Lucas 21
John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 21
Phillips - Herod had prepared a thousand vehicles to carry the stone to the site. He had recruited ten thousand workmen, under the supervision of a thousand priests, to do the work. And the Jews hated him. He was an Edomite and a mass murderer. But if he thought he could ingratiate himself with the Jews by building them a temple, he was mistaken. The Jews were proud of their temple but despised its builder. (Exploring Luke) Leon Morris introduces this section with an interesting comment - There are some puzzling exegetical problems, notably those posed by the fact that part of the address seems to apply to the end of all things and part to the destruction of Jerusalem. In Luke the distinction between the two seems clearer than in the others. (Borrow The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary) Adorned (2885)(kosmeo from kosmos = adorning or order, ornament, decoration, adornment -- this root word gives us our English cosmetic something women use to "adorn" their face and make themselves more physically attractive) speaks of that which is to put in order, decorated, embellished, made beautiful with ornamentation, the attractiveness heightened by adding decorative details. Kosmeo conveys the idea of arranging something in proper order so as to give it symmetry, comeliness, and beauty. Luke used Kosmeo in Lk 11:25 to describe a man cleansed of an unclean spirit. Luke has kosmeo in the perfect tense which speaks of the seemingly permanent state of the stones, a "permanence" which Jesus would soon show as only temporary in His prophecy regarding the stones! Beautiful (2570)(kalos) means good with a basic meaning sound, and here describing the outward appearance as beautiful. But much like the hypocritical leaders, on the inside the Temple was filled with corruption wrought by these evil men (cf Mt 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness"). Stones (3037)(lithos) and according to Josephus (15.11.3), some of the stones measured over 35 feet long, 12 feet high, and 18 feet wide. The current Wailing Wall represents just a small part of the foundation left from Herod's Temple complex. The white marble walls rose some 200 feet (or higher) above the Kidron Valley on the southeast corner of the complex. The brilliant white walls with gold trim dazzled in the morning sun. The Court of the Gentiles was about 400 by 500 yards square (Or about 10 football fields, see diagram), so that thousands of worshipers could gather. A rabbinical saying was “He who has not seen the Temple in its full construction has never seen a glorious building in his life!" (b. Baba Bathra, 3b). While Herod's Temple surpassed even Solomon's Temple, it is surprising that it was not in the list of the the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World." Votive gifts (334)(anathēma from anatíthēmi = to set up, to separate) describes that which is dedicated exclusively to the service of deity. It is a consecrated gift hung up or laid up in a temple and is used only in Luke 21:5. These votive offerings were distinguished from sacrificial offerings. It is used of costly offerings presented to the gods and suspended or exposed to view in a temple of that deity. Trench - In classical Greek anathema is the predominant form and the only one that Attic writers permitted. It was the technical word for costly offerings that were presented to the gods and then suspended or otherwise displayed in their temples. These offerings were separated from all common and profane uses and were openly dedicated to the honor of the deity to whom they were originally presented. (See Trench's lengthy discussion) A T
Lucas 21
Phillips points out that the Romans never intended to destroy the Temple in 70 A D - The Roman conqueror Titus, during the siege of Jerusalem, ordered that the temple was to be spared. His edict ran counter to the word of Christ who had decreed its utter ruin. The word of Christ prevailed. As the terrible battle raged toward its end, the temple somehow caught fire. Its vast treasure of gold melted in the flames. Some of the gold found its way into the crevices between the massive stones. The Roman soldiers, hungry for spoil, tore the stones apart. (Explore the Gospel of Luke) MacArthur feels that Jesus' "words would be fulfilled literally in A.D. 70, when the Romans, the human means of divine wrath, erected scaffolds around the walls of the temple and its buildings, filled them with wood and other flammable material, and set them on fire. The intense heat from the fires caused the stones to crumble. After it was further dismantled and sifted to find all the melted gold, the rubble was thrown down into the Kidron Valley. Only the huge foundation stones remained largely intact. Those stones, however, were not part of the Temple itself, but supports for the retaining wall." (See Luke Commentary) Luke uses the phrase "the days will come" (or "are coming") to refer to a future event within world history (Luke 5:35; 17:22; 19:43, 23:29). Not be left...not be torn down - Both are strong negatives (ou not me), but Jesus is even more emphatic in Mark's parallel (Mk 13:2) which uses two double negatives (ou me....ou me - each "ou me" alone being the strongest way to state a negative in the Greek), marking Jesus' prophecy as emphatically definitive! None left standing and none that are not torn down! And to no surprise, this is exactly what happened. As the story goes in 70 AD, the Roman general Titus ordered his soldiers not