Chapter 21
Looking back on my life, I must say—there have been many happy moments. Joyful times in childhood, laughter in my youth, exciting seasons as a young adult, and sweet memories even as I grow older. Especially after I gave my life to Christ, it became easy to see God’s hand in my blessings. It felt natural to thank Him and give Him glory.
But life hasn’t always been easy. There have been dark seasons too.
Even now, as I write this, I’m walking through one of those difficult times. My older brother, for whom I am the guardian, is in the hospital. He’s suffering from psychosis and is nearly in a catatonic state. My stepson is bedridden at home from an infected spider bite. He’s already had five skin grafts, with more ahead, and a long road to recovery still in front of him.
My wife and I are doing our best to hold our family together. But it’s hard when bad news seems to come with every phone call. On top of that, we’re supporting three households—right after I changed jobs and took a 30% pay cut.
Have you ever had times like that? When it feels like everything that could go wrong… does? It’s so tempting in those moments to throw up your hands and say, “I give up.” Praising God feels distant. Cheerfulness seems impossible. You’re just trying to make it through another day.
Luke 21 speaks into these moments. At first glance, it’s hard to see how the story of the widow’s offering connects with the talk of end times in the same chapter. But if you look closer, there’s a powerful message there.
Jesus is describing days like ours—days of struggle, uncertainty, and hardship. He reminds us that tough times will come from all sides. What matters is how we respond, and where we place our faith when things fall apart. This chapter isn’t just about giving God lip service. It invites us to decide—now—what we’re going to trust in when the storms of life hit.
In verse 1, we see the rich giving out of their abundance. That’s easy to do when life is good. But what about when things aren’t? Can we still give—our hearts, our trust, our devotion—to God with the same joy?
That’s the deeper challenge. This isn’t about money. It’s about offering our full hearts to God, even when we’re stretched thin. If we can learn to press through in the hard times now, we’ll be better prepared when even greater trials come. In those moments, instead of falling away, we’ll know how to press in to our Father and find joy again.
So maybe the smaller struggles in life are like training grounds—helping to shape our faith for the harder days ahead. We’re not promised an easy life or the “American Dream” every day. But we are promised that our Father will never leave us. Through every season, He is the one constant we can count on. This chapter teaches us not to focus on the moment, but to focus on the Promise.
The Widow’s Offering
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” [Another mention of the doom to come on the temple 40 years later.]
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” [Remember who asked the question: a Jewish disciple. And to whom Jesus answered.] 8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation [Greek: ethnos, where we get the word ethnic, meaning people groups, cultures, races.] will rise against nation, and kingdom [Greek: Basileia, meaning authority, or rulers, geographically or spiritually] against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. [Jesus is still talking about and to the Jewish followers. Yes, some would experience this treatment then, but prophetically he was also speaking of the 144,000 that would be redeemed during the Tribulation. The Church is not here during this future time, having been raptured, or “taken up”.]
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation [The Jewish generation, or people. Though many have tried to wipe them out over thousands of years, still the promise is they will remain until the promise is fulfilled – the second coming of Jesus.] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
