Luke 21

Luke 21:1-4

In this chapter we have, 1. Christ’s approbation of a poor widow that only rose under into the treasury, vers. 1—4. 2. A production of the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the second coming of Jesus Christ to judge the world, under the type and figure of that, vers. 5—33. 3. A practical application of this by way of caution and counsel, vers. 34—30. An account of Christ’s preaching, and the people’s attendance on it, vers. 37, 38.

1. AND he looked up, and ‘saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, ’that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all. 4. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but the of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

The commendation of this poor widow’s offering we heard, Mark xii. 41. We may observe, (1.) That it is the duty of all, according to their ability, to contribute to the service of the sanctuary, the maintenance of a gospel ministry, the

Luke 21:8

1 Pat. 16. 7. = 1 Thal. v. 6. 8 Pat. v. 20. Mat. v. 8. 8 xvi. 12. 8. Eph. vi. 18. = Chap. xviii. 1. 1 Thal. v. 27. 8. Eph. vi. 15. = John xiii. 7. 1. 1. Chap. xxii. 20. ye fee and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31. So likewise ye, when ye fee these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdoms of God is nigh at hand. 32. Verily I say unto you, ‘This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33. Heaven and earth shall pass away: ’ but my word shall not pass away. 34. ¶ And ’take heed to yourselves, left at any time your hearts be overcharged with furfelating and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unaware. 35. For ‘as a feare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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. 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. 38. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple for to hear him.

Luke 21:29-38

These signs of the times which Christ had set before them, of duly remarked, would as clearly point out to them the approach of the threatened judgments, as the summer is known to be at hand, when the lords and flowers of spring appear. The time for the fulfilment of this prophecy was never, and the accomplishment of it sure: therefore, 1. He cautions them to beware of sensuality and security, left the day of his coming should surprise them unprepared to meet him. Note, (1.) We are in jeopardy every hour: the day of death and judgment is uncertain; we need be every moment on our guard. They who are immersed in the cares and pleasures of the world, will be terribly surprised by it; and we to those on whom it shall come as a feare, and seize them in their fins. (2.) If we would meet our Judge with comfort, and be found of him in peace, we must keep a strict rein on inordinate appertise, and learn to die daily to the world, and sit both all in cares and enticements. They who are dead to the world whilst they are in it, will be the readjust to go out of it at the most hidden summons. (3.) Surprising and durdenmed must necessarily unqualify us to meet our God. A glutton’s drankard! what a fearful reckoning must be made in the day of judgment! (4.) The cares of this world as effectually flupify the conscience, as the fumes of liquor do the body; and though men are apt to think a sober worldling a decent character, compared with a notorious drunkard; yet is their state equally dangerous, and perhaps the farmer the most difficult to be wrought upon. The drunkard sleeps, and is sober; but the worldly-minded rifles up as he lay down, overcharged with the same load of worldly anxiety and corking obliterated. 2. He exhorts them to watch and pray always, that they may be

accustomed worthy to escape all their things that shall come to pay, and

to stand before the Son of man, with comfort and confidence of his favour and regard. Not that our watchfulness and prayers confess any merit; we must be counted worthy and accepted in the beloved; but these are the means God hath appointed, in the clyle of which he hath promised his grace and blessing to us: and whilst we are awake, and expect our Lord’s arrival, and look up to him for strength continually, he will bring us safe through every temptation, and give us to partake at last in his final salvation. 3. During these few days between his triumph and his sufferings, he continued indefatigable in his labours, preaching daily to the temple; and when the evening came, he retired to the Mount of Olives for prayer and meditation, returning in the morning to his delightful work in the temple, where an attensive auditory waited eager to hear his divine dissonance.