#1430 Luke 21 Part 3 For My Name's Sake

 

7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls. Luke 21: 7-19

Luke 21: Signs of the Times

V 7-9 Do not be terrified - Picking up here where we left off in the prior post, that this age, the rest of the time of the gentiles, the time between Christ telling them this till the time when He returns, will be marked by imposters (false Christs, gurus, cult leaders). He says, "don't go after them." So anyone who claims to be the Messiah or a type of Messiah, a Spiritual expert, anyone that wants you to follow them rather than point you towards Jesus, call them out, warn others, but don't follow them. When you hear of wars and commotions, do you freak out? No, because the real Jesus said, "do not be terrified", for these things must come to pass. In other words, the age between Him speaking and returning will be marked by wars, rumors of wars and false prophets. There will be disasters, but the believer belongs to God eternally, so don't be afraid of what eternity will erase, trust what Jesus said not what false prophets wish to be true, not your hopes and feelings, bring those into submission to Christ's actual word. Is His word reliable? Well, has the age since He said this looked the way He said? How many false Christ's, Jim Jones, Mohammad, Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Fidel Castro and Haile Selassie types have we had? How many "look at me, follow me," Yoga instructors, self professed enlightened ones, "truth seekers and Scientists" have we had tell us they no the way, the Bible is wrong, but they have it figured out? I would say Christ described this age perfectly. 

V. 10 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom - In verse 9 we leave off with the end not coming immediately. All these things are going to happen, the temple destroyed in 70 A.D., then nations will rise against each other, Rome would continue to clash with those it wanted to bring under it's rule, and wars have broken out all over the world throughout history, but again, we are not to be alarmed. We are not to look at everything as a sign, not to run out to the desert because we hear there is a Messiah there, but instead we stay grounded in God's word and the knowledge that when Christ does return it will be unmistakable. 

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24: 30-44

More on Matthew 24 vs. 29-35

More on Matthew 24 vs. 36-51

V. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places - Historically this has been the case, and before this the image of birth pains was used showing that this will increase as it gets closer to the end of the age, but again, for the grounded believer, no worries. There will also be famines an pestilence, and this has happened throughout this age, but again, it will be worse towards the end. History tells us about Bubonic plague which killed an estimated 75 to 200 million people in Europe and N. Africa back in the 1300s. Malaria and other mosquito born illnesses have taken millions, and there have been scares from various pox outbreaks, Ebola, Wuhan, etc. When people migrated from Europe to the Americas, they brought small pox and other diseases that they had grown herd immunity to, but the indigenous people had not and again this wiped out millions. 

i. In some sense, there were wars preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, because the Romans were frequently at war with the Jews, the Samaritans, the Syrians, and others during this period. In the broader Roman Empire there were notable earthquakes before Jerusalem was destroyed. There were famines, such as the one mentioned in Acts 11:28. In the greater Roman Empire there were fearful sights such as the destruction of Pompeii, only seven years before Jerusalem was destroyed. There were signs in the heavens, such as a comet that looked like a sword in the sky over Jerusalem before its destruction.

b. For these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately: Yet Jesus specifically said that none of these things are the specific signs of His immediate coming. Matthew 24:8 described these things as the beginning of sorrows, more literally the beginning of labor pains. Just as is true with labor pains, we should expect that the things mentioned – wars, famines, earthquakes, and so on – would become more frequent and more intense before the return of Jesus – without any one of them being the specific sign of the end.

i. These things must come to pass first: “These things must happen because they are part of the prophetic programme of the End-time in general, and so are divinely decreed; but they do not usher in the immediate end. The fall of Jerusalem and the events leading up to it were morally, though not chronologically, of an eschatological character.” (Geldenhuys) - E Word

