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Luke 21 Notes
In this chapter Christ delivers the Olivet Discourse.
vs. 1-4 – This parallels Mark 12:41-44. In the Temple were trumpet-shaped boxes for worshippers to give voluntary offerings. Christ sees a widow putting in two mites. These are called leptons in Greek and are the Jewish coins called prutahs or half-prutahs. It would take somewhere around 32 or 48 leptons to purchase a loaf of bread. Christ comments not on the size of the offering, but on the size of the sacrifice in giving it. This poor woman gave everything she could, while many others gave large sums they would never miss.
vs. 5-7 – This parallels Matthew 24:1-3 and Mark 13:1-4. Christ prophesies that the Temple would be destroyed, which was fulfilled 40 years later when general (and future emperor) Titus razed the city. Christ’s remark prompts the disciples to ask about the End Times.
vs. 8-19 - This parallels Matthew 24:4-14 and Mark 13:5-13. These descriptions are of the terrible state of affairs for the Jews during the Tribulation. These horrible signs point to the imminent return of Christ to deliver the Jews and establish His earthly kingdom.
vs. 20-24 – This parallels Matthew 24:15-22 and Mark 13:14-20. Jerusalem is the epicenter of events in the Tribulation. When the Antichrist breaks his peace treaty at its midpoint, it is a sign that things will get even worse and things in Israel will turn violent.
vs. 25-28 - This parallels Matthew 24:23-31 and Mark 13:21-24. Christ’s return will not be secret. There will be signs and warnings, culminating in every eye beholding Him in His glory.
vs. 29-31 – This parallels Matthew 24:32-33 and Mark 13:28-29. The Parable of the Fig Tree encourages the Jews to watch the signs around them to know that the end is near.
vs. 32-33 – This parallels Matthew 24:34-35 and Mark 13:30-33. Israel will not be destroyed, nor will God’s prophecies fail. These events will happen.
vs. 34-36 - This parallels Matthew 24:42-51 and Mark 13:34-37.
vs. 37-38 – Christ spends the night on the Mount of Olives and returns to the Temple the next morning.
Luke 22 Notes
In this chapter Christ is arrested and tried.
vs. 1-6 – This parallels Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11, and John 12:2-8. The plot to kill Jesus comes together as Judas agrees to betray him.
vs. 7-13 – This parallels Matthew 26:17-19 and Mark 14:12-16. Disciples are sent into the city to prepare a place for them to stay that night and, seemingly, to observe the Passover the following day. The sign they are to look for is a man with a pitcher of water. This would be an unusual sight since this was typically the work of women.
vs. 14-18 – This parallels Matthew 26:20 and Mark 14:17. Christ and the Twelve gather for the Last Supper. Again, I do not think this is the Seder meal because the Passover lambs would be killed the next day in parallel with Christ’s crucifixion. It is highly probable that they ate the same types of food since that is what was being prepared.
vs. 19-20 – This parallels Matthew 26:26-29 and Mark 14:22-25. Christ institutes the Lord’s Supper.
vs. 21-23 – This parallels Matthew 26:21-25 and Mark 14:18-21. Judas’s betrayal is foretold.
vs. 24-30 – The disciples continued to squabble over which of them would be the greatest as they anticipated that the Kingdom would soon arrive. This is likely a precursor to Christ washing the disciples’ feet, as only recorded in John 13.
vs. 31-38 – This parallels Matthew 26:31-35, Mark 14:27-31, and John 13:36-38. Christ rebukes Peter and predicts his three denials. He speaks of the desperation of the hour. There are two swords among them, which Christ says are sufficient. It is good that they did not have more, or the night’s events would be quite different.
vs. 39-46 – This parallels Matthew 26:30-46, Mark 14:26-42, and John 18:1. It is around midnight that Christ and the disciples depart the city and arrive at the Mount of Olives. There they all engage in prayer. Christ Himself is in such agony that he is sweating blood (hematidrosis) and is strengthened by an angel. The disciples succumb to slumber, not understanding the severity of what is about to happen.
vs. 47-53 – This parallels Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, and John 18:2-12. Judas arrives with a mob and identifies Christ. One of the disciples (Peter according to John) draws his sword and attempts to defend Christ. He slices off the ear of a servant, which Christ heals as His last miracle.
vs. 54-62 – This parallels Matthew 26:57-58,69-75, Mark 14:53-54,66-72, and John 18:13-18, 25-27. Peter denies Christ just as He said he would. Luke adds the poignant detail that Christ and Peter see each other as the cock crows, signaling Peter’s third denial.
vs. 63-71 – This parallels Matthew 26:59-68, Mark 14:55-65, and John 18:19-24. Christ is tried before the Sanhedrin. They try to get Christ to confess that He was the Messiah, which they would not believe but wanted to use as a charge against Him. When He says that He is the Son of God, they charge Him with blasphemy, even though He was telling the truth.
Closing Thoughts
One of the most remarkable moments in Christ’s arrest and trials is only mentioned in passing by Luke. The other Gospels record Peter’s three denials, but only Luke adds the moment when Peter and Christ lock eyes across the courtyard. How ashamed Peter must have felt! Sometimes we forget that God is watching over us at all times. He sees not only what we do but what we are thinking. The eyes of the Lord are upon us. May we live in such a manner that we will not be ashamed of our actions.
Hymn for Today
“Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face” by Horatius Bonar, 1855
Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;
here would we touch and handle things unseen;
here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace
and all my weariness upon Thee lean.
Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
here drink with Thee the royal wine of heav'n;
here would I lay aside each earthly load,
here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv'n.
This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heav'nly table spread for me;
here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
the brief, bright hour of fellowship with Thee.
Too soon we rise, the symbols disappear;
the feast, though not the love, is past and done;
gone are the bread and wine, but Thou art here,
nearer than ever, still my Shield and Sun.
Feast after feast thus comes, and passes by;
yet passing, points to the glad feast above;
giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
the Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and love.