Luke 21

17. Consideration, How far unsubmissiveness of spirit is from that temper of soul which God requires in affliction. God would have us in patience possess our souls; (Luke 21:19) The Greek word for patience, [illegible], signifies to bear up under a burden without fainting or [re…

We must not be discouraged because of these crosses and afflictions; but labor with patience to bear that part of affliction, whatever it be, that shall light upon us in our journey. This is Christ's counsel to his disciples, Luke 21:19. Possess your souls in patience: as if he…

Where we note a point of special comfort, to wit; that God in his children and servants, does accept the will for the deed: so Saint Paul says, 2 Corinthians 8:12: If there is a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, and not according to that he has not: speak…

The consideration of which must teach us the same duties which our Savior Christ taught the men of his time. First he teaches them what they must not do: for he knowing all things knew also the disposition of man's heart, and therefore he says, Take heed to yourselves, lest at a…

If Syria be confederate with Ephraim, how do the hearts of the house of David shake, even as the trees of the wood that are shaken with the wind (Isaiah 7:2). When there are ominous signs in the heavens, on earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and waves roaring — t…

For they set it as a foundation that they must be rich, and then they give themselves wholly to all things that may contribute to that end, and that chokes and suffocates the Word so that it never comes up, and nothing comes to perfection. Therefore Christ says in Luke 21:24, "T…

The first: we must labor with all diligence, and with all speed, that we may be worthy to stand before the Son of Man at his coming. And therefore we must labor to be in Christ, having true faith and good conscience (Ephesians 5:15; Luke 21:36). Consider also the example of Paul…

And as this is the estate of the church, so is it also of the members thereof. They shall be hated of all men (Luke 21:17). Men shall think they do God good service, when they kill them (John 16:2).

Lastly, we must be exceeding or superabundant in goodnes; in exceeding measure (if it may be) in doing good: like the poore widow who had rather want her selfe, then be altogether wanting in contribution to the treasurie of the Lords Temple: and therefore though it was but two m…

But, may some say, do not the just enjoy peace in this present life? For the fruit of faith is that we possess our souls in patience (Luke 21:19; Romans 5:1). I answer, that although faith begets peace in our hearts, yet notwithstanding we are tossed to and fro with many waves,…

“Toute sa substance;” — “all her substance.” Luke 21:1-4 1. And, lifting up his eyes, he saw those rich men who were throwing their gifts into the treasury.

These things are the beginnings of sorrows. Luke 21:5-11 5. And while some were saying concerning the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,

23. But take heed; lo, I have foretold to you all things. Luke 21:20-24 20. And when you shall see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

27. And then shall he send his angels, and gather together his elect from the four winds, from the extremity of the earth to the extremity of heaven. Luke 21:25-28 25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth the anguish of nations…

32. But of that day and hour no man knows, not even the angels which are in heaven, nor the Son himself, but the Father alone. Luke 21:29-33 29. And he addressed to them a similitude.

And he said to them, Wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles also be gathered together. Luke 21:34-36 34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you sudde…

But he that still endures to the end will be saved. Luke 21:12-19 12. But before all these things they will lay hands upon you, and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, and dragging you before kings and rulers on account of my name.

“Mais les justes iront;” — “but the righteous will go.” Luke 21:37-38 37. And he taught in the temple by day; but at night he went out, and lodged in the mountain, which is called the mountain of Olives.

And a little after in the same chapter: Be ready, for in such a time as you think not, will the Son of Man come. Again (Luke 21): As a snare shall that day come upon all them, that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Again (Luke 17): As the lightning that lightens out of the o…

He possesses his own soul; that one piece of holy rectitude [patience] enables him to do so. In your patience possess you your souls (Luke 21:19). Patience is a part of fortitude — an ability to suffer; he that is in this respect impotent of himself, not able to suffer, is a per…

Thus the meaning is, your love is preferable to all outward performances and sacrifices, as (Hosea 6:7). Love being the principle within, from which all our performances should flow, it is not opposed to sacrifice simply, or to obedience; but, 1. Supposing these to be separate,…

So it is called redemption, being eminently that wherein the redemption of the church consists. So in Ephesians 4:30, "Sealed unto the day of redemption;" and Luke 21:28; and Ephesians 1:14, "Redemption of the purchased possession." 2. All that is before this, while the church i…

As particularly, 1. He suffered great poverty, so that he had not "where to lay his head," Matthew 8:20, and commonly used to lodge abroad in the open air, for want of a shelter to betake himself to; as you will see is manifest, if you compare the following places together, whic…

As Bezaleel was furnished with wisdom, before he was employed in Tabernacle work, so Christ instructs his servants, with skill and insight, before they are employed in ministerial work. He gives them a mouth and wisdom (Luke 21:15), endows them with power from on high: as Christ…

If you seek a gate to heaven, the way is in him — or rather, he is it. What you lack is treasured up in Jesus, and he says all his are yours, even his kingdom; he is content to divide it between him and you — yes, his throne and his glory — see Luke 21:29, John 17:24, Revelation…

Doubtless we may, if meekness have the command, for that's a grace which preserves a man master of himself, while he contends to be master of another; and though there may be some firing in the out-works, yet fortifies the heart, the main-fort, the innerwards, against the assaul…

