1. A Plain Statement for the Disciple’s Generation
Verse that has Concerned Many
- v32 – “What does Jesus mean? How can this be?”
Various Attempts at a Solution
- “All past? All future? Both? Changing gears?”
What Jesus means by “All these things” and “This Generation”
- (c.f. Matthew 24:34 & Mark 13:30)
- “All these things” encompasses all He has said thus far in answer to the disciple’s question (v7; c.f. Mt 23:26, 24:2).
- “Generation” does not mean “race” (see Jesus’ own usage of the word in Mt 11:16, 12:38-45, Lk 11:50-51, 17:25 etc).
- “This generation” means the generation that was alive when Jesus spoke these words.
2. A Prophetic Picture of Wrath
Verses 25-27 are part of a consistent Biblical pattern, of vivid prophecy, concerning local acts of Judgement on cities/nations; not global catastrophes.
Three Quick Reminders
- Context (v32), question (v7), close of an age (Mt 24:3)
Enter the Language of the Old Testament
- The prophets warned of localized judgement in graphic, apocalyptic language (Isaiah 13:8-13 / Ezek 32:6-8 / Nahum 1:1-5 / Is 19:1 / Ps 97:2-5 / Isaiah 34:4-5).
- Jesus (as the greatest Prophet) continues this pattern, speaking to His Jewish audience of Israel’s judgement. (c.f. Mt 26:63-65)
- Peter (inspired by the Spirit) explains Joel 2 in Acts 2:14-21 – the outpouring of the Spirit would coincide with fearful judgements described in apocalyptic terms.
Look again at Luke 21:25-27.
- The disciples would have immediately understood these words as apocalyptic imagery, and remembered the context of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, and Joel – God’s wrath on His enemies.
- His enemy, this time, is not Babylon, Egypt, Assyria or Edom. His enemy is Israel, because they missed the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44).
- (see also Mt 10:23 & Mt 16:28)
- He is saying in effect: “When Jerusalem is surrounded, the Son of Man is near. I am coming as I did to the other nations; in apocalyptic wrath to make an end of Israel and it’s privileges and it’s glory and it’s temple.”
3. Conclusion – Some points of ‘tertiary’ application for our context
I. The Text is Inspired; the preachers, commentaries, articles, blogs, inserted bible-headings & chapter divisions are not.
II. Do not be discouraged if you found this section to be difficult; questions always arise before convictions.
III. Do not be alarmed when genuine believers differ in their conclusions about these sorts of matters.
IV. “Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” (Kempis)
V. With what spirit brother? How will you leave today?
VI. When studying the anatomy of the text, don’t lose sight of it’s soul.