Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

He spake to them a parable - Illustrated all these predicted facts by the simile of a fig tree. See this explained on Matthew 24:32; (note).

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all of the trees: when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.

And all the trees ... These words seem to have been added by Jesus to prevent the interpretation of this fig tree as Israel; but, of course, that is what some have done anyway, with the deduction that when Israel starts budding out (giving signs of conversion to Christ), the glorious kingdom is about to appear! The conviction here regards such views negatively. This parable simply means that the progress, or lack of progress, of God's will among men will be plainly evident in the actions of men themselves. In our day, the trees are shooting out the leaves and branches all right; but what is indicated? Is it an increase of righteousness, or wickedness? The man who cannot answer has simply not looked. Jesus said, "Behold!"

The kingdom of God ... as used here is apparently a reference to the "eternal kingdom" (2 Peter 1:11), which is the state of believers after the Judgment.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And he spake to them a parable,.... That is, to his disciples:

behold the fig tree, and all the trees; that, or any other tree; See Gill on Matthew 24:32.

Geneva Study Bible

(6) We must be sober and watchful both day and night for the Lord's coming, so that we are not taken unexpectedly.

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

The fig tree, and all the trees (την συκην και παντα τα δενδρα — tēn sukēn kai panta ta dendra). This parable of the fig-tree (Mark 13:28-32; Matthew 24:32-35) Luke applies to “all the trees.” It is true about all of them, but the fig tree was very common in Palestine.

Vincent's Word Studies

Parable

See on Matthew 24:32.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

Behold the fig tree and all the trees — Christ spake this in the spring, just before the passover; when all the trees were budding on the mount of Olives, where they then were.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

Ver. 29. See Matthew 24:32; Mark 13:28;

Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

In these words our Saviour declares the certainty of his coming to visit Jerusalem for all her barbarous and bloody cruelty towards himself, his prophets, and apostles; he is pleased to set forth this by the similitude of the fig-tree, whose beginning to bud declares the summer at hand; thus our Saviour tells them, that when they should see the fore-mentioned signs, they might conclude the destruction of their city and temple to be near at hand; and accordingly some of that generation, then living, did see these predictions fulfilled.

Learn, that God is no less punctual in the execution of his threatenings upon incorrigible sinners, than he is faithful in the performance of his promises towards his own people: the truth and veracity of God is as much concerned to execute his threatenings, as it is to fulfill his promises.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

Luke 21:29. συκῆν, the fig-tree) A tree frequently met with, and early in shooting forth.— πάντα) all the trees, good and bad.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Ver. 29-33. We had this same parable both in Matthew and Mark. See Poole on "Matthew 24:32", and following verses to Matthew 24:35. See Poole on "Mark 13:28", and following verses to Mark 13:31.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

“And he spoke to them a parable, “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees, when they now shoot forth, you see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now near.”

The parable is a simple one, and its basis is that men know when summer is coming because they observe the growth on the trees. Luke’s addition of ‘all the trees’ (contrast Mark 13:28) makes clear that nothing is to be gathered from the description of a particular tree. The fig tree is mentioned as the early blossomer, but the principle applies to all the trees. So the principle in his view is a universal one, and we need not doubt that he gathered that from his source. That being so the parable signifies nothing more than that His people should be observant and recognise that growth on trees reveals the approach of summer. But it is an indicator, not a guarantee. The summer is seen as ‘near’, not ‘now here’. In context the distinction is important. For in eschatological terms ‘near’ is subject to the timing of God with Whom a thousand years is as a watch in the night. As always the signs are in order to awaken interest, not in order to indicate certain timing. Jesus always rejected the idea of giving signs which would replace faith. They could be used to bolster faith, but not to replace it.

The Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 21:29_{. : added by Lk., generalising as in} Luke 9:23_{: “take up his cross daily”. The lesson is taught by all the trees, but parabolic style demands special reference to one particular tree.— , put forth (their leaves, understood). Similar phrases in Greek authors.— , etc., when ye look (as who does not when spring returns!) ye know of yourselves, need no one to tell you.}

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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Behold = Look

ye. App-133. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) And all the trees.—The addition is peculiar to St. Luke. It confirms the impression that the words, which were spoken just before the Passover, when the flush of spring-tide life was seen in every grove and forest, were suggested by what met the eye of the disciples on the Mount of Olives. (See Note on Matthew 24:32.) One such tree, we know, had been found in full foliage (Matthew 21:19).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Behold

Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-30