Luke 21:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He next assigns the cause of what he had just now said, For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. For the miseries that took hold of them were such as, in the words of Josephus, no calamity can henceforth compare to them.

But some say that the Lord hereby signified the devouring of children, which Josephus also relates.

These words of our Lord, Luke has here related to shew, that the abomination of desolation which was prophesied by Daniel, and of which Matthew and Mark had spoken, (Mat. 24, Mark 13.) was fulfilled at the siege of Jerusalem.

For the Jews thought that the abomination of desolation took place when the Romans, in mockery of a Jewish observance, cast a pig’s head into the temple.

Alas for those who are expecting and for those who are nursing infants during those times. Matthew elaborates on this in that chapter. For tremendous distress will arise on the earth and fury upon this people; they shall meet their end by the sword and be taken captive to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles. Matthew states, “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Thus, the meaning here will be clear.

By the desolation of Jerusalem, He means that it was never again to be set up, or its legal rites to be reestablished, so that no one should expect, after the coming siege and desolation, any restoration to take place, as there was in the time of the Persian king, Antiochus the Great, and Pompey.

Hitherto our Lord had been speaking of those things which were to come to pass for forty years, the end not yet coming. He now describes the very end itself of the desolation, which was accomplished by the Roman army; as it is said, And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed, &c.

After describing a series of alarming events, the Lord focused particularly on the imminent manifestation of God's dreadful judgment concerning Jerusalem. He stated that the destruction of Jerusalem is imminent, referencing the prophecy of Daniel regarding the desolation of the holy place. He urged that anyone seeking salvation should hasten to flee from Judea, as those who remain will face unprecedented tribulation, the likes of which have not been seen since the dawn of creation. During this time, many false prophets will arise; however, do not be swayed by them. The Son of Man will come forth like lightning, not limited to any specific location or form, but as the embodiment of God’s judgment. He will be fully revealed in His glory at the culmination of time.

Alas for those who are expectant and nursing, bound by circumstances that prevent their escape, for they too will endure the immense disaster that has been decreed against this nation. The devastation of Jerusalem would have been infinitely more severe had the days not been shortened by the Lord, as foretold by Jesus Christ... for the sake of the chosen ones (Mark 13:20) who had no opportunity to flee. The hopelessness of the besieged peaked when the Roman forces breached the city walls, entered Jerusalem, and seized the tower of Antony; people gathered in the temple courts and entrance areas, locking the gates and resolving to defend their position as long as they could. However, the attackers also invaded the temple and flooded it with blood.

All twelve apostles, excluding John, concluded their mission before a significant event pivotal to the church's establishment in the world—the definitive collapse of the misguided Jewish dreams for a temporal Messianic kingdom. The Jewish people struggled to accept the oppression imposed by their Roman conquerors, holding a deep-seated animosity toward the Romans and continually yearning for liberation. In this context, they exemplified the most unruly and defiant subjects of Rome. In contrast, other nations bore their subjugation with relative ease and, for some, even viewed it as a blessing, as the conquerors brought a semblance of peace, replacing constant internal conflicts that drained their strength. Conversely, the pagan societies accepted the conquest, gradually adapting to viewing the Roman pantheon as a shared sanctuary and the emperor as an embodiment of divinity.

The Jews, however, possessed a distinct identity formed by their history, which set them apart from the pagan world. As a chosen people safeguarding a monumental religious truth, they viewed themselves as a luminary meant to shed light upon other nations. Over time, this sense of moral and religious superiority shifted towards a more material expectation; the anticipated Messiah evolved in their minds from a savior of humanity to a political conqueror before whom all other nations would submit. For centuries, they nurtured this aspiration, only to confront the grim reality of being dominated by cruel Gentiles, relegated to a subordinate status within a vast empire that suppressed the political freedom of all nations. Dreams of liberation crumbled against this bleak backdrop, yet the Jews remained resolute, believing their subjugation to the Romans was only temporary, awaiting the arrival of a Messiah to liberate them from this oppression.

Upon the arrival of the true Messiah, whom they failed to recognize due to their preconceived notions, the Jews found themselves in an even more despairing predicament. They witnessed the masses acclaiming as the Messiah the very Nazarene they had rejected and subjected to merciless suffering and ignoble execution, which eroded their Messianic hope that had previously sustained them. A haunting question began to penetrate their thoughts: had they indeed crucified their Messiah? Should this be true, their aspirations for the future were dashed. As they oscillated between profound doubt and a fraying hope, the Jewish populace grew increasingly discontented, irritable, and rebellious with each passing year.

