The big picture
Luke 21 opens in verse 1 with “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “In your patience possess ye your souls.”, and closes in verse 38 with “And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.” Repeated or prominent terms include earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Luke · King James Version · 38Luke 21:1-8
1–8: He looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the…
Luke 21:1–8 opens with “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.” and reaches “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 21 develops its own movement around earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts, with particular weight carried by casting, gifts, poor.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.” The line’s distinctive content terms include casting, gifts, looked. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:” The line’s distinctive content terms include poor, truth, widow. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 21:1-8
King James Version1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4For 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.
5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6As 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.
7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8And 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.
Luke 21:9-16
9–16: When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these…
Luke 21:9–16 opens with “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first…” and reaches “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 21 develops its own movement around earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts, with particular weight carried by kingdom, nation, able.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Luke 21:9-16
King James Version9But 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.
10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12But 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.
13And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16And 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.
Luke 21:17-24
17–24: Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Luke 21:17–24 opens with “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” and reaches “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 21 develops its own movement around earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts, with particular weight carried by days, fulfilled, Gentiles.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“In your patience possess ye your souls.” The line’s distinctive content terms include patience, possess, souls. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 21:17-24
King James Version17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19In your patience possess ye your souls.
20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21Then let them which are in Judæa 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.
22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23But 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.
24And 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.
Luke 21:25-32
25–32: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and…
Luke 21:25–32 opens with “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth…” and reaches “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 21 develops its own movement around earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts, with particular weight carried by nigh, coming, earth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Luke 21:25-32
King James Version25And 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;
26Men’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.
27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:33-38
33–38: Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:33–38 opens with “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” and reaches “And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 21 develops its own movement around earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts, with particular weight carried by earth, mount, temple.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cares, drunkenness, hearts. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.
Luke 21:33-38
King James Version33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34And 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.
35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36Watch 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.
37And 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.
38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Luke 21:1 begins with “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.”
Where the chapter turns
Luke 21:18 forms a natural hinge: “But there shall not an hair of your head perish.”
The final note
Luke 21:38 leaves the reader with “And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words earth, nigh, days, fulfilled, hearts, heaven help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How is God's faithfulness shown in both halves of the family?
Isaac is born as promised, and Ishmael is heard and preserved with a future of his own.
Why does a well deserve narrative space?
Water sustains life and makes residence possible in a land Abraham does not yet own.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.