Luke 21:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The text addresses conflict, yet let us reflect on the spirit of serenity. Peace declares, "A woman when she gives birth suffers sorrow because her time has come, but when she has delivered a child, she no longer remembers anguish for joy that a person has been born into the world" (John 16:21). He continued, "So now you have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice" (John 16:22). Through this, He demonstrated that fullness of joy is found in those perfected, while those frail bear anxiety from life’s unpredictable changes. It is no coincidence that earlier it stated: "They ate and drank, they married and were given in marriage" (Luke 17:27), indicating their commitment to earthly pursuits and their entanglement with worldly concerns.

Those pregnant women addressed with "Woe!" are those who indulge the weaknesses of their flesh, thus obstructing their spiritual journeys; they are not enriched with virtues, but rather burdened with vices. Condemnation does not fall on mothers who strive to raise righteous offspring; rather, it applies to those who do not bear good fruit. They conceive in reverence of God, as expressed: "For fear of You we conceived and labored" (Isaiah 26:18). Yet not all become life-givers, not all achieve perfection, nor can all declare, "We have brought forth the spirit of salvation on earth" (Isaiah 26:18). Not everyone can mirror Mary, not all conceive by the Holy Spirit, and not all give birth to the Word. Some experience spiritual miscarriages, while others—as Christ dwells within them but they remain undeveloped—hear, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you" (Galatians 4:19). Infants still in the womb may enter the world imperfectly, and it is only to the perfected that it is said, "I have begotten you… by the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15).

In the good news, many become spiritual parents, bringing forth Christ. Who can reveal to me the parents of Christ? He Himself identified them: "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers? For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:48, 50). By fulfilling the will of the Father, you may become the mother of Christ. Many have conceived Christ but have not delivered Him. Only those who give birth to Truth can give birth to Christ; only those who bring forth Wisdom bring forth Christ, and only those who are resolved by the Word are resolved by Christ.

In contrast, some have conceived unrighteousness and have given birth to falsehood (Psalm 7:15). Woe to those expectant mothers whose flesh weighs them down, hindering their escape from dangers! Woe to those whose pain, which grips their entire being, intensifies as labor approaches! This serves as a foreshadowing of impending judgment and the onset of affliction (Matthew 24:8). Moses cautioned that if a pregnant woman is harmed by fighting, she may immediately give birth (Exodus 21:22). Therefore, a wise wife avoids quarrels, seeking peace so she can be safely unburdened, rather than enduring for nine months. The birth of the Word relies on fulfillment, which is characterized not by time alone but by diligence. The righteous, having gained completeness swiftly, achieve what many might take years to fulfill (Wisdom 4:13). In contrast, the imperfect soul is easily distressed, potentially losing the conceived Word. But woe to those who lead one of these little ones astray (Luke 17:1-2). Woe to anyone who harms a pregnant woman! If she gives birth to an unformed child, the penalty is monetary; but if the child is fully formed, the punishment is life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand (Exodus 21:23-24).

Why a life for an eye or a hand? The child already has limbs and sight, as the fetus is formed; the offender must be judged according to the damage inflicted. If a heretic or apostate is birthed from the soul or the Church, their punishment may be less severe; whereas, if a faithful one suffers, their punishment is greater. Caution must be taken to shield the Church from harm by engaging in disputes with such individuals! Steer clear of foolish and ignorant arguments, knowing they lead to strife (2 Timothy 2:23), which tortures the Church like labor pains to a woman.

Allow your womb to be abundantly filled so that you may deliver soon. Understand how to nourish it and with what: "From the fruit of a man's mouth his womb is filled; by the produce of his mouth he is satisfied" (Proverbs 18:20).

On the matter of nursing, Solomon’s wise ruling in the case of two women serves as a lesson (1 Kings 3:16-28). Both had given birth after enduring labor pains, yet they were tormented by the fear of proving their motherhood. One woman, overwhelmed by sleep, claimed another's child as her own. The other, whose child remained unharmed, found herself in a precarious situation, uncertain of the trial's outcome.

