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Scott's Reference Library
November 30, 2003 | December 3, 2006 | November 29, 2009
Luke 21:25 through Luke 21:36 (NIV)
25“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations
will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men
will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the
heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take
place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing
near.”
29He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When
they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God
is near.
32“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all
these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
never pass away.
34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness
and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a
trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is
about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 5-28
With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time when the great
desolation should be. He answers with clearness and fulness, as far as was
necessary to teach them their duty; for all knowledge is desirable as far as it
is in order to practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most common in
gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ tells them
what hard things they should suffer for his name’s sake, and encourages them to
bear up under their trials, and to go on in their work, notwithstanding the
opposition they would meet with. God will stand by you, and own you, and assist
you. This was remarkably fulfilled after the pouring out of the Spirit, by whom
Christ gave his disciples wisdom and utterance. Though we may be losers for
Christ, we shall not, we cannot be losers by him, in the end. It is our duty and
interest at all times, especially in perilous, trying times, to secure the
safety of our own souls. It is by Christian patience we keep possession of our
own souls, and keep out all those impressions which would put us out of temper.
We may view the prophecy before us much as those Old Testament prophecies,
which, together with their great object, embrace, or glance at some nearer
object of importance to the church. Having given an idea of the times for about
thirty-eight years next to come, Christ shows what all those things would end
in, namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the utter dispersion of the Jewish
nation; which would be a type and figure of Christ’s second coming. The
scattered Jews around us preach the truth of Christianity; and prove, that
though heaven and earth shall pass away, the words of Jesus shall not pass away.
They also remind us to pray for those times when neither the real, nor the
spiritual Jerusalem, shall any longer be trodden down by the Gentiles, and when
both Jews and Gentiles shall be turned to the Lord. When Christ came to destroy
the Jews, he came to redeem the Christians that were persecuted and oppressed by
them; and then had the churches rest. When he comes to judge the world, he will
redeem all that are his from their troubles. So fully did the Divine judgements
come upon the Jews, that their city is set as an example before us, to show that
sins will not pass unpunished; and that the terrors of the Lord, and his
threatenings against impenitent sinners, will all come to pass, even as his word
was true, and his wrath great upon Jerusalem.
VERSES 29-38
Christ tells his disciples to observe the signs of the times, which they might
judge by. He charges them to look upon the ruin of the Jewish nation as near.
Yet this race and family of Abraham shall not be rooted out; it shall survive as
a nation, and be found as prophesied, when the Son of man shall be revealed. He
cautions them against being secure and sensual. This command is given to all
Christ’s disciples, Take heed to yourselves, that ye be not overpowered by
temptations, nor betrayed by your own corruptions. We cannot be safe, if we are
carnally secure. Our danger is, lest the day of death and of judgment should
come upon us when we are not prepared. Lest, when we are called to meet our
Lord, that be the furthest from our thoughts, which ought to be nearest our
hearts. For so it will come upon the most of men, who dwell upon the earth, and
mind earthly things only, and have no converse with heaven. It will be a terror
and a destruction to them. Here see what should be our aim, that we may be
accounted worthy to escape all those things; that when the judgements of God are
abroad, we may not be in the common calamity, or it may not be that to us which
it is to others. Do you ask how you may be found worthy to stand before Christ
at that day? Those who never yet sought Christ, let them now go unto him; those
who never yet were humbled for their sins, let them now begin; those who have
already begun, let them go forward and be kept humbled. Watch therefore, and
pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and make the most of every
opportunity to do good. Pray always: those shall be accounted worthy to live a
life of praise in the other world, who live a life of prayer in this world. May
we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ’s word, obeying his
precepts, and following his example, that whenever he comes we may be found
watching.