The Romans exacerbated this unrest through their scornful treatment of the Jews, whom they regarded with contempt and derision. They viewed them as the dirtiest and most immoral of people, failing even to impose their civil laws, as they did with other nations, opting instead to tighten their grip and exploit the Jews as a profitable commodity. Judea fell into the hands of tax collectors, who, with the assistance of their subordinates, drained the populace, plunging them into insurmountable debt and destitution. Roman officials, generally unsuited for governance, were appointed to rule; most procurators lacked ethical standards, seeing the provinces merely as sources of revenue, resorting to various extortions and lies. The nominal Jewish kings were entirely beholden to their Roman overlords, prioritizing their relationship with Rome over the welfare of their people, and thus they suppressed any popular uprising. Meanwhile, the ruling elite, particularly the Sadducees, who possessed the high priestly office, detached themselves from the masses and preferred to ingratiate themselves with Roman authorities rather than advocate for the people's political independence. Only the Pharisees retained a flicker of patriotism, longing to vanquish the Roman oppressors, though their hypocrisy often prevented them from taking any substantive action for the alleviation of the people's plight. Consequently, the Jews endured this despised oppression with growing resentment for more than fifty years.

With each passing year, the burden intensified, fueling discontent while the hope for miraculous salvation waned. Frequent changes in procurators usually resulted in the appointment of increasingly avaricious officials, aggravating the anger of the Jewish people. Felix and Festus, who presided over the case of Paul, left their mark through numerous unjust actions, yet their successor Albinus surpassed them, exploiting his position for personal gain and granting immunity to the most dangerous criminals. Josephus Flavius records that, "There was no such evil that he did not do during his reign." Following him was Florus, who surpassed Albinus in infamy. This same historian described him as an executioner sent to punish the guilty. His pillaging was so egregious that entire towns were left in ruin under his depredations. Seeking to extract money from the temple treasury on behalf of the emperor, Florus demanded seventeen talents, and upon the refusal of the Jews, he attempted to storm the treasury by force. Unable to tolerate this any longer, the Jews resisted him, resulting in a violent confrontation that forced Florus to retreat.

Amidst the rising tensions, a faction emerged within the city dedicated to breaking free from Roman control. Eleazar, son of Ananias, led a meeting in the temple during which they resolved to reject the annual offering to the emperor, a gesture signifying their rebellion against Roman dominance. The stage was set for war, culminating in the infamous Jewish War, which brought unprecedented horrors and bloodshed to the history of the world. The Jews revolted in Jerusalem, seizing control of the city and the fortress of Antonia, defeating the Roman garrison stationed there. Only one centurion escaped, securing his life through circumcision. The high priest Apavia, who had aligned with Rome, fled to safety but was discovered, dragged out, and killed. The rebellion spread through Palestine and Syria, marked not only by conflicts with Roman forces but also by violent massacres between Jews and Greeks, whose enmity intensified during this tumultuous time.

With the intention of quelling the uprising, Cestius Gallus, the governor of Syria, advanced on Jerusalem, but was thwarted at Bethoron, which further emboldened the rebels and intensified their fanaticism. Roman authorities soon realized their forces were insufficient to quell the insurrection and dispatched Vespasian, one of their finest commanders, along with a substantial army to exact vengeance upon the Jews. Vespasian's initial campaign focused on Galilee, confronting a Jewish army of 100,000 men led by the famed historian Josephus Flavius. However, Josephus struggled with an ill-trained, hastily assembled force against the seasoned Romans, leading to the swift fall of cities met with devastating extermination. Gadara was the first to surrender, where every man, woman, and child was slaughtered. Over forty-six days, Josephus valiantly defended Jotapata until treachery led to its capitulation. During the siege, 40,000 Jews were slain, and 1,200 were captured and subsequently burned. At Ascalon, 10,000 Jews were massacred; at Japhia, 27,000 died, with women and children sold into slavery.

