The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, 16 November 2025 | A Sermon on Luke 21:5-19 | by Pastor Timothy Eichler, STS |

Luke 21:5-19 English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Title: Do not be distracted

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Through the words of Malachi (the first reading) we hear and read Luke’s gospel.

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble,” (Malachi 4:1).

When I hear and read the gospel reading through Malachi I recall the tension, the uneasiness, the anxiety revolving around the change in the calendar year 31 December 1999 to 1 January 2000; better known as Y2K. I remember how people were talking about why to do if the computers shut down, how much money to keep in cash, how to prepare for the end of times, et cetera. In fact, I had a young Sailor come to me in great anguish over the possibilities of Y2K. He was a new Christian convert and was very concerned with how to welcome the second coming of Jesus Christ. His response was not only conversation and prayer with me, but as I later learned he was stockpiling weapons and ordnance at another individual’s house. He was ready to go to war for Jesus in this world. He was solely focussed upon the current age.

In our conversations after the discovery of his stock piling and Y2K we talked about him not being led astray: do not be deceived, do not become entangled with them, and do not be seduced. In other words, do not worship false gods. We are not to be influenced by everything one hears or reads.

This is a difficult thing to do; not to be influenced.  Particularly, as others will to use fear as a way of establishing themselves as one’s savior. In others imposing their fear upon us to influence us we realize in the midst of our pain: physical, emotional, or spiritual that we along with everyone else have rebelled against God. In our rebellion we look for and we listen for pain relief seeking salvation from sources that are not of God. As a part of this process we continue to suffer along with everyone else. Pain and suffering appears to be the only way of life in our world.

Jesus reminds us of our pain and suffering in the world; of a way of life separated from God when he says:

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake,” (Luke 21:10-12).

So what shall we do in the midst of the pain and suffering?

What shall we do in the midst of the anxiety of the day?

The anxiety and turmoil of Y2K is repeated in our daily lives whether it is politics, our health, or a life changing event we turn and look at the buildings, politicians, educators, or other influencers in our lives realizing that they are all only temporary. There is nothing permanent about them. Jesus says, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them,” (Luke 21:8).

We take heed. We see. We listen. Through our eyes and our ears we keep our head on a swivel. Like driving a car we are on constant vigilance for all the activity around us so that we are not involved in an accident. We live lives cultivating life with Jesus Christ. Paul reminds Timothy in his second letter that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work,” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We are to be influenced by the reading and studying of Scripture in its entirety. Read all of Scripture and not just one’s favorite parts or those parts that seemingly support one’s position. In other words, what does ALL of Scripture say?

Through our cultivating of a relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture we endure in the world.

“By your endurance you will gain your lives,” (Luke 21:19).

May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you.

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen

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©Timothy Richard Eichler

   pastoreicher@gmail.com

   Resurrection Lutheran Church

   Coronado, CA, USA