eferred to the
Hebrew race by the term "this generation." The words are almost certainly
to be interpreted in their usual significance and "all things" to be
"accomplished" refers to the destruction of Jerusalem regarded as the type
and symbol of the return of Christ. These two events are thus closely
related in this prophetic discourse and the literal fulfillment of the
first gives to believers a more confident assurance of the certain
occurrence of the latter: "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words
shall not pass away." The hope that our Lord will come is not based on
human conjectures, but on his own unfailing predictions. All that is
material and temporal may cease to exist, but his promises are eternal.

In view of such glorious prophecies the heart of the Christian is ever to
be set upon the gracious realities relating to the coming of the Master.
The followers of Christ must be on their guard lest they be overcome by
the influences which Jesus described as characterizing the days
immediately preceding his return. There will be temptation to
self-indulgence and indifference and absorption in worldly cares.
Believers are warned to be on their watch lest the coming of Christ
overtake them unexpectedly, as indeed it will come upon others. They are
urged to watch and to pray that they may be able to escape from those
judgments which will break upon a guilty world, and may be counted worthy
to take their places in the glorious Kingdom of their Lord.

5. The Historic Statement. Ch. 21:37, 38

37 And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he
went out, and lodged in the mount that was called Olivet. 38 And
all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to
hear him.

Luke closes his account of the discourse delivered by Jesus in reference
to his return by a statement which summarizes the general conditions which
marked the final events of Jesus' earthly ministry. He states that Jesus
passed his days teaching in the Temple and spent the nights under the open
skies on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, and that the people were so
eager to hear him that they resorted to the Temple early each morning.
This statement is rather in the nature of a review. It marks a transition
in the narrative. In reality, Jesus seems to have returned to the city
only once more, when he was arrested and led forth to die. Luke prepares
us for these last events. The story has rea