Numerous Samaritans died of thirst on Mount Garizim, while 11,600 fell to the sword. Joppa witnessed the death of 8,400 of its residents, with the city itself consumed by flames. A number of fugitives evaded capture in the ruins, resorting to a life of robbery. As Roman soldiers drew closer, these Jews escaped to ships, but a violent storm engulfed them, resulting in the drowning of 4,200 individuals, whose bodies washed ashore. Tarichea, a fortified city along Lake Tiberias, was promised mercy by the Romans; yet when captured, 2,200 aged and infirm lost their lives, and 6,000 able-bodied citizens were sent to toil for Nero in the excavation of the Isthmus of Corinth. Additionally, 30,400 inhabitants were sold into slavery. This brutal extermination led to the submission of nearly the entire region.

However, Gamala maintained its resistance, deemed impregnable by its citizens due to its mountaintop location and a single road flanked by a deep moat. Agrippa's attempts to besiege it for seven months proved futile; Vespasian then took charge. Starved into submission, many residents sought escape by hurling themselves down the mountainside or fleeing through drainpipes. Eventually, the Romans captured the city, leading to a gruesome massacre. Only two women survived; 4,000 defenders perished, and 6,000 leapt from the cliffs to their deaths, while the rest, including women and children, met a brutal end.

Mount Tabor, fortified by Josephus, held out against Roman forces for a time, but ultimately, those still fighting were compelled to surrender due to a lack of water. Thus commenced the grievous judgment upon the Jewish nation, which Christ had forewarned, stating that "then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, and will not be!" (Matthew 24:21). The death of Nero and the elevation of Vespasian to emperor temporarily halted this exterminating conflict; however, it reignited more ferociously when Vespasian tasked Titus with subduing the Jews. Titus advanced directly toward Jerusalem and initiated a proper siege in April 70 CE. With his army of 80,000 troops surrounding the city, Jerusalem's defense was led by only 2,400 trained soldiers, while the city overflowed with countless Passover pilgrims seeking refuge within its walls.

Despite Roman offers of peace, the Jewish Zealots outright rejected any negotiations. Unprecedented valor was demonstrated on both sides, and although the Romans possessed superior military skill, the besieged compensated for their inexperience with fierce determination. Unfortunately, disaster loomed inevitable. The siege revealed the harrowing judgment of God hanging over the Jewish people. This was not a mere historical unfolding; the Jews recognized this ominous reality. There were reports of dreadful omens preceding their doom. During Passover five years prior, a mysterious light illuminated the Holy of Holies at midnight for three hours; the massive brass gates of the temple, which required twenty men to open, swung open unaided and could not be closed. On Pentecost, priests reportedly heard a voice commanding, "Let us leave this place." Fiery warriors were witnessed in the clouds, engaged in a fierce conflict that stained the sky with blood.

Four years before the war erupted while the city still experienced relative peace, a man named Jesus, son of Ananias, appeared in Jerusalem, ominously proclaiming in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds of heaven! A voice against Jerusalem and the temple, against husbands and wives, a voice against all the people." Despite attempts to silence him—subjecting him to beatings—he continued to cry out, "Woe, woe to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." His ominous declarations persisted unceasingly up until the war's conclusion; even as the siege progressed, he lamented, "Woe to me too!" and met his demise from a stone hurled by Roman artillery.

Meanwhile, the besieging forces imposed ever-greater burdens on the city. Jerusalem faced shortages of necessities, leading many to attempt escape, only to have Titus crucify the fleeing individuals. Inside the city, tragedy ensued as frenzied fighting erupted between rival factions, coupled with rampant violence and looting. Led by Eleazar, the Zealots engaged in blatant theft while the Romans relentlessly approached the walls, their projectiles wreaking havoc upon the streets. A grievous famine soon followed, exacerbating the suffering; the Zealots pilfered the stores of the private citizens, leaving the populace in dire distress. Women and children wept in the streets, begging for bread; young men, emaciated and weary, succumbed to exhaustion. Harrowing tales circulated of mothers resorting to the unthinkable, killing and cannibalizing their children.

‘shall fall by the edge of the sword,’ etc.: Flavius recounts that during the dire period for Judea and Jerusalem under Titus, approximately 1,100,000 men perished by the sword, while 97,000 were taken captive and dispersed, largely to Egypt and other Roman territories. - ‘Jerusalem shall be trampled upon by the Gentiles’: this indicates that the Gentiles will claim dominion over it, subjecting it to oppression. This imagery derives from the ancient Eastern practice where conquerors would stand upon the backs of those they had subjugated as a sign of their humiliation (Num. 10:24, 2 Sam. 22:40; Ezek. 21:29). - In essence, Jerusalem is depicted as being severely governed by the Gentiles.