Luke 21

Luke 21 is the twenty first chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the observations and predictions of Jesus Christ delivered in the temple in Jerusalem, and his exhortation "to be watchful". The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke the Evangelist composed this Gospel as well as the Acts of the Apostles.

Verses 1 4 record Jesus's observation that a poor widow, offering two mites, had genuinely contributed more to the temple than the gifts offered by rich people. records the same event.

For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had. The words "for God" are based on the text in some early manuscripts, but many other manuscripts omit these words. but some other versions suggest "some people" i. e. not specifically disciples of Jesus. Protestant theologian Heinrich Meyer argues that "it is plain from the discourse itself" that Jesus was speaking to his disciples. The "beautiful stones" and the "gifts dedicated to God" both contribute to the splendor of the temple. Luke sets this dialogue inside the temple itself, whereas in Matthew and Mark it is set outside the temple.

Matthew and Mark state that Jesus spoke privately to his disciples on Mount Olivet about the end times and the destruction of Jerusalem: see Olivet Discourse. Luke does not present this teaching as delivered privately:
In the daytime, He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him. He tells them, These things which you see: the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down. They (whether it be his disciples or his audience more generally) ask when this will be. In Mark's account, the question is asked by Peter, James, John and Andrew.

This parable about the Kingdom of God is also found in Matthew and Mark The parable involves a fig tree, as does the equally brief parable of the barren fig tree, with which it should not be confused. Luke presents this parable as eschatological in nature: like the leaves of the fig tree, the signs spoken of in the Olivet discourse of Luke 21:5 28 indicate the coming of the Kingdom of God.

For it (that day) will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Some versions read "it will come down on you like a snare". Irish Archbishop John McEvilly comments that He notes 1 Thessalonians 5:2 3, Isaiah 24:17 and Psalm 10:7 (Vulgate numbering), Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, as offering comparable texts.