to destroy the Temple, but in the heat of battle a soldier threw a torch inside the building igniting the flammable tapestries inside. The gold plating on the inner walls melted and seeped into the cavities between the stones. The Romans removed the stones to get at the gold, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy. The stones of the Western Wall (often called the Wailing Wall), that support the Temple Mount can be seen today, as fine examples of the type of Herodian stonework that would have also been used to construct the buildings which were destroyed on the Temple Mount. They make up the retaining wall holding up the Temple Mount. So as far as the Temple proper was concerned there was no stone left upon another, as Jesus had predicted. J. Simons - If Christ’s prophecy about the destruction of the Herodian Temple, not a stone of which was to remain in place … referred to the temple proper or to the entire block of buildings within the outer enclosure, no prophecy has been fulfilled more literally, since the very site of the sacred edifice and the disposition of all the accessory buildings have become matters of discussion.” A T
Lucas 21
Phillips comments on the Olivet Discourse that "This important prophetic statement gathers together the main threads of Old Testament end-time prophecy (ED: WHICH WAS THE BASIS FOR MOST OF THE JEWISH VIEWS LISTED BELOW REGARDING THEIR MESSIANIC HOPE) and the threads of New Testament prophecy, weaves them into an imposing fabric of eschatology, and embroiders the fabric with flashes of insight from the Lord's omniscient foreknowledge." The following summary is taken from John MacArthur's sermon (see this sermon for expansion of each of the following points) and much of his information is derived from the work of Emil Schurer (See Schurer's discussion of The Messianic Hope - Caveat - Note that I do not agree with all of Schurer's conclusions - e.g., he dates the writing of Daniel circa 164 BC four centuries later than it was actually penned by the prophet Daniel!). (i) Before the Messiah came there would be a time of terrible tribulation. (ii) Into this chaos there would come Elijah as the forerunner and herald of the Messiah. (iii) Then there would enter the Messiah. (iv) The nations would ally themselves and gather themselves together against the champion of God. (v) The result would be the total destruction of these hostile powers. (vi) There would follow the renovation of Jerusalem. (vii) The Jews who were dispersed all over the world would be gathered into the city of the new Jerusalem. (viii) Palestine would be the centre of the world and the rest of the world subject to it. All the nations would be subdued. False Predictions - Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? —Matthew 24:3 - News that a solar eclipse would take place on July 22, 2009, brought an alarming prediction. It was predicted that the eclipse would sufficiently affect gravitational pull, causing tectonic plates to “pop a seam,” resulting in a sizable earthquake and a subsequent devastating tsunami in Japan. The US Geological Survey responded that no scientists “have ever predicted a major earthquake. They do not know how, and they do not expect to know how, anytime in the foreseeable future.” There have also been many false predictions about the date of Christ’s second coming—despite our Lord’s emphatic words: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Mt. 24:36). Christ told His followers that instead of trying to predict the date of His return, they should “watch” (Mt 24:42) and “be ready” (Mt 24:44). Peter warned, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” Then he added: “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:10-11NIV). Striving to live for God—that’s what Jesus wants us to focus our energy on while we wait for that “blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13-note). When someone says, “I can discern Exactly when Christ will return,” Don’t be deceived or led astray— The Lord said we can’t know the day. —Sper Look for Christ’s return, and you’ll live for Christ’s glory. Luke 21:8 And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near'. Do not go after them. KJV Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. See to it that you are not misled Jeremiah 29:8; Mt 24:4,5,11,23-25; Mark 13:5,6,21-23; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Th 2:3,9-11; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1; 2 John 1:7; Revelation 12:9 for many will come in My name , saying, 'I am He,' John 5:43; Acts 5:36,37; 8:9,10 and, 'The time is near'. Do not go after them Mt 3:2; 4:17; Revelation 1:3 Luke 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 21:5-24 Staying Sane When the Whole World Goes Crazy - Steven Cole Luke 21:9-11 The World in Conflict and Distress - John MacArthur JESUS BEGINS TO ANSWER THE DISCIPLES' QUESTIONS Below are the synoptic passages in Matthew and Mark that parallel Luke's passages to help you see the similarity between all three versions... Luke 21:8 And He said, “See to it (present imperative) that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. Matthew 24:4-5-note And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it (present imperative) that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. Mark 13:5-6+ And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it (present imperative) that no one misleads you. 6 “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. Luke 21:9 “When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” Matthew 