Luke 21:5-7

THE APOCALYPTIC DISCOURSE (Luke 21:5-38).

Luke 21:5-7. Introduction to the discourse (Matthew 24:1-3; Mark 13:1-4). καί τινων λεγόντων, and some remarking. A most unemphatic transition, as if what follows were simply a continuation of discourse in the temple on one of many topics on which Jesus spoke. No indication that it was disciples (any of the Twelve) who asked the question, or that the conversation took place outside. Cf. the narrative in Mk. The inference that Lk. cannot have known Mk.'s narrative (Godet) is inadmissible. Lk. omits many things he knew. His interest is obviously in the didactic matter only, and perhaps we have here another instance of his “sparing the Twelve”. He may not have cared to show them filled with thoughtless admiration for a building (and a system) which was doomed to judicial destruction. λίθοις καλοῖς, beautiful stones: marble, huge; vide Joseph., B. J., Luke 21:5; Luke 21:2. καὶ ἀναθήμασι, and votive or sacred gifts, in Lk. only; the reference implies that the spectators are within the building. These gifts were many and costly, from the great ones of the earth: a table from Ptolemy, a chain from Agrippa, a golden vine from Herod the Great. The temple was famous for its wealth. Tacitus writes: “illic immensae opulentiae templum,” Hist., vi. 8. κεκόσμηται : perfect, expressing the permanent result of past acts of skilful men and beneficent patrons a highly ornamented edifice, the admiration of the world, but marked for destruction by the moral order of the universe.