The Weekly Quizzes Are Open-Book. The Final Exam Is Not.

Chapter 21 of Luke is the only Gospel to use the noun form of ὑπομονῇ, often translated “patience” or “steadfastness.”This term comes from a verb which literally means “to bear under.” Luke uses it another time in his Parable of the Sower to describe how those who hear the word keep it and bear fruit, “with patience” (8:15 ). This goes against our human inclination to “stay on top” of things. Throughout Luke 21, Jesus warns his hearers not to be led astray by things. Wars, tumults, and destruction will happen, but they are not your reference for the end, which only comes when it comes. And when it comes, you will have to stand before the Son of Man. And when you do, you will be judged according to what he has been saying the whole time. It’s like a teacher who all semester long keeps telling his students there will be a final. But here, you don’t know when the final will take place, and you still have to make sure you are prepared for it when it happens. Scripture is the content of the course material and the judgment scene in Matthew 25 is what the exam looks like. For the final, the book will be open, but only for God to judge our secrets through Jesus Christ by the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul (Romans 2:16 ). Until that  day, don’t get distracted, and do not be led astray. You already know what is going to be on the test. 

Join me in a discussion of Luke 21 in light of Paul’s teaching in I Thessalonians 4:13-17.

“Passing Clouds” performed by Roger Limb. “Koran” performed by Delirium. 

Photo by Danya  Gutan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-reading-burning-newspaper-3278364/