V. 12 They will lay their hands on you and persecute you - He warns them, and in so doing warns us, that telling the truth is not going to win everyone. Not everyone is going to embrace you as a friend when you tell the Biblical gospel. This corresponds with what the Apostles experienced leading up to the events of 70 A.D. They were beheaded, hung upside down on a cross, beaten and imprisoned. The same treatment is described preceding Christ's second coming as well, and this has been the case in various places, in various times throughout the age. Read Fox's Book of Martyrs, many Christians have died as sport in the arenas of Rome, in prisons in China for refusing to deny Christ at the command of the Communist party, at the hands of Islam for converting, and even at the hands of people who called themselves Christian but were actually Roman Catholic, an apostate group that sees Mary as someone to pray to, and honors popes as though they are Christ here on earth. So many wars, many false Christs, many natural disasters and persecution. As the time of Christ's second coming approaches it becomes more world wide and the most severe. During the time of Jacob's trouble, the Great Tribulation, both the Jews and those who come to Christ under the preaching of the two witnesses and those spreading the gospel, will become enemies of the global religion and the Antichrist. He will set up the abomination of desolation, like Antiochus Epiphanes did when he tried to Hellenize Jerusalem during the Intertestamental Period, the time after the last OT prophet spoke till the rise of John the Baptist, about 400 years. Antiochus is an early type of antichrist, and Jesus references back to Daniel's writings which see well beyond that period to another antichrist who becomes renown during Daniel's 70th week. Antiochus can be studied as a prototype, a talker, a picture of what is to come and there would be and will be many more up until the end. The lesson, don't put your hope in fallen humanity, look to the only way certified and provided by God, His Son, Jesus Christ. Even the Jews during the beginning of the tribulation will like the antichrist until he gives the sign that the end is close, and that is when he sets up the abomination of desolation. 

More from Daniel

14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.… Matthew 24: 14-16

V. 13 It will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony - When they send you to the principal's office don't let fear take hold of you, don't fall into the grips of anxiety. Listen, God saw you there before it happened and nothing occurs in this world outside of His sovereignty. Whether king, president, mobster, warlord, whatever, it doesn't matter. Instead of being overcome by the presence of such evil, instead of being overwhelmed by the injustice of the moment, remember, all things work together for good, to them that love God and to those that are called according to His purpose. If you are standing accused before a court of worldly men then give testimony. Don't plan out how it's going to go, just study your Bible and pray everyday, and when the time comes God will bring to remembrance what is needed for that moment. Have pity for your accusers, for those who wrong you, it is a bleak outlook for them, one bearing the most horrific, eternal implications. You think of the testimony that Stephen gave right before he was stoned and then right before he died.

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.” 15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.… 1 Peter 3: 14-16

…43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.… Matthew 5: 43-45

…59While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7: 59-60

V. 18 But not a hair of your head will be lost - He makes it clear before that some of them will die, but this shows there is more to come, more than just this life, and there you will be in your perfection, so hold on. 

…51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.…

…54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”  1 Corinthians 15: 51-55

By your patience possess your souls: The word for patience here is the great Greek word hupomone. It speaks of a strong endurance, not a passive waiting. We endure, trusting the promise of Jesus that ultimately, in eternal perspective, not a hair of your head shall be lost. - E Word

#1429 Luke 21 Part 2 Not Led Astray

 

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.” Luke 21: 5-9 ESV

Luke 21: 5-9 Luke 21: 5-9 

And while some were speaking of the temple - So here is the flow, before the widow's two coins we had the warning about the Scribes, those that love titles, greetings and the esteem of men, oh, and also robbing widows. We have the story of the widow who gives her last bit of coin, all she had to live on, to these corrupt people who don't pay her any notice. Jesus points her out, points out the weight of her gift, and then transitions into this, observing some people who were enamored with shiny stuff in the temple and probably indifferent to the suffering widow. "Look at the gold, this is the sign that this ministry is on the right track. Look at the amount of seats we are filling and the amount of people who are putting stuff in the plate, even the poor are trying to buy their way in." It's the cha-ching of the prosperity gospel, whatever you want out of it, you have to put into it. "If you didn't get what you wanted it's not the fault of the system, no, you didn't hold your tongue right, you didn't believe hard enough, you have some hidden sin."  

