Luke 21:24-31

21:24 They ¹  will fall by the edge ²  of the sword and be led away as captives ³  among all nations. Jerusalem ⁴  will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ⁵ 

The Arrival of the Son of Man

21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, ⁶  and on the earth nations will be in distress, ⁷  anxious ⁸  over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 21:26 People will be fainting from fear ⁹  and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ¹⁰  21:27 Then ¹¹  they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud ¹²  with power and great glory. 21:28 But when these things ¹³  begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption ¹⁴  is drawing near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

21:29 Then ¹⁵  he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. ¹⁶  21:30 When they sprout leaves, you see ¹⁷  for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know ¹⁸  that the kingdom of God ¹⁹  is near.

[21:24]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:24]  ² tn Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).

[21:24]  ³ sn Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.

[21:24]  ⁴ tn Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:24]  ⁵ sn Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.

[21:25]  ⁶ sn Signs in the sun and moon and stars are cosmic signs that turn our attention to the end and the Son of Man’s return for the righteous. OT imagery is present: See Isa 13:9-10; 24:18-20; 34:4; Ezek 32:7-8; Joel 2:1, 30-31; 3:15.

[21:25]  ⁷ tn Grk “distress of nations.”

[21:25]  ⁸ tn Or “in consternation” (L&N 32.9).

[21:26]  ¹¹ tn According to L&N 23.184 this could be mainly a psychological experience rather than actual loss of consciousness. It could also refer to complete discouragement because of fear, leading people to give up hope (L&N 25.293).

[21:26]  ¹² sn An allusion to Isa 34:4. The heavens were seen as the abode of heavenly forces, so their shaking indicates distress in the spiritual realm. Although some take the powers as a reference to bodies in the heavens (like stars and planets, “the heavenly bodies,” NIV) this is not as likely.

[21:27]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “And then” (καὶ τότε, kai tote). Here καί has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[21:27]  ¹⁷ sn An allusion to Dan 7:13. Here is Jesus returning with full judging authority.

[21:28]  ²¹ sn These things are all the events of vv. 8-27. Disciples represent the righteous here. The events surrounding the fall of the nation are a down payment on a fuller judgment to come on all humanity. The presence of one guarantees the other.

[21:28]  ²² sn With Jesus’ return comes the manifestation of judgment and final salvation (redemption).

[21:29]  ²⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[21:29]  ²⁷ tn Grk “all the trees.”

[21:30]  ³¹ 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]  ³⁶ 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]  ³⁷ sn The kingdom of God refers here to the kingdom in all its power. See Luke 17:20-37.