Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 7th, 2024
the First Week of Advent
the First Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Bell's Commentary on the Bible Bell's Commentary
Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Luke 21". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/luke-21.html. 2017.
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Luke 21". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/
Whole Bible (43)New Testament (17)Gospels Only (5)Individual Books (8)
Verses 1-4
Verses 1-4
Verses 5-28
Verses 5-28
Verses 29-38
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
From Bondage to Spiritual Faith;
From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage;
From Courage to Liberty; From Liberty to Abundance;
From Abundance to Selfishness;
From Selfishness to Complacency;
From Complacency to Apathy;
From Apathy to Dependency;
From Dependency back again into bondage. (Alexander Fraser Tyler (1748-1813) in The Decline and Fall of The Athenian Republic.)
Watchfulness:
Have you ever watched a bird sleeping on its perch and never falling off?
How does it manage to do this? The secret is the tendons of the bird's legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly. From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us -- honest, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold tightly to us.
Verses 29-38
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
From Bondage to Spiritual Faith;
From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage;
From Courage to Liberty; From Liberty to Abundance;
From Abundance to Selfishness;
From Selfishness to Complacency;
From Complacency to Apathy;
From Apathy to Dependency;
From Dependency back again into bondage. (Alexander Fraser Tyler (1748-1813) in The Decline and Fall of The Athenian Republic.)
Watchfulness:
Have you ever watched a bird sleeping on its perch and never falling off?
How does it manage to do this? The secret is the tendons of the bird's legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly. From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us -- honest, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold tightly to us.