Luke 21:20-21

The Desolation of Jerusalem

21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem ¹  surrounded ²  by armies, then know that its ³  desolation ⁴  has come near. 21:21 Then those who are in Judea must flee ⁵  to the mountains. Those ⁶  who are inside the city must depart. Those ⁷  who are out in the country must not enter it,

Luke 21:29-33

The Parable of the Fig Tree

21:29 Then ⁸  he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. ⁹  21:30 When they sprout leaves, you see ¹⁰  for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know ¹¹  that the kingdom of God ¹²  is near. 21:32 I tell you the truth, ¹³  this generation ¹⁴  will not pass away until all these things take place. 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ¹⁵ 

[21:20]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[21:20]  ² sn See Luke 19:41-44. This passage refers to the events associated with the fall of Jerusalem, when the city is surrounded by armies.

[21:20]  ³ tn Grk “her,” referring to the city of Jerusalem (the name “Jerusalem” in Greek is a feminine noun).

[21:20]  ⁴ sn The phrase its desolation is a reference to the fall of the city, which is the only antecedent present in Luke’s account. The parallels to this in Matt 24:15 and Mark 13:14 refer to the temple’s desolation, though Matthew’s allusion is clearer. They focus on the parallel events of the end, not on the short term realization in a.d. 70. The entire passage has a prophetic “two events in one” typology, where the near term destruction (a.d. 70) is like the end. So the evangelists could choose to focus on the near time realization (Luke) or on its long term fulfillment, which mirrors it (Matthew, Mark).

[21:21]  ⁵ sn Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.

[21:21]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:21]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:29]  ⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[21:29]  ⁹ tn Grk “all the trees.”

[21:30]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “seeing for yourselves, you know.” The participle βλέποντες (bleponte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[21:31]  ¹¹ tn The verb γινώσκετε (ginwskete, “know”) can be parsed as either present indicative or present imperative. In this context the imperative fits better, since the movement is from analogy (trees and seasons) to the future (the signs of the coming of the kingdom) and since the emphasis is on preparation for this event.

[21:31]  ¹² sn The kingdom of God refers here to the kingdom in all its power. See Luke 17:20-37.

[21:32]  ¹³ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[21:32]  ¹⁴ sn This is one of the hardest verses in the gospels to interpret. Various views exist for what generation means. (1) Some take it as meaning “race” and thus as an assurance that the Jewish race (nation) will not pass away. But it is very questionable that the Greek term γενεά (genea) can have this meaning. Two other options are possible. (2) Generation might mean “this type of generation” and refer to the generation of wicked humanity. Then the point is that humanity will not perish, because God will redeem it. Or (3) generation may refer to “the generation that sees the signs of the end” (vv. 25-26), who will also see the end itself. In other words, once the movement to the return of Christ starts, all the events connected with it happen very quickly, in rapid succession.

[21:33]  ¹⁵ sn The words that Jesus predicts here will never pass away. They are more stable and lasting than creation itself. For this kind of image, see Isa 40:8; 55:10-11.