The People’s New TestamentLuke 21

Discourse on the Last Days SUMMARY OF LUKE 21: The Widow's Mites. The Question Concerning the Overthrow of the Temple. The Woes Coming Upon the Jewish Nation Foretold. The Signs That Shall Precede the Last Day.
Saw the rich men casting their gifts. For notes on the Widow's Mites, see Mr 12:41-44.

When shall these things be? This discourse to the disciples on the Overthrow of the Temple, Jerusalem, the Jewish Nation and the Second Coming of our Lord, is reported here, in Mt 24:3-31 and in Mr 13:4-37. Matthew's account is much the fullest, where see notes.

Shall not an hair of your head perish. You shall be in the Father's hand, saved, even if put to death, gaining eternally by suffering.

Ye shall see Jerusalem comapssed with armies. Matthew says, "The abomination of desolation" instead of "Jerusalem compassed with armies".
See PNT Mt 24:15. This was the warning to Christians to flee. In the first attack the Romans, under Cestus Gallus, were beaten off and retreated. The Christians then left the city.

And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles. It has been ever since its destruction. It has been held by the Romans, the Parthians, the Saracens, the Crusaders and the Turks, but never by the Jews.

There shall be signs in the sun. See notes on Mt 24:27-31.

This generation shall not pass away.
See PNT Mt 24:34. The word "race" instead of "generation" gives the meaning.

Take heed to yourselves. The words here, but not the ideas, are peculiar to Luke. See notes on Mt 24:37-51.

Abode in the mount . . . of Olives. At Bethany, I suppose, on the eastern slope, until the night he was betrayed. See Mt 21:17.

All the people came early. All the accounts indicate the intense interest shown by the people in his teachings during this last week. The Lord taught in the temple by day, but spent the nights at Bethany or on the Mount of Olives.