…20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.… Matthew 6: 20-22

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 - What does that have to do with the widow and her tiny offering that Jesus says was more than everyone else gave? I think many decades of bad sermons on the former, reaching sermons, that want to be tied to better gift giving, forget the context that the widow sits in the middle of. Roman Catholicism did the same thing to Christendom when it departed from the Word of God in favor of it's traditions. Poor people were paying indulgences, a thing to be found nowhere in Scripture, all to fund these enormous buildings, full of shiny craftsmanship, architectural magnificence both inside and out, but void of sound doctrine and obedience. So enter the enemy of the state, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk who compared Rome to the Bible and found Rome wanting. This started the Reformation, the return to what God said over what man wants God to say. This is Sola Scriptura, which basically means, let the Bible stand alone as the sole authority over men's conscience, as the greatest arbiter of truth, and the source of all sound doctrine derived from the Whole Counsel of God found therein. He printed the Bible in German which was the common language of the people in His area, and this threw Rome into a hissy. Why? Because now more people had access to the light of truth, and they could read for themselves from Scripture things that contradicted the bad teachings of Rome. Rome wanted a monopoly on religion, an aberrant Christianity of their own that they could use to control the masses and assess great wealth. The Reformers made them even angrier because they started opening schools, printing the Bible in more languages and teaching more people how to read. This actually jumpstarted much of the growth and technology that we see today. 

Jesus, after talking about the widow, predicts the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple that everyone is so enamored by. It was to be a house of prayer, a house where this widow could come and hear sound teaching, where someone, a shepherd of the people, would look upon her situation and have compassion. I'm looking at the churches now and wondering, what do you mean when you ask God to bless your ministry, and how have you looked after His sheep? I see a landscape now with many a closed church, and the remaining churches leaving Sola Scriptura, hoping that if they plug into the culture that it will draw a better crowd. Would it not be better to meet in the catacombs in a group of three where the Word of God was held in higher esteem than your opinions and ego? Is your religion towards men and the things that they crave, or God's kingdom, and the dire nature of the gospel? Not one stone would be left unturned, and this did not terrify them, it enraged them; they held Jesus in contempt for this, later accusing Him of speaking against the temple. Ask yourself, do you think the Creator of the Universe is impressed by the things we make with the materials He has left us? 

14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus. 15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God. 16The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.… Luke 16: 14-16

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that You can do everything,

And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 Listen, please, and let me speak;

You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes.”

7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42: 1-8

…21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” 22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”… 1 Samuel 15: 21-23

V. 7 Teacher, when will these things be - Understandable question, and imagine the shock of what Jesus just said. 

It is worth noting that even esteemed preachers like C H Spurgeon (not a dispensationalist) recognized the destruction of the Temple in 70 A D did not fulfill Jesus' prophecies in the Olivet Discourse, writing that “We must regard the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple as being a kind of rehearsal of what is yet to be.” (Amen to that word from the Prince of Preachers!) (Bold font added)

Matthew Poole (1624–1679) a respected English Nonconformist expositor (not a dispensationalist) wrote that "Most divines think that God in the destruction of Jerusalem intended to give a specimen of the general conflagration, and ruin of the world at the last day; so as the signs of the same kind with those seen before Jerusalem was destroyed, shall be seen before the great and terrible day of our Lord’s coming to judge the world.” (And again "Amen" to the interpretation which results when one simply and literally reads the text!) - Precept Austin

More on this topic from Matthew 24

V. 7b What will be the sign when these things are about to take place - He just spoke about the destruction of the temple, the center of Jewish religion. I think it's important to take what is presented here from all three gospels for the most clarity, otherwise some have fallen into error. In Matthew 24 v. 3 we read the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age. This extends the question to cover a vast period. They had started living in the time of the gentiles back when Babylon sacked the city and destroyed the first temple. I think it's reasonable, based on other conversations that Jesus had with them and His entry on the donkey, that the expectation was high that His Kingdom would start soon. He has also told them that He is going to die and go away, and remember this was also prophesied, that He would be at the right hand of the Father, and that He would sit there until He made His enemies His footstool.  

