Luke 21:1-19

Did Anybody Actually Listen

It seems odd that Luke and Mark would place the story of the widow who gave two copper coins right before Jesus’ discourse about the signs of the end of the age. Of course the reason they did so was because these two events obviously happened close together. And there is a point hidden here.

Jesus just finished telling them that the widow’s two copper coins were a greater gift than the large sums the others were giving. It was a if the disciples said, “Wow, that is deep. We’ll have to think about... Oh, wow! Look at all those beautiful stones and the fabulous gifts people have brought to God!” To which Jesus replies, “These things are only going to be a pile of rubble some day.” In His mind He had to be saying, “Did anybody actually listen to what I just said?” He must think that often.

Nevertheless, we will press on into Jesus’ discourse. I’ll only touch on one point here. Jesus tells the disciples (and I believe He was talking to the entire church universal at this point) that they will be delivered to prisons and brought before kings and governors on account of His name. They are not to worry beforehand what they will say because they will be given irrefutable wisdom. I have heard people this “promise” as an excuse to not prepare to preach, lead worship, take a test, etc. Yet, none of these things are what Jesus is talking about. If you are ever tempted to sluff off because Jesus has promised that you don’t have to be concerned about what you will say; hopefully it will be because you are in prison being taken to testify before the authorities about your faith.

"Did anybody actually listen to what I just said."