rwp@Luke:21:1 @{And he looked up} (\Anablepsas de\). He had taken his seat, after the debate was over and the Sanhedrin had slunk away in sheer defeat, "over against the treasury" (Mark:12:41|). The word for "treasury" (\gazophulakion\) is a compound of \gaza\ (Persian word for royal treasury) and \phulak\ guard or protection. It is common in the LXX, but in the N.T. only here and kjv@Mark:12:41,43; kjv@John:8:20|. Jesus was watching (Mark:12:41|) the rich put in their gifts as a slight diversion from the intense strain of the hours before.
rwp@Luke:21:2 @{Poor} (\penichran\). A rare word from \pens\ (\penomai\, to work for one's living). Latin _penuria_ and Greek \peina\, to be hungry are kin to it. Here only in the N.T. kjv@Mark:12:42| has \ptch\, a more common word from \ptss\, to be frightened, to strike and hide from fear, to be in beggary. And Luke uses this adjective also of her in verse 3|.
rwp@Luke:21:3 @{More than they all} (\pleion pantn\). Ablative case after the comparative \pleion\.
rwp@Luke:21:4 @{All these did cast} (\pantes houtoi ebalon\). Constative second aorist active indicative covering the whole crowd except the widow. {Living} (\bion\). Livelihood as in kjv@Mark:12:44|, not \zn\, principle of life.
rwp@Luke:21:5 @{As some spake} (\tinn legontn\). Genitive absolute. The disciples we know from kjv@Mark:13:1; kjv@Matthew:24:1|. {How} (\hoti\). Literally, "that." {It was adorned} (\kekosmtai\). Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, stands adorned, tense retained in indirect discourse, though English has to change it. \Kosme\, old and common verb for orderly arrangement and adorning. {With goodly stones and offerings} (\lithois kalois kai anathmasin\). Instrumental case. Some of these stones in the substructure were enormous. "The columns of the cloister or portico were monoliths of marble over forty feet high" (Plummer). Cf. Josephus, _War_, V.5. The word \anathma\ (here only in the N.T.) is not to be confused with \anathema\ from the same verb \anatithmi\, but which came to mean a curse (Galatians:1:8; kjv@Acts:23:14|). Songs:\anathema\ came to mean devoted in a bad sense, \anathma\ in a good sense. "Thus _knave_, lad, becomes a _rascal; villain_, a _farmer_, becomes a _scoundrel; cunning_, _skilful_, becomes _crafty_" (Vincent). These offerings in the temple were very numerous and costly (2Macc. 3:2-7) like the golden vine of Herod with branches as tall as a man (Josephus, _Ant_. XV. ii.3).
rwp@Luke:21:6 @{As for these things} (\tauta\). Accusative of general reference. {One stone upon another} (\lithos epi lithi\). Stone upon stone (locative). Here both kjv@Mark:13:2; kjv@Matthew:24:2| have \epi lithon\ (accusative). Instead of \ouk aphethsetai\ (future passive) they both have \ou m aphethi\ (double negative with aorist passive subjunctive). It was a shock to the disciples to hear this after the triumphal entry.
rwp@Luke:21:8 @{That ye be not led astray} (\m planthte\). First aorist passive subjunctive with \m\ (lest). This verb \plana\ occurs here only in Luke though often in the rest of the N.T. (as kjv@Matthew:24:4,5,11,24|, which see). Our word _planet_ is from this word. {The time is at hand} (\ho kairos ggiken\). Just as John the Baptist did of the kingdom (Matthew:3:2|) and Jesus also (Mark:1:15|). {Go ye not after them} (\m poreuthte opis autn\). First aorist passive subjunctive with \m\. A needed warning today with all the false cries in the religious world.
rwp@Luke:21:9 @{Be not terrified} (\m ptothte\). First aorist passive subjunctive with \m\ from \ptoe\ an old verb to terrify, from \ptoa\, terror. In the N.T. only here and kjv@Luke:24:37|. {First} (\Prton\). It is so easy to forget this and to insist that the end is "immediately" in spite of Christ's explicit denial here. See kjv@Matthew:24:4-42; kjv@Mark:13:1-37| for discussion of details for kjv@Luke:21:8-36|, the great eschatological discourse of Jesus
rwp@Luke:21:11 @{Famines and pestilences} (\loimoi kai limoi\). Play on the two words pronounced just alike in the _Koin_ (itacism). {And terrors} (\phobthra te\). The use of \te ... te\ in this verse groups the two kinds of woes. This rare word \phobthra\ is only here in the N.T. It is from \phobe\, to frighten, and occurs only in the plural as here.
rwp@Luke:21:12 @{But before all these things} (\pro de toutn pantn\). In kjv@Mark:13:8; kjv@Matthew:24:8| these things are termed "the beginning of travail." That may be the idea here. Plummer insists that priority of time is the point, not magnitude. {Bringing you} (\apagomenous\). Present passive participle from \apag\, an old verb to lead off or away. But here the participle is in the accusative plural, not the nominative like \paradidontes\ (present active participle, delivering you up), agreeing with \humas\ not expressed the object of \paradidontes\, "you being brought before or led off." "A technical term in Athenian legal language" (Bruce).
