Luke 21

Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luk 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Jesus was showing here that the woman had very little but gave all she had. She actually gave more in the eyes of God than those that gave much but it was only a portion of what they had.

I think Jesus was trying to get us to see that what we see people do publicly man mean little to God. People who give large sums of money for show may not be giving as much as one who sacrificially gives. The poor widow gave all. This is not an excuse to devour widows houses and entice them to give all they have. True biblical giving is giving from our hearts. We are never to be pressured to give by guilt trips, threats of hell or any other tactics. I'm for just announcing that it is time to take up the offering, maybe explaining what the offering is for and let it go at that. I remember days when we would have to listen to half hour long offering speeches. The reason it bothered me so much is that it was a waste of time. I for one have my check already made out before coming to church. I usually don't take my checkbook with me but only the check I already wrote out. I already love to give and want to give.  I don't need to hear speeches about giving.  If I have to be persuaded through begging, guilt trips and fear of losing my material possessions if I don't give, then whatever I do give would be for nothing anyway. 

All offerings should be given just as if we are giving to God. If we feel that our offerings are not going to something God would be pleased with, it would be better to find a different place to give. It should be a joy to give and not a chore. An extra check to missions should delight our hearts to be part of spreading the gospel to other places. God sees our motives.

Luk 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
Luk 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

We look so much on outward appearances and marvel at beauty but God sees the real beauty. The outward temple was going to be destroyed. The real temple is in our hearts when we genuinely receive Jesus Christ into our lives. One day the temple will be rebuilt but we don't have to wait to be a temple of the Holy Spirit right now.

Luk 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

This time is here now and it will increase. Look not to man or woman. Let no person deceive into making us think they are the Christ or some great prophet of God that we should listen to over and above the written word we already have. There are true prophets but they will glorify only Jesus Christ and God the Father. They will not accept glory for themselves. A true prophet's motive will be to tell the truth, to bring people to Christ and warn people of sin. It will never be to draw followers after himself.

Some may even use Christ's name but if they abide not in the doctrine of Jesus Christ, go not after them. We have the bible to judge whether or not someone is of the truth. They even may speak the truth but their lives be full of sin. They may either lack compassion or pretend compassion while leading astray. God gave us the bible to keep us from being deceived. So many are deceived because they do not study the bible for themselves but trust their priest, pastors or teachers to study it for them. That may be fine if you happen to have one that is of the truth and follows God completely but if it were me, I wouldn't take that chance.

Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

All these things are taking place even now.

Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Many are already being killed and persecuted for the cause of the gospel. I could name nations and even name names at this time. Just last night I read that an Assembly of God pastor may face execution because he converted from Islam. That is cause for the death penalty in some countries. Many nations arrest and jail people for preaching the gospel. In Sweden a pastor was arrested for warning against homosexuality. In Philadelphia a group of young men were arrested for preaching against that same thing. In the beloved United States some would like to make preaching against sin, a hate crime.

However, here in the US, it is nothing compared to the places where people are persecuted, killed and put in prison for the only crime of preaching Jesus Christ. They try to save the lost, tell of eternal life, free people from sin and they are killed and persecuted. If we lie and go around making people feel good about themselves and tell them they are okay just the way they are and God loves them, then we are accepted. If we tell the truth that Jesus came to save us from sin so that we can inherit eternal life, then we are hated. People just do not want to repent of sin. They want to live anyway they want to live and still believe they can go to heaven, if they happen to believe in a place called heaven.

Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

We should not have to worry about what to say to those that oppose the gospel. If we are walking in Jesus Christ, we will be given the words to say.

Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

It is true that people who oppose the truth of the gospel will deceive themselves into thinking that God is on their side and that God wants them to kill. Some believe that when they kill a true believer in Jesus Christ, that they do God a favor. Some believe that when they kill a Jew, that God is pleased with them. This is not so.
God wants to save not kill. God wants to give eternal life not eternal death. Jesus came to save, heal and give us life. The devil is the one that wants us to kill one another and hate one another. If you hate a Moslem, a Jew, a Christian, an atheist or anyone else, you are not a child of God. Hate is a product of the wicked one. We are to hate sin, yes but not the individual who sins. We hate alcohol not the alcoholic. Let us walk in compassion and desire to save as many as possible. Let hatred, envy, spite, jealousy and fighting depart and receive into our souls, love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, and compassion.

Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

They may kill the body but then, hallelujah there is nothing the enemy can do. Only God has power over our souls.

Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

This is going to come to pass maybe sooner than we think.

Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Jesus is returning when these things come to pass. He will bring vengeance upon those that persecuted His people. We are not to be among those that do the persecuting or killing. God will bring the vengeance. We are to preach the gospel until that time comes when Jesus returns. Until that day we are to continue in the faith and not give in to hate. He is coming, He is coming and our redemption draws nigh.

Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

All these prophecies shall come to pass in one generation.

Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

This can happen to us as Christians also. I do not believe in once saved always saved. Let us not forget the Lord is coming and begin to lose our compassion and live so wrapped up in this life only that we forget the things of God.
Remember the parable of the seed. The seed feel by the way side, among thorns, upon rocks and on good ground. Let us receive the word of God on good ground. Let is bring forth fruit unto life eternal.

Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Jesus does not speak in vain. If there wasn't a chance to escape all these things and stand before Him, then He wouldn't have said these things. Watch and pray always that we may escape the time when these things will come to pass. Some believe the true believers will be raptured before the great tribulation and escape the coming wrath of God.

Luk 21:37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
Luk 21:38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

Are we coming to hear Jesus and what He has to say to us today?