Comparing the synoptic gospels, we have three questions...

1. When will the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple occur?

2. What is the sign of His Coming? (Mt 24:3 - "Coming" is parousia which can also mean "being present" or "presence." At this point of course Jesus had not died or departed, so they are probably using parousia to speak of His presence for they were still expecting Him to bring in the Kingdom of God (a belief which seems to persist even after His death, burial and resurrection, as implied by their question in Acts 1:6-note).

3. What is the sign for the end of the age? (Mt 24:3-note)

…2“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.… Matthew 24: 2-4

V. 8 See that you are not led astray - This will be a prominent sign of this age, growing in intensity till the end, that many are going to say, "God told me, I was sent in His name", and they will be liars. 

…7Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them. 9For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD.”… Jeremiah 29: 7-9

…13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.… 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15

V. 8b I am he - Some will go so far as to not only claim to speak on behalf of Christ, but to be the Christ. This is the spirit of antichrist and it has been in the world for quite sometime now, but I think it will culminate most prominently in a single political, military figure at the end. We have seen the likes of those leaders who want to be worshiped, followed without question, like Hitler, Mao and so many others. They say they have the answers, but Jesus says, don't follow them. It's a scam.

36Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.… Acts 5: 36-38

9Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, 10and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” 11They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.… Acts 8: 9-11

Weber on 3 implications of birth pangs - First, “beginning” implies that patterns of war, famine, and earthquakes do have some connection with the end. But they do not necessarily indicate that the end is near. Adding to this concept is the idea of “birth pains,” which begin some time before an actual birth. Second, birth is one of the most painful experiences in a woman’s life. Jesus, choice of word picture indicates that, when the end does come, it will be very painful for all of humanity. These sorrows are continually experienced in history. But as is true with the birth process, the pains will increase in frequency and intensity until Jesus returns in his power and glory. Third, birth is one of the most joyously fulfilling experiences of a woman’s life, bringing about the emergence of something precious, beautiful, and highly valued. Jesus’ word picture looked beyond the tribulation of God’s judgment to the emergence of the fully realized kingdom with Christ in his glory. (Holman New Testament Commentary)

Craig Blomberg on birth pangs - just as a woman may experience false labor and just as genuine contractions still leave her uncertain about the exact time of delivery, so too the events of Mt 24:4–8 do not enable us to predict the time of Christ’s coming. Birth pangs were in fact a common Jewish metaphor to refer to an indeterminate period of distress leading up to the end of this age (e.g., 1 Enoch 62:4; 2 Esdr 4:42; Tg. Ps 18:14). (Matthew, Broadman & Holman Publishers, The New American Commentary) - Precept Austin

V. 9 But the end will not be at once - Revelation goes into deeper description of what the end will look like. There have been wars throughout this age and earthquakes along with many other natural disasters. The frequency will increase, the intensity will increase and the global effect will increase. It will go from rumors about something far away to your doorstep, everyone's doorstep. 

1Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread? 2When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell. 3Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.… Psalm 27: 1-3

The end - Jesus will give a clear, unmistakable visual event in Mt 24:15+ that will mark the beginning of the end of the age. He does not want His disciples to be misled or frightened by these tumultuous events. It reminds me of folks who during WWII said that Hitler was the Antichrist. While he certain manifested the spirit of antichrist in slaughtering millions of Jews, he was not the Antichrist because the abomination of desolation in Mt 24:15+ (and 2Th 2:2-4+) had not yet occurred. In fact there was no Temple (holy place) in Jerusalem in which one could have even stood during World War II. Had these individuals known what Jesus had taught, they would have realized Hitler could not possibly have been the Antichrist. One of the greatest dangers in interpreting eschatology is to use the newspaper to guide one's interpretation! - Precept Austin

