Some of His disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”
Luke 21:5-7
- Luk 21:8 He replied,”Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.
- Luk 21:9 And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”
- Luk 21:10 Then He added,”Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
- Luk 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
- Luk 21:12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are My followers.
- Luk 21:13 But this will be your opportunity to tell them about Me.
- Luk 21:14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,
- Luk 21:15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!
- Luk 21:16 Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you.
- Luk 21:17 And everyone will hate you because you are My followers.
- Luk 21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish!
- Luk 21:19 By standing firm, you will win your souls.
- Luk 21:20 “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived.
- Luk 21:21 Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city.
- Luk 21:22 For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled.
- Luk 21:23 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people.
- Luk 21:24 They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.
- Luk 21:25 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.
- Luk 21:26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
- Luk 21:27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.
- Luk 21:28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
- Luk 21:29 Then He gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree.
- Luk 21:30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near.
- Luk 21:31 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.
- Luk 21:32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place.
- Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear.
- Luk 21:34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,
- Luk 21:35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.
- Luk 21:36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
- Luk 21:37 Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening He returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
- Luk 21:38 The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear Him.
During this last week I have been asked twice, how do I know where to divide the text of the Bible to create Gems? How do I know where the breaks should come and what part should go with which other parts? Good question. So in my typical way, I pass the question on to you. How would you divide the segments of this large section into its component parts — or its sense units? Which parts belong together and why?
But I am not going to stop there and just leave you with a task to do. I will take the first few verses and make comments related to those.
Some of His disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”
Luke 21:5-7
The Temple of Herod (heavily edited from E-Sword)
The building was commenced in 20-19 BC. Thetemple was finished in a year and a half, but it took 8 years to complete the courts and cloisters. The total erection occupied a much longer time (compareJoh_2:20, “Forty and six years,” etc.); indeed the work was not entirely completed till 64 AD —6 years before its destruction by the Romans. Built of white marble, covered with heavy plates of gold in front and rising high above its marble-cloistered courts. Josephus compared the temple to a snow-covered mountain that was a conspicuous and dazzling object from every side.
Temple Area – Court of Gentiles: Josephus states that the area of Herod’s temple was double that of its predecessor. The Mishna gives the area as 500 cubits (roughly 750 ft.); It is generally agreed that on its east, west and south sides, Herod’s area corresponded with the limits of the presentHaramarea but that it did not extend as far North as the latter. The shape was an irregular oblong, broader at the North than at the South. The whole areawas surrounded by a strong wall, with several gates, the number and position of some of which are still matters of dispute. The great court —known later as the “Court of the Gentiles,” because it wasopen to everyone —was adorned with splendid porticos or cloisters. The colonnade on the south side —known as the Royal Porch —was specially magnificent. It consisted of four rows of monolithic marble columns —162 in all —with Corinthian capitals, forming three aisles, of which the middle was broader and double the height of the other two. The roofing was of carved cedar. The north, west, and east sides had only double colonnades. On the east side was the “Solomon’s Porch” of the New Testament (Joh_10:23;Act_3:11;Act_5:19). There were also chambers for officials, and perhaps a place of meeting for the Sanhedrin.
Inner Courts: Court of Israel; Court of the Priests: In the upper or northerly part of this large area, on a much higher level, bounded likewise by a wall, was a second or inner enclosure —the “sanctuary” in the stricter sense —comprising the court of the women, the court of Israel and the priests’ court, with the temple itself. The surrounding wall, was 40 cubits high on the outside, and 25 on the inside—a difference of 15 cubits; its thickness was 5 cubits. Round the wall at least on three sides at a height of 12 or 14 steps, was an embankment or terrace, known as the fortification, 10 cubits broad, and enclosing the whole was a low balustrade or stone parapet to which were attached at intervals, tablets with notices in Greek and Latin, prohibiting entry to foreigners on pain of death.
From the women’s court, the ascent was made by 15 semicircular stepsto the inner court, comprising, at different levels, the court of Israel and the court of the priests. Here, again, at the entrance, was a lofty, richly ornamented gate, which some regard as the Gate of Nicanor or Beautiful Gate. The Mishna gives the total dimensions of the inner court as 187 cubits long (East to West) and 135 cubits wide.
Temple and Porch: Yet another flight of 12 steps, occupying most of the space between the porch of temple and the altar, led up to the platform on which stood the temple itself. This magnificent structure of blocks of white marble, richly ornamented with gold on front and sides, exceeded in dimensions and splendor all previous temples. The building with its platform rose to the height of 100 cubits (150 ft), and was 60 cubits (90 ft.) wide. It was fronted by a porch of like height, but with wings extending 20 cubits (30 ft.) on each side of the temple, making the total breadth of the vestibule 100 cubits (150 ft.) also. The depth of the porch was 10 or 11 cubits; probably at the wings 20 cubits. The entrance, without doors, was 70 cubits high and 25 cubits wide. Above it Herod placed a golden eagle, which the Jews afterward pulled down. The porch was adorned with gold.
Little wonder this held the disciples in wonder and awe, these country bumpkins from Galilee. This unit begins with the disciples who are taken in by the grandeur of the stonework of the temple and the decoration on the walls. But stop and ponder a moment with me. Is this a separate event from the woman giving her offering or did these things happen simultaneously? Do you catch what I am saying? Was there a short or long break between these incidents or did they happen together in time? While Jesus was observing the woman intently, were the disciples looking at the walls and decorations? Or even if the events were set apart in time, the disciples have been taken in by the grandeur and that is all they can talk about. Jesus noticed that which was within, they observe the outer trappings of power. Is that how it went down? I don’t know. I am just taking some time to right brain this segment.
With those few comments, I leave you to “rightly divide the text” and see what you make of it.
- Where would you make the breaks?
- Which verses naturally break into sequences of meaning or purpose?
I will tell you how I have divided it in the next Gem.
See you back here in the outer court tomorrow morning. Sorry, we can’t venture closer than that to the Holy of Holies because most of you Gemmers are Gentiles.
That which holds your attention, holds your heart.
Anon
Trust God’s word and His power more than you trust your own feelings and experiences.
Ribka Yusuf Wijaya
Never let your attention to the things around you be louder than your worship.
Ian Vail
The human race crave the experience of awe & wonder. And there is no reality more breathtaking than Jesus Christ.
John Piper