Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives. 20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Jesus warned his disciples that before the coming of the end of the world, they will be treated in the same way he was treated because their ministry will be in his name (Jn. 16:2). Because of their faith in Jesus, their harsh treatment, imprisonment, and even death will enable them to give testimony in his name (v. 13). They should not worry about what they will say when they are brought before rulers even by family members, friends, and authorities because he will give them the wisdom with which to speak against which their opponents will have no answers (Lk. 12:11-12). He will protect them and if they persevere through their trials, they will gain eternal life (Lk. 12:35-48).
Jesus also forewarned the disciples about the destruction of the Temple which had already occurred when Luke wrote his Gospel. Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the Temple came true so Luke’s community could believe that Jesus’ other predictions would come true. God will use the Gentiles (Romans) to punish those unfaithful people with hardened hearts who did not accept Jesus’ teaching (Deut. 32:35-36). Different Gentile kingdoms will have dominion over the earth until Christ returns and establishes his everlasting kingdom (Dan. 7:1-27).
Almighty God, grant us the grace to persevere through our
trials and the faith to believe in all that you promised through your Son Jesus
Christ. Let your Spirit guide us so that
we will not be deceived by false doctrine and fall into apostasy. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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