Luke 21 Summary - 5 Minute Study

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LUKE 21 IN 5 MINUTES

WHEN:

• The events of chapter 21 were part of Jesus’ ministry on earth.

• These events took place between approximately 26-31 A.D..

CHARACTERS:

• Jesus - The Messiah and Son of God.

• 12 Apostles - Jesus’ students and closest companions on earth.

• Widow with 2 Coins - A poor widow who Jesus observed near the Temple treasury.

WHERE:

• These events occurred in Jerusalem during the last week of Jesus’ life.

OUTLINE:

• THE WIDOW WITH TWO COPPER COINS (21:1-4):

  • Jesus was sitting by the Temple treasury and observed a poor widow offering two copper coins.

  • He told His disciples she had given more than all of those who offered out of their riches and abundance.

• JESUS FORETELLS JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION (21:5-33):

  • The Apostles were walking through the Temple and admiring its construction.

  • Jesus told them a day was coming when the whole complex would be destroyed.

  • The Apostles proceeded to ask Him, “when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 

  • Jesus told them wars, false messiahs, natural disasters, and persecutions would come before Jerusalem fell.

  • In their persecutions, the Apostles were to bear witness of the good news of Jesus’ life on earth.

  • Eventually, Jerusalem would be surrounded by Gentile armies and destroyed.

  • The disciples were to flee to the mountains for safety.

  • Great distress would come upon the city, everything would be destroyed, and many would die.

  • They would “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

  • Just as the leaves on the fig trees indicated summer was around the corner, the signs described by Jesus would indicate Jerusalem’s destruction was imminent.

  • Jesus prophesied Jerusalem would be destroyed within the lifetime of His current generation.

• A WARNING TO BE WATCHFUL (21:34-38):

  • Jesus told His disciples to be on the lookout for the signs of the cities demise.

  • They would not want to be caught off guard when the opportunity to escape to safety presented itself.

BIG PICTURE:

• God was extremely patient with the Jews in the Old Testament, and even as they rejected Jesus during His life.

• The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was the tipping point.

• God’s wrath was poured out on the city and its inhabitants as a result of hundreds of years of unfaithfulness.

APPLICATION:

• God is very patient, but there is a limit to His mercy.

• If you are like me, it isn’t hard to look back at your life and realize how patient God has been with you.

• God gives us abundant opportunities to seek Him out and to find salvation through His Son.

• But one day time will run out.

• When we die or when Jesus comes back, the time for repentance will be past and God will judge the world.

• Take advantage of God’s patients while it is still available.