rwp@Luke:21:13 @{It shall turn unto you} (\apobsetai humin\). Future middle of \apobain\. It will come off, turn out for you (dative of advantage). {For a testimony} (\eis marturion\). To their loyalty to Christ. Besides, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."
rwp@Luke:21:14 @{Not to meditate beforehand} (\m promeletin\). The classical word for conning a speech beforehand. kjv@Mark:13:11| has \promerimna\, a later word which shows previous anxiety rather than previous preparation. {How to answer} (\apologthnai\). First aorist passive infinitive. It is the preparation for the speech of defence (apology) that Jesus here forbids, not the preparation of a sermon.
rwp@Luke:21:15 @{Your adversaries} (\hoi antikeimenoi humin\). Those who stand against, line up face to face with (note \anti-\). {To withstand or to gainsay} (\antistnai anteipein\). Two second aorist active infinitives with \anti-\ in composition again. But these "antis" will go down before the power of Christ.
rwp@Luke:21:16 @{Shall they cause to be put to death} (\thanatsousin\). Future active of \thanato\, to put to death or to make to die (causative). Either makes sense here. Old and common verb.
rwp@Luke:21:17 @{Not a hair of your head shall perish} (\thrix ek ts kephals humn ou m apoltai\). Only in Luke. Second aorist middle subjunctive of \apollumi\ with \ou m\ (double negative). Jesus has just said that some they will put to death. Hence it is spiritual safety here promised such as Paul claimed about death in kjv@Phillipians:1:21|.
rwp@Luke:21:19 @{Ye shall win} (\ktsesthe\). Future middle of \ktaomai\, to acquire. They will win their souls even if death does come.
rwp@Luke:21:20 @{Compassed with armies} (\kukloumenn hupo stratopedn\). Present passive participle of \kuklo\, to circle, encircle, from \kuklos\, circle. Old verb, but only four times in N.T. The point of this warning is the present tense, being encircled. It will be too late after the city is surrounded. It is objected by some that Jesus, not to say Luke, could not have spoken (or written) these words before the Roman armies came. One may ask why not, if such a thing as predictive prophecy can exist and especially in the case of the Lord Jesus. The word \stratopedn\ (\stratos\, army, \pedon\, plain) is a military camp and then an army in camp. Old word, but only here in the N.T. {Then know} (\tote gnte\). Second aorist active imperative of \ginsk\. Christians did flee from Jerusalem to Pella before it was too late as directed in kjv@Luke:21:21; kjv@Mark:13:14f.; kjv@Matthew:24:16f|.
rwp@Luke:21:22 @{That may be fulfilled} (\tou plsthnai\). Articular infinitive passive to express purpose with accusative of general reference. The O.T. has many such warnings (Hosea:9:7; kjv@Deuteronomy:28:49-57|, etc.).
rwp@Luke:21:24 @{Edge of the sword} (\stomati machairs\). Instrumental case of \stomati\ which means "mouth" literally (Genesis:34:26|). This verse like the close of verse 22| is only in Luke. Josephus (_War_, VI. 9.3) states that 1,100,000 Jews perished in the destruction of Jerusalem and 97,000 were taken captive. Surely this is an exaggeration and yet the number must have been large. {Shall be led captive} (\aichmaltisthsontai\). Future passive of \aichmaltiz\ from \aichm\, spear and \haltos\ (\haliskomai\). Here alone in the literal sense in the N.T. {Shall be trodden under foot} (\estai patoumen\). Future passive periphrastic of \pate\, to tread, old verb. {Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled} (\achri hou plrthsin kairoi ethnn\). First aorist passive subjunctive with \achri hou\ like \hes hou\. What this means is not clear except that Paul in kjv@Romans:11:25| shows that the punishment of the Jews has a limit. The same idiom appears there also with \achri hou\ and the aorist subjunctive.
rwp@Luke:21:25 @{Distress} (\sunoch\). From \sunech\. In the N.T. only here and kjv@2Corinthians:2:4|. Anguish. {In perplexity} (\en aporii\). State of one who is \aporos\, who has lost his way (\a\ privative and \poros\). Here only in the N.T. though an old and common word. {For the roaring of the sea} (\chous thalasss\). Our word echo (Latin _echo_) is this word \chos\, a reverberating sound. Sense of rumour in kjv@Luke:4:37|. {Billows} (\salou\). Old word \salos\ for the swell of the sea. Here only in the N.T.
rwp@Luke:21:26 @{Men fainting} (\apopsuchontn anthrpn\). Genitive absolute of \apopsuch\, to expire, to breathe off or out. Old word. Here only in N.T. {Expectation} (\prosdokias\). Old word from \prosdoka\, to look for or towards. In the N.T. only here and kjv@Acts:12:11|. {The world} (\ti oikoumeni\). Dative case, "the inhabited" (earth, \gi\).
