Catholic Commentary on Luke 21

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Luke 21:33)

The Widow's Offering

Jesus watches the rich putting large amounts into the Temple treasury. Then a poor widow puts in two small copper coins. Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. The two copper coins together were worth about a penny. They were everything she had. Jesus does not praise large gifts. He praises total giving. The widow cannot give much. But she holds nothing back. This is the measure that matters to God: not what is given but what remains. When nothing remains because everything has been given, the gift is perfect.

This scene serves as the opening of the Olivet Discourse not by accident. The Temple that just received the widow's total offering will be completely destroyed. The stones the disciples admire will be thrown down. Earthly institutions, however magnificent, are temporary. The widow's offering, which looked like nothing, is remembered forever. The invisible gift outlasts the visible building.

Signs of the End

Jesus tells the disciples that the Temple will be destroyed and gives a discourse on the signs of the end. He warns against being deceived by false messiahs, alarmed by wars and revolutions, or terrified by earthquakes, famines, and plagues. These things must happen but the end is not yet. He warns that his disciples will be handed over to synagogues and prisons, brought before kings and governors, because of his name. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.

The key verse of the discourse is Luke's version of what Mark also records: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. This is the only absolute permanence in a world of constant change. Empires rise and fall. Temples are built and destroyed. Civilisations come and go. The words of Jesus remain. The Catechism calls Scripture the permanent and normative witness to the Word of God, whose truth cannot pass away (CCC 105).

Watch and Pray

Jesus closes with an exhortation to watchfulness: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. The enemies of watchfulness are not dramatic sins but ordinary dissipation: eating and drinking and worrying, the blunting of spiritual attention by the demands of daily life. The remedy is prayer: Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the widow gave two coins and Jesus called it more than all the rest. Bring God what you have today, however small it seems. Two coins of prayer in a busy morning. Two coins of attention in a distracted week. Two coins of fidelity when the big gifts are not available. He sees, he counts, and he calls it much.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, your words will never pass away. In a world where everything else is uncertain and temporary, anchor us in your word. Teach us to give everything we have like the widow, to watch like those who expect your coming, and to stand firm through every trial that precedes your glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

21
The Poor Widow’s Offering
(Mark 12:41–44)
1 Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.* 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1/128 of a denarius.
 
3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Temple Destruction and Other Signs
(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)
 
5 As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
 
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
 
8 Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”
Witnessing to All Nations
(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)
 
10 Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
 
12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors. 13 This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses. 14 So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
 
16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. 18 Yet not even a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)
 
20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
 
23 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Return of the Son of Man
(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)
 
25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. 26 Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.† 21:27 See Daniel 7:13–14. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)
 
29 Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Be Watchful for the Day
 
34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
 
37 Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

*21:2 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1/128 of a denarius.

†21:27 21:27 See Daniel 7:13–14.

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