Let us strive to nurture our progeny lest, in the face of judgment or death, we recognize ourselves as the parents of flawed endeavors. When Isaac was weaned and the peril of his mother's sleep had passed, Abraham held a great feast (Genesis 21:8). David, once weaned (Psalms 130:2), anticipates the reward of his soul. The Corinthian, in the initial stage of his faith, is unable to consume solid food and relies on milk, but in due time, fortified by solid sustenance, he will reach maturity (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; Ephesians 4:13). It is evident that merely giving birth is insufficient; proper nurturing is essential.

May you, like Mary, allow the Word of God to thrive within you and grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). This is achievable if youkeep all the truths in your heart, and do not wait until late in life; instead, early on be espoused, remaining incorrupt in body to a righteous Husband, swift to conceive, quick to deliver, and eager to excel in wisdom. Consider Paul! Just yesterday he was a persecutor; today he believes, and tomorrow he proclaims (Acts 9:1-22).

Titus aimed to preserve the temple, but he could not restrain his soldiers, who were overtaken by frenzy; they set the temple ablaze and proceeded to slay all the Jews present; a horrific multitude of bodies lay around the sanctuary, and blood flowed freely down the steps of the altar; the entire ground was littered with corpses as the Romans pursued the fleeing Jews, trampling over them. The Jewish survivors managed to reach the temple gates, entered the city, and fortified themselves, yet they could not withstand the Roman army. Upon entering the city, the troops slaughtered anyone they encountered, obstructing the streets with bodies and soaking the entire city in blood. The temple was engulfed in flames, and all of Jerusalem was devastated. The soldiers grew weary of killing, yet many remained alive; thus, it was decreed that not everyone would be slain, but only those who resisted with arms, while the rest would be taken captive. Ultimately, up to 97,000 were captured, and 1,100,000 were killed during the siege. The treasures of the temple and the city were looted, and the entire city and temple were turned to rubble. Thus, the pronouncements of Jesus Christ regarding the fate of the cruel people, who had mercilessly slain their prophets and ultimately crucified their Messiah, were fulfilled. The blood of the righteous, which they had shed unjustly, was reckoned upon them as they invoked the blood of Christ over themselves, exclaiming to Pilate, “His blood be upon us and upon our children!”

Let us trace the destiny of the temple and Jerusalem. Jesus proclaimed that the temple would be demolished so that no stone would remain upon another, and Jerusalem would be trampled by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles came to an end. Indeed, the temple was obliterated, leaving no remnants. Attempts to restore it were completely unsuccessful. One Roman Caesar, Julian the Apostate, vowed to reconstruct the temple in Jerusalem to embarrass Jesus, who had foretold its ultimate destruction. He summoned Jews from all over the world, who diligently and reverently began clearing the site of the former temple; however, each time they commenced their work, fireballs erupted from the ground. Despite multiple attempts, every time they resumed, the fireballs drove the laborers away once more; ultimately, the builders recognized the futility of their efforts and departed, abandoning any renewed attempts to rebuild the temple that had been demolished by divine decree.

The pagan peoples, in turn, adapted relatively well to the Roman conquest, finding commonality in the Roman pantheon and even viewing the emperor as a divine figure.

In stark contrast, the Jews’ rich history created an insurmountable divide between them and the surrounding Gentile world. As God’s chosen people, they believed they bore a significant religious truth meant to illuminate the nations. Over time, their expectations of the Messiah morphed from that of a spiritual redeemer to that of a worldly conqueror, who would reign over and subdue other nations. This expectation fueled centuries of hope, but upon the arrival of the true Messiah, they failed to recognize Him as He did not meet their preconceived notions. They were confronted with the crude reality that, during the expected arrival of their Savior, they were under the dominion of cruel Gentiles, regarded as an insignificant populace in an empire where true political freedom seemed lost.

Such despondency turned into resentment as they awaited the fulfillment of their Messianic hopes, only to be disheartened when the prophet from Nazareth—whom they had scorned—was hailed by many as the Messiah. The perception that they may have unjustly crucified their own awaited deliverer cast a shadow over their faith, leading to spiraling doubts and fears. The Romans exacerbated this discontent through their contemptuous treatment, often viewing the Jews as undesirable subjects and neglecting efforts to integrate them as they did with other nations. Tax collectors drained the last vestiges of life from Judea, plunging many into insurmountable poverty.

