Apr. 09, 2025
Dear Friends,
I hope you can attend our Bible study tonight! We will be studying Luke 21:5-19. Notes are attached.
PLEASE NOTE: The streaming will begin by 6 PM, but may not begin earlier. Don't be alarmed if we are not broadcasting at 5:55 PM, which has been our habit.
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LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE
WAYNE BARRETT
HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL
APRIL 9, 2025
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.”
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 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.
______________________
v 5 – “And while some were speaking of the temple …”
What had just preceded this was Jesus’ observation about the “widow’s mite”
This juxtaposition is a continued emphasis on what is truly valuable and lasting (devotion to
God, even at cost to oneself vs what we are sometimes more tempted to admire—here, the
majesty of the temple).
It was adorned with good, beautiful, valuable [kalos] stones and consecrated gifts (anathema (!))
It is hard to overstate the centrality of the Temple to Jewish life and worship
First, it was a temple of God, the Temple—a place where he especially manifested his presence
(in the Holy of Holies)
This Second Temple had stood for over 500 years (516 BC). It had been greatly expanded by
Herod the Great, beginning about 20 BC.
It was an architectural masterwork—built by a totally ungodly Jewish king—and a source of
pride and false security to many of the Jewish people—particularly the leaders (Also, see
Endnotes).
It was also adorned with “consecrated gifts”—valuable and beautiful, given unto God and to be
used exclusively for God’s service.
It was unimaginable to them that anything would ever happen to the Temple
v 6 – “As for these things that you see…”
The Temple was destroyed in AD 70 under the emperor Titus. And the stones were destroyed,
repurposed, and removed to be used in other Roman projects.
Jesus’ prophesy about the Temple was made around AD 30
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This event, and the Jewish slaughter and dispersion that accompanied it, is a watershed event in
Judaism to this day. (Beyond the scope of this study)
v 7 – “And they asked him, ‘Teacher, when will these things be…”
I believe that this verse is best understood as the beginning of a new paragraph—it is a related
passage, (as was the preceding passage regarding the widow), but this was not a time of
questioning directly related to the destruction of the Temple. There are a number of reasons
to read it this way:
• We have parallel passages in two other gospels (see Endnotes) that support this view.
This alone would really seem to be sufficient.
• Jesus’ answer does not say anything about the destruction of the temple (!).
• The far-reaching, diverse, and cataclysmic events that Jesus describes here and as he
continues can hardly be imagined to all be taking place within a period of 40 years.
(Note: Jesus’ answer does not conclude until v 37).
• His language about things coming to the “end” with judgment points to much more than
the destruction of the Temple, as significant as that was.
• Christians (except for the apostles) were driven from Jerusalem around AD 35 (shortly
after the stoning of Stephen). By the time that the Temple was destroyed in AD 70,
almost no Christians were left in Jerusalem.
• We now have 2000 years of history to see how Jesus’ prophetic words have continued to
be realized, although the end has not yet come.
• These are words to encourage us and instruct us for the ages—until our Lord comes
again.
v 8 – “See that you are not led astray …”
more lit. “saying I am”—and saying this in Jesus’ name
This has happened off and on (maybe continuously) since Jesus spoke the words
v 9 – “And when you should hear of wars and tumults…”
“tumults” – akatastasia, disorder, instability, …
“Do not be terrified”—God is still in control, Jesus is Lord and He is returning, but it is
necessary for these things to take place first—and “the end will not be at once”
v 10 –“Then he said to them…”
“nation” here is ethnos, meaning more “peoples” than nations, per se
kingdom against kingdom – this now referring more to what we call nations.
v 11 – “There will be great earthquakes …”
Natural disasters of all sorts. History is rife…
terrors – phobétron, unnamed terror, fright, fear… The only appearance of this word in the NT
“And great signs from heaven”—this does not say signs “in the heavens” but signs “from
heaven.” And these are not merely events from heaven, but signs. We don’t know what this is
exactly. Jesus may well be referring to what he mentions later in vv 25-26.
v 12 – “But before all these things…”
Christian persecution is described, which began in some earnest following the stoning of Stephen
As is began, it was indeed to the synagogues and prisons to which the Christians were taken—
extending at times to coming before kings and governors
All for the sake of Jesus’ name
And Christian persecution continues until this day.
