka limo). Play on the two words pronounced just alike in the Koine (itacism).
And terrors (phobethra te). The use of te ... te in this verse groups the two kinds of woes. This rare word phobethra is only here in the N.T. It is from phobeo, to frighten, and occurs only in the plural as here.
12But before all these things (pro de touton panton). In Mr 13:8; Mt 24:8 these things are termed "the beginning of travail." That may be the idea here. Plummer insists that priority of time is the point, not magnitude.
Bringing you (apagomenous). Present passive participle from apago, an old verb to lead off or away. But here the participle is in the accusative plural, not the nominative like paradidontes (present active participle, delivering you up), agreeing with umas not expressed the object of paradidontes, "you being brought before or led off." "A technical term in Athenian legal language" (Bruce).
13It shall turn unto you (apobeseta umin). Future middle of apobaino. It will come off, turn out for you (dative of advantage).
For a testimony (eis marturion). To their loyalty to Christ. Besides, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."
14Not to meditate beforehand (me promeletain). The classical word for conning a speech beforehand. Mr 13:11 has promerimnao, a later word which shows previous anxiety rather than previous preparation.
How to answer (apologethena). First aorist passive infinitive. It is the preparation for the speech of defence (apology) that Jesus here forbids, not the preparation of a sermon.
15Your adversaries (o antikeimeno umin). Those who stand against, line up face to face with (note anti-).
To withstand or to gainsay (antistena e anteipein). Two second aorist active infinitives with anti- in composition again. But these "antis" will go down before the power of Christ.
16Shall they cause to be put to death (thanatosousin). Future active of thanatoo, to put to death or to make to die (causative). Either makes sense here. Old and common verb.
17Not a hair of your head shall perish (thrix ek tes kephales umon ou me apoleta). Only in Luke. Second aorist middle subjunctive of apollum with ou me (double negative). Jesus has just said that some they will put to death. Hence it is spiritual safety here promised such as Paul claimed about death in Php 1:21 .
19Ye shall win (ktesesthe). Future middle of ktaoma, to acquire. They will win their souls even if death does come.
20Compassed with armies (kukloumenen upo stratopedon). Present passive participle of kukloo, to circle, encircle, from kuklos, circle. Old verb, but only four times in N.T. The point of this warning is the present tense, being encircled. It will be too late after the city is surrounded. It is objected by some that Jesus, not to say Luke, could not have spoken (or written) these words before the Roman armies came. One may ask why not, if such a thing as predictive prophecy can exist and especially in the case of the Lord Jesus. The word stratopedon (stratos, army, pedon, plain) is a military camp and then an army in camp. Old word, but only here in the N.T.
Then know (tote gnote). Second aorist active imperative of ginosko. Christians did flee from Jerusalem to Pella before it was too late as directed in Lu 21:21; Mr 13:14f.; Mt 24:16f .
22That may be fulfilled (tou plesthena). Articular infinitive passive to express purpose with accusative of general reference. The O.T. has many such warnings (Ho 9:7; De 28:49-57 , etc.).
24Edge of the sword (stomat machaires). Instrumental case of stomat which means "mouth" literally (Ge 34:26 ). This verse like the close of verse 22 is only in Luke. Josephus (War, VI. 9.3) states that 1,100,000 Jews perished in the destruction of Jerusalem and 97,000 were taken captive. Surely this is an exaggeration and yet the number must have been large.
Shall be led captive (aichmalotisthesonta). Future passive of aichmalotizo from aichme, spear and alotos (aliskoma). Here alone in the literal sense in the N.T.
Shall be trodden under foot (esta patoumene). Future passive periphrastic of pateo, to tread, old verb.
Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (achr ou plerothosin kairo ethnon). First aorist passive subjunctive with achr ou like eos ou. What this means is not clear except that Paul in Ro 11:25 shows that the punishment of the Jews has a limit. The same idiom appears there also with achr ou and the aorist subjunctive.
25Distress (sunoche). From sunecho. In the N.T. only here and 2Co 2:4 . Anguish.
In perplexity (en aporia). State of one who is aporos, who has lost his way (a privative and poros). Here only in the N.T. though an old and common word.
For the roaring of the sea (echous thalasses). Our word echo (Latin echo) is this word echos, a reverberating sound. Sense of rumour in Lu 4:37 .
Billows (salou). Old word salos for the swell of the sea. Here only in the N.T.
26Men fainting (apopsuchonton anthropon). Genitive absolute of apopsucho, to expire, to breathe off or out. Old word. Here only in N.T.