#1428 Luke 21 Part 1 A Shameful Place

 

Jesus 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. 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.” Luke 21: 1-4 ESV

Luke 21: 1-4 Shaming

…26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1: 26-27

Jesus looked up - Some context, we just left off at the end of chapter 20 with Jesus warning the people about the Scribes. They loved the things the world loves and used religion as a means to get more creature comforts while ignoring the very heart of religion. The Scribes wanted to have titles, to amass great possessions, and would even do so at the cost of what was truly edifying, even twisting, ignoring, perverting the soul of true religion. Their idea of religion was to be seen of men, to wear it outwardly, to elevate form over function, ritual over reality. As long as they achieved their worldly aims then the price of a widow's suffering, an orphan's grumbling belly, was not such a big deal and even necessary because they were only getting what they deserved. In their minds, contrary to the book of Job, they were doing well because they were doing it right, and the poor were doing poorly because they were paying for their sins. 

45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 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.” Luke 20: 45-47

Saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box - He probably looked up because he heard them clanging their coins, making a great spectacle of their giving. "Look, I am a philanthropist, it feels so good to give." Or, maybe they should say, "it feels so good to be seen giving." Jesus doesn't go into any great detail about their motives, but we have learned about their ways and motives prior to this. He has warned about people like this, they want the praise of men, a Mr. Beast moment with a billion likes.

1“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,… Matthew 6: 1-3

He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins - Now these were small coins, worth about  1/8 of a cent, so she gave about a quarter of a cent, not keeping even one of the coins. From here most sermons I have heard on this as a kid will go into how we are to give, or coming in before the plate, "remember the widow's story, how God loves a cheerful giver." He does love a cheerful giver, no doubt, the good Book says as much, and we know that God looks at the heart, but here her motives are not discussed. He doesn't even tell us the motives of the rich, yet He has in this context diminished the value of their gifts, and He has been warning us about those who are outwardly religious and inwardly bankrupt. I listened to J Mac's sermon on this, and while many disagree, when I see their notes and commentary they behave as those having special revelation. I think, John, once again, has done the better exegesis. 

John MacArthur comments - The point that I want you to understand is this: God is concerned that people have their needs met. It is the responsibility in the Ten Commandments of children to provide for their parents when their parents need care and provision. To say we can't do that because we have given it to God is to violate the Law of God with your tradition. (MacArthur quotes Mk 7:9-13 - "He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10“For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”) MacArthur goes on to comment that "You have invented a kind of religion that has nothing to do with the commandment of God. You have nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. They had a word for corban which means “devoted to God.” You no longer do anything for your mother or father, thus invalidating the Word of God by your tradition. The system that had developed in Judaism abused poor people. And it abused it on a spiritual level. Anyone who withholds money from needy parents in order to give it to God is in direct disobedience to God and is dishonoring God's Word and substituting a man-made tradition for God's Word. Basic human needs come first with God before religious offerings. Listen, God's law was never given to impoverish people, but to help them. Man was not made for the law but the law was made for man. We would conclude that this woman was part of a system that took the last two cents out of her hand on the pretense that this was necessary to please God, to purchase her salvation and to bring her blessing. She was manipulated by a religious system that was corrupt. This is not an illustration of heartfelt, sacrificial giving that pleases the Lord, this is not a model for all of us to follow. Jesus never expects that, in fact He told a servant who had very little, you should have put your money in the bank and earned interest because you need that to meet your own physical needs. (Sermon) - J Mac quoted in Precept Austin

