Luke 21:7-15 - Watch out you are not deceived

21:7-11

This prediction of Jesus would have caused some consternation, so it is perfectly reasonable for the disciples to want to know when these things would happen. It would also be a cataclysmic event, so they wanted to know what the signs of it being about to happen would be. Jesus’ response is not to answer the question directly, but to give them warnings. They needed to change their thinking. In the pre AD66 events there were various pretend messiahs claiming to be the messiah. This happened. Likewise, in the very last days there will be false prophets and false messiahs. As I said in my earlier comments, the events of AD66-70 are not the be all and end all of this prophecy, but are a very real indicator of the things that will happen. So we need to beware of being deceived. One of the tactics of false messiahs/prophets is to point to major events going on in the world, such as earthquakes, political upheaval or wars. Jesus warns us not to be taken in by this. Many things must happen before the end happens. It is vital that we keep a calm head and are not easily carried away.

21:12-15

This refers to what will happen before the fall of Jerusalem, when as we read in Acts the apostles were often persecuted and called up to explain themselves to both religious and civil rulers. And this pattern has been repeated throughout history. When it happens we bear testimony to Jesus.  We are not here to present an ideology, but to bear witness to the person of Jesus Christ.

This may seem an awesome thing to have to deal with, but Jesus tells them, and us, not to worry. Indeed we are to “make up our mind not to worry”. We are to take action. If called to do this then we are assured that Jesus will give us words and wisdom to answer our adversaries. In the gospels we often see Jesus utterly confounding His critics. He will give us the same wisdom. Note that this “I will give you the words” has nothing to do with normal preaching! God may well inspire us in our preaching, indeed if He does not then why are we doing it and why should anyone bother listening? But we must also prepare well for our preaching as well.