Widows mite
Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luke 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luke 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luke 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Jesus watches when we give our offerings. Do we give sacrificially as the poor widow? Jesus isn't interested in our big money gifts so much as he is in the heart when we give.
2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2 Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Notice that we are to give as we decide in our heart.
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
The Temple destroyed
Luke 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
Luke 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
This was the temple built by Herod's order. It was 400 yards wide and 500 yards long. The outside was plated with gold, so that it glistened in the sunlight. Other parts of the temple were made of white marble.
Later in the century, Rome came against the rebels in Jerusalem. Many fled to the temple. A drunken soldier set fire to the temple. The gold leaf melted and went into the cracks of the temple stones. The Romans tore the temple apart, stone by stone to get the gold in the cracks.
Luke 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
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.
Beware of false Christs, it shows the time is near: do not follow them. False Christs and false teachers are a sign of the end times. When Jesus comes it will not be by hearsay.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Troubled Times
Luke 21:9 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.
These things will come prior to the return of Jesus as king.
Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Nations will fight and kingdoms will war. In the Spiritual realm kingdoms will war, the angels will fight the fallen angels of satan. War will be in the minds of people. There will be many false religions to choose from, and the way of God will not be preached by many churches who give in to pleasing the people.
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
We see these things happening now.
Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
He is speaking to Jewish people, some who were his followers. Persecution is a promise. Even in these times people are not liking Christians. They get in the way and point fingers at sin. Homosexuality is sin, abortion is murder, living together before marriage is fornication. Even the courts are given over to exalting flesh above God. Only God is the way of truth and there are many seeking to remove him from our public life.
Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Jesus will give you wisdom to testify, through the Holy Spirit.
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
The Spirit of truth in you, as a believer in Jesus Christ will speak for you. What an awesome promise. God in us speaking from us, giving us wisdom and truth that no man will be able to turn against you nor resist. God speaking is the word that accomplishes it's purpose.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Fear not man nor devil, God is greater. He is life abundant, now and forever. His word is true and eternal. He is God Almighty. A loving God to those who come to him and a terror to those who turn from him and do evil. He wants all to be loved through His Son, Jesus.
Betrayed, but blessed
Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Why are they betrayed? Because they believe in Jesus as Lord.
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
To be hated by all, is wonderful, if for the name of Jesus.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Wait? "some of you shall they cause to be put to death?" Jesus speaks of eternal life in your new resurrected body -- with hair.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Do not give up or despair, Jesus is Lord, your sorrow will be turned into eternal joy and your adversaries will be sorry, too late.
Desolation
Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The Jews at the time of Jesus expected Messiah to come and deliver them when Jerusalem would be surrounded by their enemies. Many in the first century were rejoicing when the Roman soldiers circled the city in AD 70. This was not to be the time of deliverance and Jesus warned his disciples to flee. They had rejected their Messiah.The second coming of Christ would again see Jerusalem under siege, at these end times, Messiah Jesus, Christ Jesus will return again.
Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Christians in Jerusalem knew what Jesus had said and they obeyed Him, fleeing across the Jordan River to a city named Pella. No Christians perished in the fall of Jerusalem. (Guzik)
Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Over one million Jews would be killed by Roman soldiers and another one hundred thousand were taken captive.
Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Jerusalem has been trodden by Gentiles until 1968. Still the temple mount is under Arab control. When the time of the Gentles is over, Israel will be near the coming of Jesus.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
When the church, the believers in Jesus Christ are gathered unto the Lord Jesus, then shall Israel know their Messiah. These will be perilous times. Many who believe will be killed, but they will live forever in Gods heaven. Isn't that our most important hope? To be with Jesus, apart from sin in a place of perfect peace.? His love keeps us.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
His love for us is perfect. Come to Jesus, for he is Lord and master.
Signs
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Look up, the signs will first be in the sky, sun, moon and stars. Then look on earth, distress of nations, could be terrorism, wars, natural disasters, people will not know which way to turn. The sea and the waves roaring. A hurricane makes a great roar as it brings destruction. Men's hearts will fail for fear and stress, from worries of what they see and imagine. Let us see the Christians in this...
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isa 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD
JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit and His Peace.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Look up, these are just the signs that will occur before Jesus comes back. Now is the time to repent from sins and come to Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. Through Jesus Christ, God gives you power to become a son of God and to escape the wrath that will fall on those who choose the way of darkness.
Parable of natural signs
Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luke 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
You know the natural signs of nature, why not the spiritual signs?
Mat 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
Mat 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Was he referring to the fig tree in Spiritual terms, as Israel? When Israel is again a nation then this generation shall see the end times? Many believe this. Or was it in reference to just seeing a fig tree, and all the trees, as written? As you know natural signs, we should know the Spiritual signs. Perhaps both views are correct?
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Which generation? The generation that sees all the signs written of earlier.
Everlasting word
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
There is a great promise. Few things of this life will last forever. The word of God will last forever. We are to seek those things which are above, those things that are forever. The word of God we definitely must read and eat and have it be our guide. It is truth and within the word are the answers to this life and the way to the next life. Two other things are forever, human souls and love. Both of these may parish in hell if not of the truth. Jesus' words shall not pass away. The soul that trusts in Jesus shall be with him, in love forever.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Do not get bogged down in cares of this life so that you lose sight of what is eternal. Do not let things crowd out your relationship to God.
Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch, for the end is coming. Will you be with Christ Jesus? Or will you be caught in the end time events unprepared and without hope. Jesus is your hope and mine. Now is the time to trust him and to be close to him. He is our salvation and hope of eternal life.
Full-time Ministry
Luke 21:37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
If we are to be as Jesus, we are busy doing the Father's will everyday. In the daytime when in Jerusalem, he taught in the temple. When not in Jerusalem he went out to the people and he met every need that the people brought to him. Did he touch everyone near him? No, some did not call upon him, some did not come to him.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Everywhere he went, people came to him even into the night. Jesus prayed in he night, it seems that he had few times to be alone.
Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 21:38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
Jesus began the day early in ministry. The words he spoke were from his Father, the Almighty God. He spoke not from himself as a man. He showed us that we are not to rely on ourselves, but entirely on the word of God. If we speak God's word, we speak life and truth to those who hear. To minister to others, we minister through his word and His Spirit. We can only do this by first coming to Jesus for cleansing and a new life.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
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