Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
woe unto—"alas for."
with child, etc.—from the greater suffering it would involve; as also "flight in winter, and on the sabbath," which they were to "pray" against (Matthew 24:20), the one as more trying to the body, the other to the soul. "For then shall be tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be"—language not unusual in the Old Testament for tremendous calamities, though of this it may perhaps be literally said, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22). But for this merciful "shortening," brought about by a remarkable concurrence of causes, the whole nation would have perished, in which there yet remained a remnant to be afterwards gathered out. Here in Matthew and Mark (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22) are some particulars about "false Christs," who should, "if possible"—a precious clause—"deceive the very elect." (Compare II Thessalonians 2:9-11; Revelation 13:13.)
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Luke 21:23:
Isaiah 22:5
Daniel 9:26
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