Roman procurators displayed a lack of moral compass, exploiting their positions for personal gain and employing severe measures against any semblance of Jewish uprising. The ruling class, particularly the Sadducees, were remote from the populace, more concerned with their own standing among the Romans than with advocating for their people's freedom. While a sense of nationalism lingered among the Pharisees, their blind hypocrisy prevented them from leading effective movements for liberation. Thus, the Jewish people endured their burdens under Roman rule, increasingly discontent and rebellious as hope for deliverance waned.

Years of oppressive governance intensified their suffering, with procurators becoming increasingly predatory. Figures like Felix and Festus left a legacy of injustice, and successors like Albinus and Florus were even worse, inflicting severe tribulations on the populace. Amid this turmoil, a decisive break arrived as the citizens of Jerusalem resolved to resist Roman tyranny. Their refusal to offer annual tribute to Caesar marked a significant act of defiance. The rebellion initiated what would become the infamous Jewish War, a conflict marked by unparalleled devastation and suffering.

When the Jews sought to remove Florus, unrest erupted in Jerusalem, effectively usurping Roman control of the city. This insurrection spread like wildfire across Palestine and Syria, characterized by brutal conflicts between Greeks and Jews—a feud that reached its zenith in intensity. The Roman governor of Syria eventually sent Cestius Gallus to quell the insurrection, but he was vanquished at Bethoron, further inflaming the rebellious spirit. The mounting chaos necessitated the appointment of Vespasian, a seasoned general, to reassert Roman authority, leading to aggressive campaigns against Jewish strongholds.

Cities fell before the Roman onslaught, suffering extreme casualties and devastation. Jotapata was held for forty-six days before betrayal led to its surrender; countless lives were lost or taken prisoner. Acts of brutality ensued as the Roman forces laid waste to towns. In a harrowing series of battles, resistance groups faced crushing defeat, with mass deaths and forced enslavement commonplace. When the Romans ultimately advanced into Jerusalem, they encountered a desperate populace determined to defend their sacred city, fully aware of its impending doom.

Appalling omens surrounded the siege, revealing to the citizens a divine message of judgment from God. Reports emerged of unusual occurrences, accompanied by the cries of prophets warning of impending disaster. Under siege, Jerusalem fell deeper into chaos as factions fought for control, leading to devastating famine and internal strife. The cries of hunger were palpable as people succumbed to despair. The Romans took the temple, the heart of Judaism, amidst horrific slaughter and ruin, fulfilling the grim predictions made by Christ regarding the destruction and tribulation awaiting the city for its rejection of Him.

Despite Titus' initial intentions to spare the temple, chaos amongst his troops led to its fiery downfall. The consequences of this judgment were dire: vast numbers of Jews perished, either in combat or as captives thrown to the appetites of beasts. The devastation spread across Judea, leaving a trail of death and destruction that marked the fall of a nation. The fate of the Christians, who recognized their deliverance through Christ and fled to the mountains, starkly contrasted with that of the Jews.

This monumental judgment served as a stark lesson for the church, marking Judaism’s passage into obsolescence and indicating that the Old Covenant had been irrevocably ended by God Himself. As time passed, Christians were granted access to the rebuilt city, which had transitioned to become a Christian stronghold. With the election of leaders from among the Gentiles, the church distanced itself from its Jewish roots. It emerged fortified against the influences of the synagogue, fulfilling Christ’s prophecy of worshiping in spirit and truth, liberated from the burden of the past.

In this catastrophic wake, the church could flourish, having survived the ravages of divine judgment set forth upon those who failed to recognize their Savior—a grim historical episode that echoed Christ’s forewarnings concerning their rejection and the resulting consequences of their hard-heartedness. The judgment executed upon the Jewish nation, as foreshadowed by Christ, functioned as a crucial turning point for the early church, ensuring its destiny would not be entangled with that of Judaism as it emerged into the world.