1. He enjoys himself. Meekness is very nearly allied to that patience which our Lord Jesus prescribes to us, as necessary to the keeping of the possession of our own souls (Luke 21:19). How calm are the thoughts, how serene are the affections, how rational the prospects, and how…

The manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit. Hence when our Savior promises the Spirit to his disciples to be present with them for the conviction of the world, he tells them he will give them a mouth and wisdom which their adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resi…

Sixthly, consider what occasions, what advantages your distemper has taken to exert and put forth itself, and watch against them all. This is one part of that duty which our blessed Savior recommends to his disciples under the name of watching (Mark 13:37): I say unto you all, W…

1. The opposite course in that, they run to excesses of riot. 2. You run not with them. [illegible] riot or luxury, though all natural men are not in the grossest kind guilty of this, yet they are all of them some way truly riotous or luxurious, lavishing away themselves, and th…

Use 4. If the Lord be the Donor, and Giver of all these outward things, let us beware we do not abuse these gifts of God, as occasions of sinning against the Giver, that we fight not against him with his own weapons. Jesus Christ speaking to his own disciples, though they were t…

No man knows what is in his breast, or what scandal he may fall into if God leaves him. Christ warns his own Apostles to take heed of surfeiting and drunkenness, Luke 21:34. A Godly man therefore fears his Heart with a Fear of Caution and jealousie.

Not worldliness and unbelief only; but he speaks of adultery, uncleanness, inordinate affections, and the like; and the children of God, if they do not deal with God for grace against their gross sins, they will soon know to their costs. Jesus Christ warned his own disciples, th…

So much as your hearts are enlarged to the flesh, so much they are straitened to the spirit (2 Corinthians 6:13), as what the land loses the sea gains. By pleasures, and by the cares of the world, your hearts are straitened toward God, they are overcharged (Luke 21:34). 3. Sorro…

But go to God and give him your heart, this will make your mite more acceptable than the great treasures of the wicked. (Luke 21:1-4) And he looked up and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury, and he saw also a certain poor widow casting in there two mites, and…

There is dulness and a damp that is apt to creep upon us; either by carnal pleasure, or worldly lusts and cares, we may abate of our cheerfulness. Christ tells us (Luke 21:34) that both of them overcharge the heart. Or some presumptuous sin lately committed, when the weight of i…

Riches are compared to thorns not only for choking the good seed, but as piercing us through with many sorrows, as they prove troublesome comforts to a covetous man. And they wrong the soul, when the heart is dead and oppressed by them (Luke 21:34): Take heed lest your hearts be…

These bring a brawn and deadness upon the heart, and the soul is depressed by the cares of this world. Luke 21:34. Now when you are under this temper of soul desire the Lord to quicken you by new influences of grace. 2. Let me show the necessity of this quickening — how needful…

These two prayers joined together speak thus much, if you be too busy about vanity, it will bring on a brawn and deadness, and so you need to go to God for quickening. And Christ tells his disciples (Luke 21:34), take heed of being over-charged, etc. The soul is mightily distemp…

Who are you, O great mountain before Zerubbabel? You shall become a plain, opposition seems insuperable, that great mountain that obstructed the work of God was the court of Persia, instigated and set on by the Samaritan faction, a great mountain indeed, but as great as it is, G…

The less the occasion, the more and stronger your corruption, and such as cannot be excused, therefore it is usually most severely plagued by the Lord, because there is more sinfulness in an action where there is less provocation, and more heart and affection to it. As it was in…

Let there be quality of virtue, though not quantity of mass. The widow's two mites cast into the treasury were accepted (Luke 21). God, as Chrysostom observes, looked not at the smallness of her gift but the largeness of her heart.

When as there is one God and one faith, so there is one heart among Christians — this is as cummin seed which makes the doves flock to the windows. The temple was adorned with goodly stones (Luke 21:5). This makes Christ's spiritual temple look beautiful and the stones of it app…

8. Treasure up suffering promises; the promises are faith's floats to keep it from sinking, they are the breast-milk a Christian lives on in time of sufferings, they are honey at the end of the rod; hoard up promises. 1. God has made promises of direction, that he will give us a…

Indeed the wicked shall be ashamed at the last day, they shall sneak and hang down their heads, but the Saints shall then be as without spot, Ephes. 5. 27. so without shame; therefore they are bid to lift up their heads, (Luke 21:28). Section 5

Many dig their own graves with their teeth. Christ cautioned his Apostles, Luke 21.34. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness.

We have deserved poison, Ezra 9. 13. Thou hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve; we have a sea of sin, and but a drop of suffering. 7. The patient soul does most sweetly enjoy itself; an impatient man is like a troubled sea, that cannot rest; he tortures himself upon…

They shall fret themselves, and curse their King and their God. But when our spirits are calmed, and we are wrought to a sweet submission to God's will; we accept of the punishment, Leviticus 26:41, and do in patience possess our souls, Luke 21:19. When we say as Eli, 1 Samuel 3…

Romans 12:19, "Vengeance is mine: I will repay, says the Lord." Luke 21:22, "These be the days of vengeance." 2 Thessalonians 1:8, "In flaming fire taking vengeance of them, that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This puts life and sweet savor in our prayers and conferences, and in everything we do. And so for patience, that possesses our souls in life (Luke 21:19), and so patience makes us perfect (James 1:4); there will be no complaining of the want of anything, but patience will help…