Luke 21:6

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:5-28 With much curiosity those about Christ ask as to the time when the great desolation should be. He answers with clearness and fulness, as far as was necessary to teach them their duty; for all knowledge is desirable as far as it is in order to practice. Though spiritual judgements are the most common in gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ tells them what hard things they should suffer for his name's sake, and encourages them to bear up under their trials, and to go on in their work, notwithstanding the opposition they would meet with. God will stand by you, and own you, and assist you. This was remarkably fulfilled after the pouring out of the Spirit, by whom Christ gave his disciples wisdom and utterance. Though we may be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot be losers by him, in the end. It is our duty and interest at all times, especially in perilous, trying times, to secure the safety of our own souls. It is by Christian patience we keep possession of our own souls, and keep out all those impressions which would put us out of temper. We may view the prophecy before us much as those Old Testament prophecies, which, together with their great object, embrace, or glance at some nearer object of importance to the church. Having given an idea of the times for about thirty-eight years next to come, Christ shows what all those things would end in, namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the utter dispersion of the Jewish nation; which would be a type and figure of Christ's second coming. The scattered Jews around us preach the truth of Christianity; and prove, that though heaven and earth shall pass away, the words of Jesus shall not pass away. They also remind us to pray for those times when neither the real, nor the spiritual Jerusalem, shall any longer be trodden down by the Gentiles, and when both Jews and Gentiles shall be turned to the Lord. When Christ came to destroy the Jews, he came to redeem the Christians that were persecuted and oppressed by them; and then had the churches rest. When he comes to judge the world, he will redeem all that are his from their troubles. So fully did the Divine judgements come upon the Jews, that their city is set as an example before us, to show that sins will not pass unpunished; and that the terrors of the Lord, and his threatenings against impenitent sinners, will all come to pass, even as his word was true, and his wrath great upon Jerusalem.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 24:2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Lu 21:5-38. Christ's Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem and Warnings to Prepare for His Second Coming, Suggested by It—His Days and Nights during His Last Week.

5-7. (See on [1713]Mt 24:1-3.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 21:5"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

As for these things which ye behold,.... Some, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, read these words by way of interrogation; "are these the things which ye behold?" do ye look upon these with wonder and delight?

the days will come; and they are hastening on; a little while, a few years more:

in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down; See Gill on Matthew 24:2.

Geneva Study Bible

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 21:6. ταῦτα ἁ θ. Some (Grotius, Pricaeus) take ταῦτα = τούτων: of these things which ye see a stone shall not be left. Most, however, take it as a nominative absolute = as for these things which ye see (vide Winer, § lxiii. 2 d). This suits better the emotional mood.—ἐλεύσονται ἡμέραι: cf. Luke 5:35, where a similar ominous allusion to coming evil days occurs.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. As for these things which ye behold] Rather, these things which ye are gazing on (it is what is called the ‘pendent nominative’).

there shall not be left one stone upon another] See on Luke 19:44 and the remarkable passage in 2Es 10:54, “in the place where the Highest beginneth to shew His city, there can no man’s building be able to stand.” This was fulfilled in spite of the strong wish of Titus to spare the Temple, Jos. B. J. vi. 4, § 5; but see on Luke 19:44. He was himself so amazed at the massive substructures that he could only see in his conquest the hand of God (id. vi. 9, § 1). This prophecy was in reality that “Let us depart hence” which Josephus (B. J. vi. 5, § 3) and Tacitus (Hist. v. 13) tell us was uttered by a mysterious Voice before the destruction of Jerusalem.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 21:6. Ταῦτα, these things) The Subject. The Predicate follows, which is subdivided into Subject and Predicate. These things are of such a kind, that the days are coming when, etc. So the LXX., 2 Kings 1:4 : ἡ κλίνη ἐφʼ ἧς ἀνέβης ἐκεῖ, οὐ καταβήσῃ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, the bed upon which thou hast ascended there (the Nominative pendent forming the subject), thou shalt not go down from it [the predicate; subdivided into subject and predicate].

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - There shall not be left one stone upon another. There is a remarkable passage in 2 Esdr. 10:54, "In the place wherein the Highest beginneth to show his city, there can no man's building be able to stand." The Lord's words were fulfilled, in spite of the strong wish of Titus to spare the temple. Josephus, writing upon the utter demolition of the city and temple, says that, with the exception of Herod's three great towers and part of the western wall, the whole circuit of the city was so thoroughly levelled and dug up that no one visiting it would believe that it had ever been inhabited ('Bell. Jud.' 7:01.1). Luke 21:6

Vincent's Word Studies

Behold (θεωρεῖτε)

See on Luke 10:18.

Thrown down

See on Mark 13:2.