What is the meaning of Luke 21:29-33?

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:29-33 KJV)

William Burkitt’s Commentary

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.


BURKITT | Luke 21:1-4 | Luke 21:5-6 | Luke 21:7 | Luke 21:8-11 | Luke 21:12-19 | Luke 21:20-28 | Luke 21:29-33 | Luke 21:34-36 | Luke 21:37-38 |