Daily Bible Reading (Friday, March 30th)
10Luke 21 (ESV)
The Widow's Offering
Jesus[a] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.[b] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers[c] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
Footnotes:
- Luke 21:1 Greek He
- Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
- Luke 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters
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10 Comments
Dee Escobedo Mar 30, 2018 @ 1:15 pm
Sorry, typo. My previous comment should have read; no clouds in sight.
Dee Escobedo Mar 30, 2018 @ 1:13 pm
Today I looked up at a clear blue sky; no. Lord’s in sight. I thought to myself, “What a beautiful day for Christ to return.” I thought this even on this day, as we remember the death he suffered here on earth!”
Noah Tiemeyer Mar 30, 2018 @ 1:01 pm
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap." Easily to see how dissipation and drunkenness could distract us from our future hope, but also interesting that he says "cares of this life". Praying we would be single-minded and focused as we endure for this hope we have have been called to.
Sarah Birch Mar 30, 2018 @ 9:41 am
"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's same. IT WILL LEAD TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves..."
I apologize for the all caps, but I wanted to draw attention to vs. 13. I've never noticed this verse before! What a reminder that persecution is a chance to give glory to God! I pray that I will have that kind of attitude in the face of persecution.
Jason Adam Mar 30, 2018 @ 9:18 am
As we start to see our Christian brothers in America brought before governors and rulers because of Christ, I pray that they will persevere and have the truth settled in their minds, and I pray that I would be prepared to gain my life by my endurance.
Art Wachdorf Mar 30, 2018 @ 7:25 am
As we think about the death and resurrection of our dear Savior, as Bruce noted, we are told that the risen Jesus is coming back. It could be today! Until then, he reminds us to stay alert and pray. Sounds like a good way to remember Him, His death and resurrection.
Bruce Blakey Mar 30, 2018 @ 7:05 am
Watch yourselves! Jesus speaks about the time from the destruction of Jerusalem until His coming again calling it the time of the Gentiles. When that time is fulfilled He will appear. Today we remember His death. Sunday we celebrate His resurrection. Soon we will see Him. Watch yourselves!
Tommy Hard Mar 30, 2018 @ 6:57 am
Chapter 20 ends with , 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” so after condemning the Scribes for devouring widows households, Jesus looks up and sees that very thing happening. This widow felt compelled to give all she had, to the point that she had nothing left to live on. Even though it was a tiny amount of money compared to what the Scribes may give, Jesus says that she had given more than them because she gave out of her abundance. Separated by chapters, it's east to see this story as simply a commendation of giving everything to God, it in context it is just as much a condemnation of false teaching of the Scribes that would have compelled her to think she needed to give everything and have nothing left to live on: the pretentious idea that she always needed to have something to give, as they were seen to do. Modern day televangelists on TBN do the same thing, often compelling the poor to mail in amounts equal to what they have to live on with the teaching that they won't be blessed unless they do so. Let us beware of having even a hint of the same teaching that would devour a widows household.
Keagan McLeese Mar 30, 2018 @ 6:54 am
v1-4: I pray that Believers Fellowship would be given a heart to uplift widows and orphans. v36: I also ask, Father, that our church would be given the strength to escape this world and to stand before the Son of Man.
Colin Bradley Mar 30, 2018 @ 5:57 am
Verse 19 says, “By your endurance you will claim your lives.” Endurance can take on many meanings within a variety of contexts, but here the Lord is telling us we will encounter real challenges and strife in this present day. Our response to the gospel is critical. We must press on towards the goal (Phil 3:14) and take heart because Christ has conquered death (John 16:33). God help me endure until the end. Give me a heart of perseverance and help me live with an eternal perspective. I pray for those who may encounter you for the first time this weekend, I ask that you would powerfully work in their lives to bring about genuine repentance and a shared desire to endure in this life for that which is to come. Amen!