Lucas 21
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 21
Vernon McGee says Herod's Temple and "Its magnificence would soon be gone. It would soon lie in rubble, not one stone left upon another. And, friend, that is the way you and I should see the wealth of this world. It won’t be here long; it will soon pass away." Questioned (1905)(eperotao from epí = an intensifier + erōtáō = to ask, inquire of, beg of) means to put a question to someone, and was even used in a legal setting meaning to interrogate. Teacher (1320)(didaskalos from didasko = teach to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught <> cp didaskalía) is one who provides instruction or systematically imparts truth. Didaskalos was used frequently in the Gospels in addressing Jesus and corresponds with the title of "Rabbi" (not used by Luke) - Mt 8:19; 12:38; 19:16; 22:16, 24, 36; Mk 4:38; 9:17, 38; 10:17, 20, 35; 12:14, 19, 32; 13:1; Lk 3:12; 7:40; 9:38; 10:25; 11:45; 12:13; 18:18; 19:39; 20:21, 28, 39; 21:7; John 8:4; THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE When therefore will these things happen - The Synoptic accounts are similar except that Matthew's version (Mt 24:3) has two additional questions "Tell us, when will these things happen, and (2) what will be the sign of Your coming, and (3) of the end of the age?” What are "these things?" Notice that in Luke 21:6 Jesus had just used the phrase "these things which you are looking at" which in context clearly refers to the Temple. So the question in Luke is focused on the disciples' concern of when the Temple would be destroyed. They did not question Jesus' prophecy that the Temple would be destroyed, but wanted to know when this would happen. What will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" - The disciples are not asking for a sign because they wanted to have a warning of when the disaster would occur. Luke (Lk 21:7) and Mark (Mk 13:4) are almost identical and want to know the "when." (Luke's version does add a "what" question.) As noted above Matthew includes another question (one question or two questions) about signs of the end of this age -- "what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” So if we include Matthew's questions, the disciples asked Jesus three questions. Remember that the disciples still had it fixed in their mind that all three events (alluded to in questions #1-3) would occur at the same time, but Jesus clarified the eschatological views which they as well most first century Jews held (see Schurer's summary of their beliefs regarding the coming of the Messiah - the Jews viewed the Messiah as "coming" but did not see him as "returning"). Comparing the synoptic gospels, we have three questions... 1. When will the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple occur? 2. What is the sign of His Coming? (Mt 24:3 - "Coming" is parousia which can also mean "being present" or "presence." At this point of course Jesus had not died or departed, so they are probably using parousia to speak of His presence for they were still expecting Him to bring in the Kingdom of God (a belief which seems to persist even after His death, burial and resurrection, as implied by their question in Acts 1:6-note). 3. What is the sign for the end of the age? (Mt 24:3-note) As stated above some writers lump #2 and #3 under one question having two parts. Regarding Matthew's phrase "the end of the age" it is worth noting that the Jews in Jesus' day recognized two ages, the age they were in, and the age to come or the Messianic Age (Wikipedia). J Vernon McGee notes that in "Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels the emphasis is put upon the last two questions."
Lucas 21
Vernon McGee - Wars and rumors of wars are not the sign that we are at the end of the age, by any means. The Lord is bridging the gap from where the disciples are to the end of the age. It is easy to think of major wars as indicative of the fact that we are at the end of the age. They are not! There have been many major wars in the past few thousand years and only about two hundred years of peace. When I was a little boy at the end of World War I, I remember hearing my dad and others talking about the books being printed declaring it was the end of the world. World War I caused this type of thinking. But after the war, we had a worldwide depression, World War II, and the atom bomb. By this time, I was a pastor in Pasadena, and I told my congregation that a wheelbarrow load of books would come out saying that we were at the end of the world because of World War II. You know something? I was wrong! Two wheelbarrow loads of books were printed, and they were sensational. We have come a long way from World War II, and the end of the age still has not come. We should listen to the Lord and stop listening to false teachers. We will hear about wars and rumors of wars, but we should not be troubled because all these things will come to pass, and still it will not be the end of the age. Friend, we should also keep in mind that man will never solve the problem of war. The League of Nations could not solve this problem, and the United Nations will not be able to solve it either. There will be no peace until the Prince of Peace comes. (Ibid) Steven
Lucas 21
Vernon McGee - How are you going to be worthy? The only thing that will make me worthy is my position in Christ. Therefore, I have trusted Him as my Savior, and I have committed my way to Him, so that if I am alive at the time of the Rapture, I’ll be going to meet Him in the air by the grace of God. Accounted worthy (2661)(kataxioo from kata = intensifies + axioo [from axios] = to think worthy) means to count worthy of something. To be thought of as deserving. All the NT uses are in the passive voice ("to be counted worthy"). This is not speaking of one who is worthy because of something they have done to merit God accounting them as worthy, but they are accounted worthy because of the gift of God's unmerited favor! There is none worthy, no not one, EXCEPT for the Lamb Who Alone is worthy (Rev 5:12+) and with Whom every believer is in Covenant by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9+). Kataxioo - 4x in 4v - Lk. 20:35; Lk. 21:36; Acts 5:41; 2 Th 1:5 Luke 20:35-note but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; Acts 5:41 (CONTEXT Acts 5:40 - AFTER THE DISCIPLES WERE BEATEN FOR THEIR TESTIMONY OF JESUS! TALK ABOUT HOLY SPIRIT POWER!) So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. Steve Lewis explains considered worthy in 2 Th 1:5 - The Thessalonian believers are considered worthy of the kingdom of God because they have kept their faith in Christ, even when faced with severe opposition. The verb considered worthy (kataxioo) does not mean to make one worthy, but to declare one is worthy. This verb is an aorist passive infinitive = "to have been declared worthy at a specific point in time." It is unfortunate that many English Bibles have translated this as if it were a future tense (NASB, HCSB, NIV are examples). They have already been declared worthy, but in a future sense at the time the millennial kingdom begins they certainly "will be" shown to have been worthy. Their worthiness to participate in the kingdom of God was established well before persecution came upon them -- it was established when they placed their faith and trust in what Christ did on their behalf by dying on the cross. There is no human effort involved in meriting the kingdom of God. These believers had outwardly confirmed the inward truth (BY THEIR SPIRIT ENABLED RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION) that they indeed are Church-age saints who will eventually rule with Christ during His 1000-year kingdom on earth (see 1 Th 2:12+ and 2 Ti 2:12+ = "if we endure, we will reign with Him" - we are enabled to endure ONLY because He gives us the supernatural power to endure, to do what we could never do in our natural strength!). Their response to life's trials definitely confirmed that they already had a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase for which does not mean "in order to gain the kingdom" but "in the name or interest of the kingdom" -- their suffering was not in order to gain more merit before God. Their suffering was because they had already been declared worthy of the kingdom. You are persecuted because you are a Christian. (cf, Php 1:29+, 2 Ti 3:12+) (Reference) And to stand before the Son of Man - Meditate on these words for a moment. One day, dear follower of Christ, you and I will be face to face with the Lover of our souls! You might even want to close your eyes and listen to Mercy Me's great song I Can Only Imagine. The apostle John speaks to this future "crisis" time giving us a warning Now, little children, abide in Him (present imperative - the only way to daily abide in Jesus is to rely on the enabling power of His Spirit), so that (PURPOSE - WHAT PURPOSE? WHAT WE SHOULD BE ABIDING) when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. (1 John 2:28+) As Warren