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v 13 – “This will be your opportunity to bear witness…”
more lit. “and this shall result in testimony/witness for you .”
We may feel that this is a difficult teaching, but it is the teaching, and it has been proven to be
true.
This does give us some idea of the importance Jesus place—along with all of heaven—on our
witness being given to the world in his name.
v 14 “Settle it therefore …”
“minds”—the Gk word here is kardia, which (obviously) is almost always rendered “heart”
“Settle it therefore in your hearts…” – in your innermost being, let you heart be at peace
more lit. “not to premeditate to make a defense”
Don’t try to figure out beforehand what you are going to say
v 15 –“For I will give you a mouth and wisdom …”
What a mighty promise of Christ—one that only the living Christ could make (I will give…)
more lit. “for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all those opposing you will not be able
to stand against nor to reply to.”
v 16 –“But you will be delivered up even by parents …”
Jesus was fully preparing them—and his followers ever since
This has happened and continues to happen
It happened routinely in totalitarian countries (and still does)
It happens today regarding Christian conversions in countries dominated by other religions
The devil has always sought to corrupt and destroy human relationships that God has designed
v 17 – “You will be hated by all …”
If it happens, when it happens, just know that Jesus has told us
v 18 – “But not a hair of your head will perish.”
Jesus emphasizes this with a double negative
more lit. “But a hair of your head no not should perish”
This is a promise of tremendous importance and revelation!
How can Jesus say this?! When he has just said in v 16 that some will be put to death.
The context for all the promises of Jesus is eternity. Some may be fulfilled, or partially fulfilled
on our short time on this earth, but the true fulfillment comes in eternity.
The Gk. word translated “perish” is apollumi. It means to be destroyed, to be annihilated. It is the
same word used in John 3:16. And for those in Christ—not a single hair on their head will
perish, however they may be treated in this life!
v 19 – “By your endurance…”
Following up to all he has said
more lit. “In [en] your endurance,” or “with your endurance”
This is more of an “along with” meaning that “because of”
Endurance, perseverance is a major teaching of the NT.
Your will gain [not save—Christ has done that]—your lives [psuché, also souls; it is from the
word for breath.]
Your suffering will not “amount to nothing.” Far from it.
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ENDNOTES
Additional Features of “Herod’s Temple”
(Acknowledgment: For architectural facts about the Temple, I (gratefully!) was able to utilize Grok, an AI tool
created by xAI)
He expanded the temple mount to about 36 acres, utilizing massive retaining walls, including the Western Wall
(also known as the Wailing Wall), which still stands today. The platform was supported by enormous stone
blocks, some weighing up to 50 tons, with the largest (in the Western Wall) estimated at 570 tons. The stones
were cut with such precision that they fit together without mortar.
The temple itself was built with white limestone, giving it a dazzling appearance that reportedly gleamed like a
"snowy mountain" in the sunlight, according to the Jewish historian Josephus (Jewish War 5.5.6).
Gold and silver were used extensively for decoration. The façade of the sanctuary was covered with gold plates
that reflected the sun, making it visible from miles away.
The temple’s entrance featured a massive grapevine made of gold, with clusters as tall as a man, symbolizing
Israel’s prosperity (Josephus, Antiquities 15.11.3).
Parallel Passages to Luke 21:7-19
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he
answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will
not be thrown down.”
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what
will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.
5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and
rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the
beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all
nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false
prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the
whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what
wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon
another that will not be thrown down.”
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And
Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will
lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is
not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there
will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand
before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all
nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say
whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to
death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by
all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
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