24:6+ “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Mark 13:7+ “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. Luke 21:10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, Matthew 24:7a+ “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... Mark 13:8a+ “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; Luke 21:11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. (Words in bold only in Luke 21). Matthew 24:7b+ “and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes." Mark 13:8b+ there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. BIRTH PANGS From a comparison of the three synoptic Gospels, while the similarities are undeniable, there is a difference in that both Matthew 24:8+ and Mark 13:8c+ picture the catastrophic events as merely the beginning of birth pangs which is a phrase not found in Luke 21 (who was a physician and knew birth pangs!). What Jesus is saying is that these things (described in Mt 24:4-7, Mark 13:5-8 and by extension Lk 21:8-11) will intensify as the world gets closer to the "delivery date," the end of the age, the coming of Messiah, the "birth" of His Messianic Kingdom. When birth pangs begin, birth generally soon follows. Having delivered a number of babies, it has been my experience that as one gets closer to the actual delivery of the baby, the birth pangs increase in quality and quantity. It would appear that Jesus' figure of speech strongly implies that birth pangs (false messiahs, wars, earthquakes, famines, plaques, etc) will increase in number and intensity as the end draws near. Indeed, the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (specifically Revelation 6:1-19:21) describes an intensification of all of these things which Jesus had alluded to and which have been occurring for the past 2000 years (See note below). R T France notes that "In later rabbinic literature the phrase “the labor pain (always singular) of the Messiah” comes to be used almost as a technical term for the period of suffering preceding the Messiah’s coming." (NICNT - Matthew) David Turner on birth pangs - The use of the pains of a woman in labor as a metaphor for eschatological troubles and/or the woe of God’s judgment is found elsewhere in Jewish literature and the NT (Isa 13:8-note; Isa 26:17; 66:7–8; Jer 4:31; 6:24; 22:23; Jer 30:5–7-note; Jer 48:41; Hos 13:13; Mic 4:9-13-note; Mark 13:8; 1 Thes 5:3-note; Rev 12:2-note; cf. John 16:20–22; Gal 4:19; (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark) Weber on 3 implications of birth pangs - First, “beginning” implies that patterns of war, famine, and earthquakes do have some connection with the end. But they do not necessarily indicate that the end is near. Adding to this concept is the idea of “birth pains,” which begin some time before an actual birth. Second, birth is one of the most painful experiences in a woman’s life. Jesus, choice of word picture indicates that, when the end does come, it will be very painful for all of humanity. These sorrows are continually experienced in history. But as is true with the birth process, the pains will increase in frequency and intensity until Jesus returns in his power and glory. Third, birth is one of the most joyously fulfilling experiences of a woman’s life, bringing about the emergence of something precious, beautiful, and highly valued. Jesus’ word picture looked beyond the tribulation of God’s judgment to the emergence of the fully realized kingdom with Christ in his glory. (Holman New Testament Commentary) Craig Blomberg on birth pangs - just as a woman may experience false labor and just as genuine contractions still leave her uncertain about the exact time of delivery, so too the events of Mt 24:4–8 do not enable us to predict the time of Christ’s coming. Birth pangs were in fact a common Jewish metaphor to refer to an indeterminate period of distress leading up to the end of this age (e.g., 1 Enoch 62:4; 2 Esdr 4:42; Tg. Ps 18:14). (Matthew, Broadman & Holman Publishers, The New American Commentary) ESV Study Bible - Birth pains indicates that there will be a time of suffering prior to the messianic age (cf. Ro. 8:22–23). OT prophets use the metaphor to depict terrible suffering in general (cf. Isa. 13:8-note; Isa 21:3; 42:14; Jer. 30:5–7-note; Hos. 13:13) as well as suffering that Israel will endure prior to her deliverance (cf. Isa. 26:17–19; 66:7–11; Jer. 22:23; Mic. 4:9–10-note). (Comment: Note allusion to the "Messianic Age" -- this is the age which will follow the church age and which is commonly referred to as the Millennium). John Phillips introduces this section (Lk 21:8-11) commenting that "It is not always easy to be sure whether events described belong to the impending fall of Jerusalem or to the end-of-the-age catastrophes. Probably many of them focus on both because both events have features in common...." (Ibid) (See Five Interpretative Views) Commenting on the Olivet Discourse in Matthew, John Phillips writes "Matthew bracketed the Lord's public ministry between two sermons: the sermon on the mount, in which the emphasis was practical; and the Olivet discourse, in which the emphasis was prophetical. In one sermon we read of the rules of the kingdom; in the other we read of the return of the King. Before giving the sermon on the mount, the Lord was baptized; after giving the Olivet discourse, the Lord was buried. Prior to the first sermon He proved that the tempter could not conquer Him; after the last sermon He proved that the tomb could not conquer Him." (Exploring the Gospel of Matthew) John