21:1 This verse begins a valuable lesson. As God's children, it should be our highest honor to devote our whole selves to compassion, to giving out love and effort to the people who need it. In today's world, there is no shortage of people who need our devoted focus. Jesus views rich people donating to charity.
21:2 Among them, an impoverished woman is also donating. The difference is that this impoverished woman put everything she had into this charity.
21:3 Someone might think that the rich person is greater for donating a larger quantity but Jesus refocuses our understanding: the rich man put in some money that he would not miss. While his acts were charitable, he gave a very small portion of what he was capable of giving and his limited compassion was therefore revealed. Conversely, the woman gave all that she had... she donated the only money she had even to receive her next meal. Her compassion was great, and because she put in everything, she gave more than did the rich man.
You might feel like you a small and that anything you do on earth will not have a big enough impact. God does not measure in such a way. It is how much of ourselves we devote to others... God measures the depth and width of our compassion not our bank account.
21:4 Jesus was able to perceive people's true souls: He knew that these men donated because they had enough money to given without negatively impacting themselves. True, there are people in the world who don't give a time or a second of their time to charity, but this woman gave what she had to people who probably even had more than she did!
God wants us to be this compassionate. He wants us to trust that He will fill our lives when we are charitable with others. Humanity wrongly believes that they need money to survive and be happy but when you trust God, you realize that all you need to thrive is His love.
21:5 Around Him, people marveled at an impressive church. Even today, people wrongly believe that a fancier church means a holier church. So wrong! The dilapidated church that gives to the poor is the holier church. Do not be impressed by aesthetics, God has shown you what is of value: truth, compassion, humanity.
21:6 Jesus explains that this building they are so impressed with both literally and metaphorically become irrelevant. The corrupt morals of the church make it unimportant. Isaiah 65:17, when God reforms the earth at the end of this trial, such trivial things will not even be worth remembering. It is our compassionate action which stands the test of time.
21:7 The mention of this inspires the disciples to ask when the end of this current earth will be. Jesus will give us some signs to determine the answer. This study is also covered in Mark 13 and Matthew 24.
21:8 Near to the end times, there will be many religious institutions which claim to be of Jesus but actually are corrupt behind closed doors. People will claim to be from God but will be corrupt men.
21:9 Do not fear the rumor and talk of war around the globe. Since the beginning of time, societies of humans have been unable to coexist... war is commonplace here.
21:10 And war will continue to be commonplace, nations around the globe will become angered with each other (that is quite true and has been for some time).
21:11 We will begin to experience a disrupt in the world: frequent earthquakes, famines and illnesses. The universal nature which surrounds us will begin to act strangely to what we are used to.
21:12 It's important, Jesus is explaining, that we realize the truth children of God will be questioned and their faith will face adversity. Our tribulation will be defending our faith against enemies who reject it.
22:13 Not to worry, Jesus explains, your tribulation will provide God an opportunity to work through you.
22:14 You don't have to plan or worry, God will give you the courage and the words to confront your enemies.
22:15 Beautiful! Our giving God will never allow us to fail. Adversaries will not be able to stump or control us, Jesus exemplified this for us in His interactions with the Pharisees.
22:16 Understand this verse correctly: for some, even family members will not understand their spirituality. The whole world will be awed and infatuated with a false ruler, a false God but because they know who the truth God is, they will reject Him... and the world will not understand that.
22:17-18 Despite facing many adversaries, God has sealed you with protection. Your eternal life with God is preserved. They cannot out-smart you... you and God together diminish your enemies.
22:19 Have patience. It's a simple statement but it's a journey for the soul. Students of God, learn to have strength and patience to do God's will, it's an amazing, worthwhile mission. With patience we can observe our surroundings with wisdom and we can endure anything, persevere through any adversity. Derive the patience from your faith that you will reunite with your God eternally. Derive your patience from your deep desire to bring God's will to the world... it's a purposeful, fulfilling life to live.
21:20 Jesus tells us to watch Jerusalem. When it's surrounded by armies and enemies, we can predict that the end of this particular world is near. It's not that Jerusalem is innocent... it's just a place to watch world events take place. Jerusalem is as guilty and as innocent as the other countries of the world but --- Where it started is where it shall end.
22:21-22 Jesus wants people to flee away from the place where false religion will be prominent. Desolation shall arise in this place and by that we can deduce that a faux-god shall rise there. Jesus does not want us entrapped in such thought -- and it will traverse the world. Defend your true faith always, regardless of what they world believes.
22:23 This pregnancy is a metaphor. God wants us to unite with Him, so to speak, as our true marriage. If the true God returns to find that His children have "remarried," or united with a false god, He will be saddened that we chose a different path in life. He is the true God, the one who promotes love and compassion and creates all life. Woe to the people who chose any other man as a god because they are corrupt.
22:24 Those who are corrupt with be eliminated. With their acts, they rejected their eternal life with God.
22:25 When the true God comes, the entire universe will react. There will be no doubt when the True creator returns.
22:26 The earth will react in such a way that those who are not prepared for such an occurrence with will anxious.
22:27-28 Our beautiful Jesus will return to Earth and those who were compassionate can reach up their hands and their arms to receive Him. It will be a perfect, amazing time for those who are kind... and terrifying for the evil.
21:29-33 The Parable of the Fig Tree: the parable of the fig tree is a deep metaphor which is predictive of the end times. Just as we are able to discern the season of harvest in plants, Jesus' instruction enables us to discern the season of God's harvest.
21:34 Jesus wants us to be purposeful, to be sober and clear-headed. He wants us to be focused and in our most attentive state of mind in order to be a part of God's will.
21:35 People who allow themselves to become distracted will miss the importance of God's will and will be living in a chaotic world with a chaotic mind. And it's true that people without a compassionate purpose dawdle through life in lethargy. There is important work to be done, do not waste all that you are capable of.
21:36 Be vigilant and faithful. If you are paying attention to the world and to developing your faith, you'll never have any trouble. You will perceive the global events of the world and you will be prepared to face them with wisdom and strength.
21:37 Jesus taught throughout the day and prayed at night. We should use our daylight hours to be productive and even if we did during the day, consult God on our downtime. Always openly communicate with Him, His wisdom will always guide you.
21:38 Jesus' focus is inspiring, determined, focused. He woke up every day of His life carrying out God's will in order to teach us to do the same.
