Luke 21:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

That is, perfect liberty of body and soul. For as the first coming of our Lord was for the restoration of our souls, so will the second be manifested unto the restoration of our bodies.

But when He says, When ye shall see these things to come to pass, what can we understand but those things which were mentioned above. But among them we read, And then shall they see the Son of man coming. When therefore this is seen, the kingdom of God is not yet, but nigh at hand. Or must we say that we are not to understand all the things before mentioned, when He says, When ye shall see these things, &c. but only some of them; this for example being excepted, And then shall they see the Son of man.

Matthew speaks of the fig-tree only, Luke of all the trees. But the fig-tree shadows forth two things, either the ripening of what is hard, or the luxuriance of sin; that is, either that, when the fruit bursts forth in all trees and the fruitful fig-tree abounds, (that is, when every tongue confesses God, even the Jewish people confessing Him,) we ought to hope for our Lord’s coming, in which shall be gathered in as at summer the fruits of the resurrection. Or, when the man of sin shall clothe himself in his light and fickle boasting as it were the leaves of the synagogue, we must then suppose the judgment to be drawing near. For the Lord hastens to reward faith, and to bring an end of sinning.

It is also stated that

Matthew 24:34-35.

Or else, To those that have passed through the body and bodily things, shall be present spiritual and heavenly bodies: that is, they will have no more to pass the kingdom of the world, and then to those that are worthy shall be given the promises of salvation. For having received the promises of God which we look for, we who before were crooked shall be made upright, and we shall lift up our heads who were before bent low; because the redemption which we hoped for is at hand; that namely for which the whole creation waiteth.

Or else, He says, the kingdom of God is at hand, meaning that when these things shall be, not yet shall all things come to their last end, but they shall be already tending towards it. For the very coming of our Lord itself, casting out every principality and power, is the preparation for the kingdom of God.

Having in what has gone before spoken against the reprobate, He now turns His words to the consolation of the elect; for it is added, When these things begin to be, look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh; as if he says, When the buffettings of the world multiply, lift up your heads, that is, rejoice your hearts, for when the world closes whose friends ye are not, the redemption is near which ye seek. For in holy Scripture the head is often put for the mind, for as the members are ruled by the head, so are the thoughts regulated by the mind. To lift up our heads then, is to raise up our minds to the joys of the heavenly country.

He strongly commends that which he thus foretels. And, if one may so speak, his oath is this, Amen, I say unto you. Amen is by interpretation “true.” Therefore the truth says, I tell you the truth, and though He spoke not thus, He could by no means lie. But by generation he means either the whole human race, or especially the Jews.

In light of the glorious and reassuring depiction of the Messiah's return, which can profoundly resonate with every devout and faithful heart, it is understandable that the disciples of Jesus would have been increasingly curious about the timing of this significant event. “When will these things happen?” was likely a question shared not just by Peter, as the flow of their discussion suggests. The God-man responded, “The pivotal moments in the realm of God, much like those in nature, announce themselves; we only need to be observant. Look at the fig tree and all the other trees (Luke 21:29) and learn from them. When their branches become tender and they sprout leaves, you know on your own (Luke 21:30) that summer is approaching.

The inquiry posed by the disciples pertained to two main topics: the timing and the signs associated with the end of Jerusalem and the world, as well as the return of Christ. Up to this point, the Lord has provided responses related to the second part of their question. Now, He begins to address the timing of the prophesied events. He first teaches them that they should recognize the nearness of the end through the signs that He describes, much like one knows summer is approaching when the branches of the fig tree become tender and produce leaves.

Remember the signs I have provided regarding the impending ruin of Jerusalem. Consider the fig tree as a lesson: when its branches become tender and its leaves start to sprout, you will recognize that summer is approaching. In the same way, I tell you that when you witness the events I have predicted beginning to unfold, you will understand that judgment is imminent, already standing at the door, ready to come upon the people of Israel. Truly I assure you, it will happen soon; many who are alive today will witness all the misfortunes and will personally endure them. Everything will occur just as I have declared, for it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for my words to remain unfulfilled.

The severe judgment of God upon the Jewish nation due to their disbelief and stubbornness fulfilled the clear prophecies of Christ. In His final address, deeply affected by the ultimate rejection of His chosen people, Christ predicted a forthcoming visit to the Jewish nation; however, this time He would come as a formidable judge wielding righteous retribution. This encounter was to happen within the lifespan of the very generation that had scorned Christ and committed the grave sin of deicide. “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, as all these things shall be” (Matthew 24:34), and this prophecy aligned exactly with the dreadful reality.