V. 3 This poor widow has put in more than all of them - It doesn't say because of her attitude, which some have extrapolated from this, that she loved the Lord, which it also doesn't say. Some commentaries even assume the difference here between the saved and the unsaved, as though this says as much about her. In the context preceding, remember, it warns about the Scribes, "who devour widows' houses",  and this lady is in their space, the place that they turned into a den of thieves where Christ drove them out, twice. The Scribes, Pharisees and Priests were to be shepherds and look after those who had no one to look after them. The first century A.D. was not favorable to women, and it is difficult for people in the first world, in modern times to imagine, but if a woman's husband died and she had no sons then she was basically destitute. Younger women were a target for sex traffickers, older women were cheated out of their ancestral inheritance by these same Scribes and Priests, all in the name of religion. It is no different than the Pentecostal movements of today. They go to the poor and say, "hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore; just plant this seed gift of faith. If you want a tenfold blessing then give this amount, if you want even more then give it all." So the church building is built upon these false promises, fancy cars are bought, mansions are purchased, all upon the backs of poor people, especially women, hoping for a way out of poverty. Jesus is commending the widow here, He is condemning the people that take her money for their comforts and luxury, point at a shiny building, ignoring her plight, and thinking, look how beautiful this gold plating is, this was so worth it. 

For they all contributed out of their abundance - He gives the simple explanation, the comparison, her less was more because it was everything. They gave out of a surplus, it says, "abundance", which means they had a lot of  money that wasn't spoken for, and besides, it was all part of the show. Why use their money to help out an old, worn out widow who can't pay them back. Where is the prestige in that? At least here I can donate to the temple building and get my name on a plaque or one of the bricks. 

…18‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’… Deuteronomy 27: 18-20

…22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. 23If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. 24My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.… Exodus 22: 22-24

Woe to those who make unjust laws,

to those who issue oppressive decrees,

2 to deprive the poor of their rights

and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,

making widows their prey

and robbing the fatherless.

3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,

when disaster comes from afar?

To whom will you run for help?

Where will you leave your riches?

4 Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives

or fall among the slain.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

his hand is still upraised. Isaiah 10: 1-4

…3This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4For if you will indeed carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses— they and their officials and their people. 5But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’ ”… Jeremiah 22: 3-5

This woman was the poorest sort, and there was instruction given to the early church regarding widows as well. It was not a welfare system that encouraged laziness, as he who does not work shall not eat. It was a responsibility of the elders and deacons to see to the widows, to make sure that none were taking advantage of them, and that they were guarded from the wolves.

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. 1 Timothy 5: 4-16

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6: 1-7

…5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! 6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, 7who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.… 2 Timothy 3: 5-7

#1427 Luke 20 Part 6 Beware Of It In and Outside Of Yourself

 

45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Luke 20: 45-47 NKJV

Luke 20: 45-47 Beware Of The So Called Intellectual Elite

25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 26 Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.… 1 Corinthians 1: 25-27

…19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.… 1 Corinthians 1: 19-21

In the hearing of all the people - He does not consider them brothers, and their ministry is public so He does not pull them aside, but rather rebukes them publicly. If you mislead the masses then you need to be rebuked in front of the masses, so that the truth can be presented in contrast to what you speak. 

…19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin. 21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.… 1 Timothy 5: 19-21

He said to His disciples - A disciple is one who follows a teacher, and Jesus had many of these besides the core twelve, at one time sending out 70.

1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. 2And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.… Luke 10: 1-2

Beware of the Scribes - There were two main Jewish sects in these gospels, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, each having their own Scribes, those who were dedicated to reading, studying and commenting on the Law. The Pharisees were more fundamental in the amount of reading that they thought inspired, but liberal in this as well. They put much upon the ancient Scribes, and even went with their traditions and writings over Scripture. The Sadducees were conservative in the amount of writing they took to be Biblical and economically conservative, but socially liberal. They were proponents of Hellenization, meaning they were much like the evangelical church today, licking their fingers and then holding them up to see which way the wind was blowing. Remember, they thought this life was all there is. Most of the Scribes were of the former group, the Pharisees.