rwp@Luke:21:27 @{And then shall they see} (\kai tote opsontai\). As much as to say that it will be not till then. Clearly the promise of the second coming of the Son of man in glory here (Mark:13:26f.; kjv@Matthew:24:30f.|) is pictured as not one certain of immediate realization. The time element is left purposely vague.
rwp@Luke:21:28 @{Look up} (\anakupsate\). First aorist active imperative of \anakupt\, to raise up. Here of the soul as in kjv@John:8:7,10|, but in kjv@Luke:13:11| of the body. These the only N.T. examples of this common verb. {Redemption} (\apolutrsis\). Act of redeeming from \apolutro\. The final act at the second coming of Christ, a glorious hope.
rwp@Luke:21:29 @{The fig tree, and all the trees} (\tn sukn kai panta ta dendra\). This parable of the fig-tree (Mark:13:28-32; kjv@Matthew:24:32-35|) Luke applies to "all the trees." It is true about all of them, but the fig tree was very common in Palestine.
rwp@Luke:21:30 @{Shoot forth} (\probalsin\). Second aorist active subjunctive of \proball\, common verb, but in the N.T. only here and kjv@Acts:19:33|. {Summer} (\theros\). Not harvest, but summer. Old word, but in the N.T. only here (Mark:13:28; kjv@Matthew:24:32|).
rwp@Luke:21:31 @{Coming to pass} (\ginomena\). Present middle participle of \ginomai\ and so descriptive of the process. {Nigh} (\eggus\). The consummation of the kingdom is here meant, not the beginning.
rwp@Luke:21:32 @{This generation} (\h genea haut\). Naturally people then living. {Shall not pass away} (\ou m parelthi\). Second aorist active subjunctive of \parerchomai\. Strongest possible negative with \ou m\. {Till all things be accomplished} (\hes an panta gentai\). Second aorist middle subjunctive of \ginomai\ with \hes\, common idiom. The words give a great deal of trouble to critics. Some apply them to the whole discourse including the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, the second coming and the end of the world. Some of these argue that Jesus was simply mistaken in his eschatology, some that he has not been properly reported in the Gospels. Others apply them only to the destruction of Jerusalem which did take place in A.D. 70 before that generation passed away. It must be said for this view that it is not easy in this great eschatological discourse to tell clearly when Jesus is discussing the destruction of Jerusalem and when the second coming. Plummer offers this solution: "The reference, therefore, is to the destruction of Jerusalem regarded as the type of the end of the world."
rwp@Luke:21:33 @{My words shall not pass away} (\hoi logoi mou ou m pareleusontai\). Future middle indicative with \ou m\, a bit stronger statement than the subjunctive. It is noteworthy that Jesus utters these words just after the difficult prediction in verse 32|.
rwp@Luke:21:34 @{Lest haply your hearts be overcharged} (\m pote barthsin hai kardiai humn\). First aorist passive subjunctive of \bare\, an old verb to weigh down, depress, with \m pote\. {With surfeiting} (\en krepali\). A rather late word, common in medical writers for the nausea that follows a debauch. Latin _crapula_, the giddiness caused by too much wine. Here only in the N.T. {Drunkenness} (\methi\). From \methu\ (wine). Old word but in the N.T. only here and kjv@Romans:13:13; kjv@Galatians:5:21|. {Cares of this life} (\merimnais bitikais\). Anxieties of life. The adjective \bitikos\ is late and in the N.T. only here and kjv@1Corinthians:6:3f|. {Come on you} (\episti\). Second aorist active subjunctive of \ephistmi\, ingressive aorist. Construed also with \m pote\. {Suddenly} (\ephnidios\). Adjective in predicate agreeing with \hmera\ (day). {As a snare} (\hs pagis\). Old word from \pgnumi\, to make fast a net or trap. Paul uses it several times of the devil's snares for preachers (1Timothy:3:7; kjv@2Timothy:2:26|).
rwp@Luke:21:36 @{But watch ye} (\agrupneite de\). \Agrupne\ is a late verb to be sleepless (\a\ privative and \hupnos\, sleep). Keep awake and be ready is the pith of Christ's warning. {That ye may prevail to escape} (\hina katischuste ekphugein\). First aorist active subjunctive with \hina\ of purpose. The verb \katischu\ means to have strength against (cf. kjv@Matthew:16:18|). Common in later writers. \Ekphugein\ is second aorist active infinitive, to escape out. {To stand before the Son of man} (\stathnai emprosthen tou huiou tou anthrpou\). That is the goal. There will be no dread of the Son then if one is ready. \Stathnai\ is first aorist passive infinitive of \histmi\.
rwp@Luke:21:37 @{Every day} (\tas hmeras\). During the days, accusative of extent of time. {Every night} (\tas nuktas\). "During the nights," accusative of extent of time. {Lodged} (\ulizeto\). Imperfect middle, was lodging, \aulizomai\ from \aul\ (court).
rwp@Luke:21:38 @{Came early} (\rthrizen\). Imperfect active of \orthriz\ from \orthros\, late form for \orthreu\, to rise early. Only here in the N.T.