Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Luke Chapter 21
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:1-4
21:1And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. 21:2And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 21:3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all: 21:4for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.
March 4, 1923: Luke 21:1-4
What is symbolized by the “widow” who cast into the treasury her two mites? The “widow” represents the affectional or divine love side of the individual, which has become separated from divine wisdom and consequently is impoverished.
What do the “rich men” represent? The “rich men” represent thought forces that are active in accumulating material supply, and consequently have always a surplus.
What did Jesus mean when he said that the widow’s mite was more, in the sight of God, than the rich men’s generous gifts? The widow gave all; she poured out all her love and substance, thereby exercising self-denial. The rich men gave of their bounty, making great display, but not in any way lessening their own comfort. That kind of giving amounts to but little in the sight of God.
What is the law of giving and receiving? “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.”
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:5-6
21:5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said, 21:6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:7-19
21:7And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass? 21:8And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
21:9And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately. 21:10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 21:11and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.
21:12But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake. 21:13It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. 21:14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. 21:16But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 21:17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 21:18And not a hair of your head shall perish. 21:19In your patience ye shall win your souls.
May 24, 1936: Luke 21:1-9
What is the measure of a gift. The thought of the giver is the measure of the gift. The gift is worth all that it means to him in the substance of love, good will, faith, and intrinsic beauty.
What is God's greatest gift to man? Understanding (“the light of the world”) is the greatest of the Father's gifts to man, because it enables him to interpret life in terms of Spirit and to become conscious of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
In what respect is the widow's gift of two mites an example to those who are seeking the kingdom of God? The widow gave all she had, and those who wish to enter the kingdom of God must likewise put all their gifts into that endeavor in order to succeed. “Whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
How does understanding enable one to deal with appearances? The man of understanding sees the cause of which the appearance is an effect, and in the effect discerns future cause. Following this line of reasoning he is able to avoid superstition and ignorant judgments and know what to expect.
Do men's wars and tumults presage the “end of time”? Such things have nothing to do with “cosmic events, but result from men's belief in separation and their selfish lust for power and possessions. “The end is not immediately connected with man's personal or selfish activities.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:20-24
21:20But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. 21:21Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. 21:22For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 21:23Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people. 21:24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:25-28
21:25And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; 21:26men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 21:27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 21:28But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:29-33
21:29And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: 21:30when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. 21:31Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. 21:32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. 21:33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
October 29, 1939: Luke 21:29-31
How is man to tell when the kingdom of God is at hand? By signs as unmistakable and as “natural” as the leafing out of the trees in spring.
Metaphysically Interpreting Luke 21:34-38
21:34But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: 21:35for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. 21:36But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
21:37And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet. 21:38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.
May 24, 1936: Luke 21:34-36
Where does the second coming of the Christ become manifest? The Christ comes again, as to Jesus, in the mind and heart of man, when he experiences birth into the consciousness of spiritual things.
October 29, 1939: Luke 21:34-36
How is the coming of the kingdom concealed from men? By their own surfeiting and drunkenness. That the kingdom of heaven is within man is proved by the fact that his own conduct and habit of thinking alone can conceal it from him.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-20-2014
