"And in the day time He [Jesus] was teaching in the Temple, and at night He went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to Him in the Temple, for to hear Him."
Luke 21:37-38
Jesus, during His last days of ministry before His crucifixion, spent His days and nights with the people He came to save. His entire ministry has been one of teaching God’s Word to the people.
“And in the daytime, He [Jesus] was teaching in the temple.”
Jesus’ last days were spent with people. And in those teaching times, His topic was vital to the Jews (and to us). These days were His last opportunity to teach the general population.
“Jesus’ final days were spent doing what he loved most—teaching in the temple and challenging ‘all the people’ to come to him and receive life. This was virtually a 24/7 ministry, each day in the temple courts, and every evening and night sleeping on the Mount of Olives” [1] (Osborne).
What did Jesus teach them? He told them something unthinkable about their beautiful Temple –
“…the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6b).
This led to their questions – “when” and “what?”
“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?” (Luke 21:7).
Jesus gave them four signs about His Coming.
The first sign is the destruction of the Temple (vv. 5-9).
It had been destroyed before in BCE 586. Herod rebuilt this Temple where Jesus sat teaching. But it, too, was going to be destroyed. Matthew and Mark agreed with Luke’s statement from Jesus (Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2). And within forty years, Emperor Titus came with his army and tore down that Temple, stone by stone.
It will be rebuilt, and the Antichrist will enthrone himself there during the tribulation! Also, there will be significant political turmoil and natural disasters (vv. 8-11).
The second sign is wars and great persecution coming to God’s people (vv. 10-19).
Believers will be dragged before their councils and made to defend themselves and what they believe about Jesus. Paul did this in Acts chapters 25-26. He did not fear his inquisitors, but he used the opportunity to preach Jesus to them.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:17-19).
The third sign is Jerusalem will be destroyed again (vv. 20-24).
The terrible consequences of Israel’s apostasy will be seen in the destruction of the city and the people.
“Ultimate sin must pay the ultimate price, and that will be seen as the people flee the Roman armies and run for their lives. For them, there is no hope, for the nation has turned its back on God and his Sent One, his Son and Messiah. Judgment is certain” [2] (Osborne).
And finally, we will see Jesus’ Christ’s Coming in Power and Great Glory (vv. 25-28).
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).
“So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (Luke 21:31).
And Jesus ended His teaching with this warning –
“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” (Luke 21:36).
“Ever since the death and resurrection of Jesus, the world has been living in its final age. It is an age of both turmoil and hope. For Christians, it is a time for purity, self-control, prayer, and expectancy” [3] (TBG).
Jesus’ future coming with the Kingdom was the theme of His teaching the people in the daytime.
“And at night He went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives.”
When the evening began to turn dark, Jesus came to rest with the people on the Mount of Olives.
“He taught all day in the temple, and withdrew every evening, and lodged in Bethany; a town at the foot, or on the declivity of the mount of Olives” (Clarke).
“And he left them and went out of the city into Bethany, and he lodged there” (Matthew 21:17).
“And all the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple, for to hear Him.”
Everything that we said above was to get us to this thought. People were always looking to Jesus for Him to teach them the Word of God. Yes, He is the most excellent Teacher. He is the “Living Word of God.” And He teaches us from the “Written Word of God!” We need to hear from Him daily; “Lord feed us from Your Word!”
“Guide Me, O Thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.” [4]
“And He who gives seed for putting into the field and bread for food will take care of the growth of your seed, at the same time increasing the fruits of your righteousness” [5] (2 Corinthians 9:10, BBE).
Quote: “When things are at their worst, we look for the Lord’s return” [6] (TBG).
[1] Grant R. Osborne, Luke: Verse by Verse, ed. Jeffrey Reimer, Elliot Ritzema, and Danielle Thevenaz, Awa Sarah, Osborne New Testament Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018), 492–495.
[2] Grant R. Osborne, ibid.
[3] TBG, Andrew Knowles, The Bible Guide, 1st Augsburg books ed. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 495–496.
[4] “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” William Williams (1745), preached the Gospel in Wales for a half-century. He died in 1791. Hymn translator, Peter Williams. Tune: ZION (Hastings). Copyright status, Public Domain.
[5] BBE is the Bible in Basic English.
[6] TBG, ibid.