So the last few verses of this chapter in which Jesus has been predicting the fall of Jerusalem contain further warning, beginning in verse 34:

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Titus Destroying Jerusalem by Wilhelm von Kaulbach (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It will be more than 30 years after this warning that judgment will come upon Jerusalem, and there will be plenty of time for His followers to become complacent, even sinful, and wrapped up in the cares of this life. But if they are not careful and vigilant, they will fall victim to the devastation. Many of Jesus’ disciples escaped the judgment on Jerusalem that came in 70 A.D. because they had been warned here of things that would happen that would signal the coming destruction. So those disciples lived to bear witness to others.

Jesus then adds, in verse 35, that “…it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.” The rest of the world will not experience the destruction of Jerusalem, but we will all see destruction come one day. So His next warning comes for the people of that generation in Jerusalem, and for all of us: “stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Like His disciples there at that time, we have been given the knowledge of what to do with our lives to prepare for the day that will surely come for all of us. They will stand before the Son of Man in another sense – that their escape will make them available as a living testament to His authority. We can stand before Him justified because of His grace – not by our own doing (Ephesians 2:8).

Verses 37-38 conclude this chapter with Luke telling us that Jesus spent His time these last days teaching in the temple every day. But at night, He went “and lodged on the mount called Olivet.” The Greek word for “lodged” here literally means to lodge in the open. So it is very likely that He slept under His stars until early morning, when He would already be in the temple again as the people came to hear Him.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from Luke here
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from 2 Chronicles here

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.