Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Luke Ch.21 / 24 Ch.s
LU:21
* Christ commends a poor widow. (1-4) His prophecy. (5-28)
Christ exhorts to watchfulness. (29-38)
#1-4 From the offering of this poor widow, learn that what we
rightly give for the relief of the poor, and the support of
God's worship, is given unto God; and our Saviour sees with
pleasure whatever we have in our hearts to give for the relief
of his members, or for his service. Blessed Lord! the poorest of
thy servants have two mites, they have a soul and a body;
persuade and enable us to offer both unto thee; how happy shall
we be in thine accepting of them!
#5-28 With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time
when the great desolation should be. He answers with clearness
and fulness, as far as was necessary to teach them their duty;
for all knowledge is desirable as far as it is in order to
practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most common in
gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also.
Christ tells them what hard things they should suffer for his
name's sake, and encourages them to bear up under their trials,
and to go on in their work, notwithstanding the opposition they
would meet with. God will stand by you, and own you, and assist
you. This was remarkably fulfilled after the pouring out of the
Spirit, by whom Christ gave his disciples wisdom and utterance.
Though we may be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot be
losers by him, in the end. It is our duty and interest at all
times, especially in perilous, trying times, to secure the
safety of our own souls. It is by Christian patience we keep
possession of our own souls, and keep out all those impressions
which would put us out of temper. We may view the prophecy
before us much as those Old Testament prophecies, which,
together with their great object, embrace, or glance at some
nearer object of importance to the church. Having given an idea
of the times for about thirty-eight years next to come, Christ
shows what all those things would end in, namely, the
destruction of Jerusalem, and the utter dispersion of the Jewish
nation; which would be a type and figure of Christ's second
coming. The scattered Jews around us preach the truth of
Christianity; and prove, that though heaven and earth shall pass
away, the words of Jesus shall not pass away. They also remind
us to pray for those times when neither the real, nor the
spiritual Jerusalem, shall any longer be trodden down by the
Gentiles, and when both Jews and Gentiles shall be turned to the
Lord. When Christ came to destroy the Jews, he came to redeem
the Christians that were persecuted and oppressed by them; and
then had the churches rest. When he comes to judge the world, he
will redeem all that are his from their troubles. So fully did
the Divine judgements come upon the Jews, that their city is set
as an example before us, to show that sins will not pass
unpunished; and that the terrors of the Lord, and his
threatenings against impenitent sinners, will all come to pass,
even as his word was true, and his wrath great upon Jerusalem.
#29-38 Christ tells his disciples to observe the signs of the
times, which they might judge by. He charges them to look upon
the ruin of the Jewish nation as near. Yet this race and family
of Abraham shall not be rooted out; it shall survive as a
nation, and be found as prophesied, when the Son of man shall be
revealed. He cautions them against being secure and sensual.
This command is given to all Christ's disciples, Take heed to
yourselves, that ye be not overpowered by temptations, nor
betrayed by your own corruptions. We cannot be safe, if we are
carnally secure. Our danger is, lest the day of death and of
judgment should come upon us when we are not prepared. Lest,
when we are called to meet our Lord, that be the furthest from
our thoughts, which ought to be nearest our hearts. For so it
will come upon the most of men, who dwell upon the earth, and
mind earthly things only, and have no converse with heaven. It
will be a terror and a destruction to them. Here see what should
be our aim, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those
things; that when the judgements of God are abroad, we may not
be in the common calamity, or it may not be that to us which it
is to others. Do you ask how you may be found worthy to stand
before Christ at that day? Those who never yet sought Christ,
let them now go unto him; those who never yet were humbled for
their sins, let them now begin; those who have already begun,
let them go forward and be kept humbled. Watch therefore, and
pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and make
the most of every opportunity to do good. Pray always: those
shall be accounted worthy to live a life of praise in the other
world, who live a life of prayer in this world. May we begin,
employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ's word,
obeying his precepts, and following his example, that whenever
he comes we may be found watching.