A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
1. ANd he looked up, and ſaw the rich men caſting their gifts into the treaſury. 2. And he ſaw alſo a certain poor widow caſting in thither two mites. 3. And he ſaid, of a truth, I ſay unto you, that this poor widow hath caſt in more then they all. 4. For 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.
1, 2, 3, 4. See on Mark 12.41, 42. God judgeth not of our Service by the bulk.
5. And as ſome ſpake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly ſtones, and gifts, he ſaid. 6. As for theſe things which ye behold, the daies will come, in the which there ſhall not be left one ſtone upon another, that ſhall not be thrown down.
5, 6. See Matth. 24.
7. 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.
7. Note; Corrupt Nature is more deſirous to know things to come, than to prepare f…r them by preſent duty.
8. And 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.
8. Take you more care of your ſelves, than to know the time; and be not deceived by falſe Chriſts, and falſe Prophets.
9. But 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. 10. Then ſaid he unto them, nation ſhall riſe againſt nation, and kingdom againſt kingdom. 11. And great earthquakes ſhall be in divers places, and famines, and peſtilences, and fearful ſights, and great ſigns ſhall there be from heaven. 12. But 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 Names ſake. 13. And it ſhall turn to you for a teſtimony.
9, 10, 11, 12, 13. See Matth. 24. Note; Chriſt did not draw in Diſciples with the hopes of proſperity. It ſhall be your Witneſs or Martyrdom, to divulge the Goſpel, and condemn unbelievers.
14. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye ſhall anſwer. 15. For I will give you a mouth and wiſdom, which all your adverſaries ſhall not be able to gain-ſay, nor reſiſt.
14, 15. Note; It is Chriſt in Heaven that giveth Grace and Gifts to his Servants on Earth by his Spirit.
16. And 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. 17. And ye ſhall be hated of all men for my Names ſake. 18. But there ſhall not an hair of your head periſh.
16, 17, 18. Ye ſhall be no loſers by all your ſufferings; You ſhall be preſerved till you are ripe for your full reward.
19. In your patience poſſeſs ye your ſouls.
19. While you keep your Innocence and Patience, you keep your Souls from danger and loſs.
20. And when ye ſhall ſee Jeruſalem compaſſed with armies, then know that the deſolation thereof his nigh. 21. Then let them which are in Judea, flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midſt of it, depart out, and let not them that are in the countreys, enter thereunto. 22. For theſe be the daies of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
20, 21, 22. Jeruſalem's Calamity ſhall be ſo great, that all that will be ſafe muſt the from it.
23. But wo unto them that are with child, and to them that give ſuck in thoſe daies, for there ſhall be great diſtreſs in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24. And they ſhall fall by the edge of the ſword, and ſhall be led away captive into into all nations, and Jeruſalem ſhall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
23, 24. Till the Heathens be turned Chriſtians themſelve…, (in Conſtantine's days.) and then Jeruſalem ſhall be reſtored, and be the dwelling of Chriſtians.
25. And 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, 26. Mens hearts failing them for fear, and and for looking after thoſe things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven ſhall be ſhaken. 27. And then ſhall they ſee the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28. And when theſe things begin to come to paſs, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.
25, 26, 27, 28. See Matth. 24. Judgment, though ſlow, is ſure and terrible.
29. And he ſpake to them a parable, Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees, 30. When they now ſhoot▪ forth, ye ſee and know of your own ſelves, that ſummer is now nigh at hand, 31. So likewiſe ye, when ye ſee theſe things come to paſs, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
29, 30, 31. The Kingdom of God is the Reign of the Meſſiah, deſtroying Satan's Kingdom, beginning indeed at his Reſurrection, but notable as Catholick, upon the great converſion of the Gentiles, ſpecially when Emperours owned Chriſt, the Jews being partly deſtroyed, and partly converted; and at laſt perfected in glory.
32. Verily I ſay unto you, This generation ſhall not paſs away, till all be fulfilled. 33. Heaven and earth ſhall paſs away: but my words ſhall not paſs away.
32, 33. Till the Jews be deſtroyed, and the Gentiles begin to receive the Goſpel through the World.
34. And take heed to your ſelves, 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. 35. For as a ſnare ſhall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
34, 35. Either the ruine of the Jews ſhall ſuddenly come on all that Land; or the day of Judgment on all the World: And our duty is to be always ready; and therefore to avoid ſenſuality and worldlineſs, which is unreadineſs.
36. 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.
36. A life of obedient watching againſt ſin, waiting for Judgment, and conſtant Prayer, is our Goſpel-worthineſs to eſcape God's Judgments, and our preparation for a comfortable meeting our Judge.
37. And 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. 38. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
37, 38. Note; They could not ſilence him, 1. Becauſe it was the Jews Law, that Prophets and great Teachers ſhould ſpeak freely. 2. And the Romans limited their Power. 3. And they feared the multitude of his hearers.