Expectation (prosdokias). Old word from prosdokao, to look for or towards. In the N.T. only here and Ac 12:11 .
The world (te oikoumene). Dative case, "the inhabited" (earth, ge).
27And then shall they see (ka tote opsonta). As much as to say that it will be not till then. Clearly the promise of the second coming of the Son of man in glory here (Mr 13:26f.; Mt 24:30f. ) is pictured as not one certain of immediate realization. The time element is left purposely vague.
28Look up (anakupsate). First aorist active imperative of anakupto, to raise up. Here of the soul as in Joh 8:7,10 , but in Lu 13:11 of the body. These the only N.T. examples of this common verb.
Redemption (apolutrosis). Act of redeeming from apolutroo. The final act at the second coming of Christ, a glorious hope.
29The fig tree, and all the trees (ten suken ka panta ta dendra). This parable of the fig-tree (Mr 13:28-32; Mt 24:32-35 ) Luke applies to "all the trees." It is true about all of them, but the fig tree was very common in Palestine.
30Shoot forth (probalosin). Second aorist active subjunctive of proballo, common verb, but in the N.T. only here and Ac 19:33 .
Summer (theros). Not harvest, but summer. Old word, but in the N.T. only here (Mr 13:28; Mt 24:32 ).
31Coming to pass (ginomena). Present middle participle of ginoma and so descriptive of the process.
Nigh (engus). The consummation of the kingdom is here meant, not the beginning.
32This generation (e genea aute). Naturally people then living.
Shall not pass away (ou me parelthe). Second aorist active subjunctive of parerchoma. Strongest possible negative with ou me.
Till all things be accomplished (eos an panta geneta). Second aorist middle subjunctive of ginoma with eos, common idiom. The words give a great deal of trouble to critics. Some apply them to the whole discourse including the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, the second coming and the end of the world. Some of these argue that Jesus was simply mistaken in his eschatology, some that he has not been properly reported in the Gospels. Others apply them only to the destruction of Jerusalem which did take place in A.D. 70 before that generation passed away. It must be said for this view that it is not easy in this great eschatological discourse to tell clearly when Jesus is discussing the destruction of Jerusalem and when the second coming. Plummer offers this solution: "The reference, therefore, is to the destruction of Jerusalem regarded as the type of the end of the world."
33My words shall not pass away (o logo mou ou me pareleusonta). Future middle indicative with ou me, a bit stronger statement than the subjunctive. It is noteworthy that Jesus utters these words just after the difficult prediction in verse 32.
34Lest haply your hearts be overcharged (me pote barethosin a kardia umon). First aorist passive subjunctive of bareo, an old verb to weigh down, depress, with me pote.
With surfeiting (en krepale). A rather late word, common in medical writers for the nausea that follows a debauch. Latin crapula, the giddiness caused by too much wine. Here only in the N.T.
Drunkenness (methe). From methu (wine). Old word but in the N.T. only here and Ro 13:13; Ga 5:21 .
Cares of this life (merimnais biotikais). Anxieties of life. The adjective biotikos is late and in the N.T. only here and 1Co 6:3f .
Come on you (episte). Second aorist active subjunctive of ephistem, ingressive aorist. Construed also with me pote.
Suddenly (ephnidios). Adjective in predicate agreeing with emera (day).
As a snare (os pagis). Old word from pegnum, to make fast a net or trap. Paul uses it several times of the devil's snares for preachers (1Ti 3:7; 2Ti 2:26 ).
36But watch ye (agrupneite de). Agrupneo is a late verb to be sleepless (a privative and upnos, sleep). Keep awake and be ready is the pith of Christ's warning.
That ye may prevail to escape (ina katischusete ekphugein). First aorist active subjunctive with ina of purpose. The verb katischuo means to have strength against (cf. Mt 16:18 ). Common in later writers. Ekphugein is second aorist active infinitive, to escape out.
To stand before the Son of man (stathena emprosthen tou uiou tou anthropou). That is the goal. There will be no dread of the Son then if one is ready. Stathena is first aorist passive infinitive of istem.
37Every day (tas emeras). During the days, accusative of extent of time.
Every night (tas nuktas). "During the nights," accusative of extent of time.
Lodged (eulizeto). Imperfect middle, was lodging, aulizoma from aule (court).
38Came early (orthrizen). Imperfect active of orthrizo from orthros, late form for orthreuo, to rise early. Only here in the N.T.
Luke 22