1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.… Luke 12: 1-3

Who desire to go around in long robes - Everything about them was outward, a show, the more prominent the phylacteries and the longer and broader the tassel, the more pious the man. An unfortunate thing that God looks at the heart and not outward appearances. We may fool our fellow man, and that is even taught in politics and business, but you will one day stand before an all knowing and righteous Judge. 

…5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.… Matthew 23: 5-7

Wuest on the Greek word hypokrisis - It "is made up of hupo under, and krinō “to judge” and referred originally to “one who judged from under the cover of a mask,” thus, assuming an identity and a character which he was not. This person was the actor on the Greek stage, one who took the part of another. The true identity of the person is covered up. It refers to acts of impersonation or deception. Christianity requires that believers should be open and above-board. They should be themselves. Their lives should be like an open book, easily read. This begs the question beloved - IS YOUR LIFE AN "OPEN BOOK?" IS WHAT PEOPLE SEE REALLY WHO YOU ARE? (Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission) - Precept Austin

The disciples are to continually beware of them because they are ungodly, do not truly know God, have no true spiritual wisdom. As MacArthur says "They are agents of Satan sent to fight the purposes of God....False religion never restrains the flesh. So these people operate like the worst of the unregenerate, except that it is not apparent on the surface. But false religion cannot subdue their wretched heart, for that can only be subdued by regeneration by means of the truth of the Gospel. So these men are to be avoided because they are always one thing on the outside and something else on the inside. They have nothing to offer spiritually and are destructive...deadly...dangerous. Do not get near them, because you will get singed, stained." - Precept Austin

…3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:… Philippians 2: 3-5

Ryrie comments that phylacteries were square leather boxes containing four strips of parchment on which were written Deut. 11:13-21 and 6:4-9, and Ex. 13:11-16 and 13:1-10. During prayer one was worn on the forehead between the eyebrows and another on the left arm close to the elbow. They were held in place by leather bands, which the Pharisees made broad to attract more attention to themselves. The custom was based on Ex. 13:9, 16; Dt. 6:8; 11:18, though phylacteries had only begun to be used by the ultra-pious in Christ's day. Christ criticizes not the custom itself but the wrong spirit that corrupted it. lengthen the tassels of their garments. A hem or fringe on a garment was placed there in accordance with Nu 15:38, but the Pharisees made theirs unnecessarily wide. (Borrow Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition) - Precept Austin

Love greetings in the market place - "Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name." They loved to hear not only their name but their titles, the esteem of men was of more value to them than the thoughts of God. They would have loved this day of social media and influencers. It would have given them a bigger stage to perform on, a broader audience to reach. 

…35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?… Mark 8: 35-37

MacArthur - If you were called “rabbi,” you were so exalted that in the Talmud, Sanhedrin 88 says that “It is more punishable to act against the words of a scribe than the words of Scripture.” They wanted to be called “excellency, elevated one, most knowledgeable one, exalted one.” They wanted to be “leader.” That is the one who determines direction, the one who determines destiny, the one who sets the course. - J Mac from Precept Austin

The best seats in the Synagogues, and the best places at feasts - Was it more important what you learned at Ligonier's this year or that you were seen there? Everyone in the world knows that anyone who is anyone was at Cannes and Coachella this year. What would you do for a good seat there, next to someone who's trending right now? If you want to sit at the table with the "intellectuals" then you have to denounce some things that may be true, they don't know, but if  you got it from Scripture, then they are certain it is antiquated. 

Who devour widows houses - They were divinely instructed by the Holy Scriptures to care for the widows and the fatherless, but instead they cheated them out of their inheritance and stacked house upon house. These lived lavishly while they made it difficult for others to get by. They know that God brings judgment on these things, but they are no better than pimps, yet worse than the ones who don't claim to know God.

…6See how every prince of Israel within you has used his power to shed blood. 7Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed. 8You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths.… Ezekiel 22: 6-8

For a pretense make long prayers - They love to be heard, their religion is to themselves and not to God.