Luke 21

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 thither two mites.

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

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.

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

In your patience possess ye your souls.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

What does Luke 21:15 mean?

Explanation

[For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.] Luke 21:15 In this verse, Jesus addresses His disciples, promising divine enablement in the face of opposition.

The "mouth" refers to the ability to speak, and "wisdom" denotes the insight or cleverness to know what to say.

The phrase "all your adversaries" covers anyone who opposes them, whether it be the religious leaders of the time, governing authorities, or others hostile to their message.

The assurance is that the disciples' responses, given by God, would be indisputable and irrefutable, leaving their opponents without the ability to contradict ("gainsay") or successfully oppose ("resist") their words.

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Historical Context

Luke 21:15 occurs within Jesus' discourse about the end times, where He predicts the fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent persecution His followers would face.

During the time of Jesus, the socio-political climate was marked by Roman occupation and religious leadership that often resisted His teachings.

The disciples would later encounter significant resistance as they spread the Christian message, making Jesus' promise crucial for their mission.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints reflect on this verse's implications.

One perspective emphasizes the sovereignty of God in guiding believers through the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the idea of divine inspiration at work.

Another viewpoint considers it as an assurance of Christ’s presence and support in times of trial, serving as a foundation for Christian courage and steadfastness.

Some might also see it as an imperative for reliance on God rather than one's own eloquence or knowledge when defending the faith.

Practical Applications

In day-to-day life, this verse encourages believers to trust in God’s provision when facing challenges, especially when expressing or defending their faith.

It serves as a reminder to Christians to seek divine wisdom in their interactions and to approach conflicts with confidence in God's assistance.

Cross-References

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)
"But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak." (Matthew 10:19)
"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer." (Luke 12:11)
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

Language Study

In the original Greek, the word translated as "mouth" is "stoma," which can mean the organ used for speech or utterance itself.

"Wisdom" is translated from "sophia," connoting cleverness, skill, or the ability to decide properly.

The word "gainsay" is from "antilego," meaning to speak against or argue in opposition.

The term "resist" is from "anthistemi," meaning to set oneself against or oppose.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This promise of divine wisdom can be compared to claims of divine inspiration in other religious texts and traditions.

For instance, in ancient Greek culture, oracular pronunciations were believed to be the gods' wisdom given through the oracle.

In many religions, it is believed that deities empower their messengers with words and wisdom that command respect and authority, which is somewhat analogous to the Christian belief in divine inspiration of Scripture and support in evangelism.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the verse can be examined through psychological and sociological lenses. Understanding human communication, persuasion, and resilience in the face of adversity are of interest.

While science does not confirm supernatural wisdom, it does recognize the impact of inner conviction, socio-religious support structures, and the mental benefits of possessing a sense of purpose and guidance in one's endeavors.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer various interpretations of Luke 21:15.

Matthew Henry's commentary remarks on the sufficiency of God's grace in all situations of persecution.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary highlights that the provision of "mouth and wisdom" reflects the continuous help given by the Holy Spirit.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible interprets this as Christ's promise to assist His ministers and people when delivered up to councils, maintaining their cause and forming their answers.

Luke 21

Luke 21

What does Luke 21:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 21:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?