Luke 21:5-11
Chapter 21
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While some people discussed the temple, remarking that it was decorated with fine stonework and abundant gifts, Jesus said to them:
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“The days will come when not a single stone will be left on another of all that you now admire; everything will be torn down.”
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And they asked him:
“Master, when will this happen, and what will be the sign that it is about to occur?”
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Jesus said:
“Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he; the time is near at hand!’ Do not follow them.
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When you hear of wars and troubled times, don’t be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.”
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And Jesus said:
“Nations will fight against each other, and kingdoms will oppose kingdoms.
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There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues; in many locations, strange and frightening signs from the sky will be seen.
Commentaries
On the Destruction of the Temple.
The prediction of the Temple’s destruction raises a question: “When will this happen, and what is the sign that it is about to occur?” Jesus’ response forms the core of Luke’s ‘eschatological discourse,’ which blends at least three specific motifs: 1. The destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. 2. The coming of the Son of Man. 3. The end of the world. Luke emphasizes that the destruction of Jerusalem is not necessarily a sign of the end times. The key point is that the disciples be prepared, first, not to trust false alarms from charlatans or false messiahs, and second, to endure violence and persecution from enemies of the Gospel and to seize these moments as a powerful opportunity to bear witness.