Matthew 24

The Temple Will Be Destroyed

1 (Mark 13.1, 2; Luke 21.5, 6) After Jesus left the temple, his disciples came over and said, “Look at all these buildings!”

2 Jesus replied, “Do you see these buildings? They will certainly be torn down! Not one stone will be left in place.”

Warning About Trouble

3 (Mark 13.3-13; Luke 21.7-19) Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him in private and asked, “When will this happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?”

4 Jesus answered: Don’t let anyone fool you.

5 Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.
6 You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn’t the end.7 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes.

8 But this is just the beginning of troubles.
9 t You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations.10 Many will give up and will betray and hate each other.11 Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people.12 Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others.13 t13 But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved.14 When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come.

The Horrible Thing

15 (Mark 13.14-23; Luke 21.20-24) t Someday you will see that “Horrible Thing” in the holy place, just as the prophet Daniel said. Everyone who reads this must try to understand!16 If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains.17 t17 If you are on the rooft of your house, don’t go inside to get anything.18 If you are out in the field, don’t go back for your coat.19 It will be a terrible time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children.20 And pray that you won’t have to escape in winter or on a Sabbath.t21 t21 This will be the worst time of suffering since the beginning of the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again.

22 If God doesn’t make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God’s chosen ones, he will make the time shorter.
23 Someone may say, “Here is the Messiah!” or “There he is!” But don’t believe it.24 False messiahs and false prophets will come and work great miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God’s chosen ones.25 But I have warned you ahead of time.26 t26 If you are told that the Messiah is out in the desert, don’t go there! And if you are told that he is in some secret place, don’t believe it!27 The coming of the Son of Man will be like lightning that can be seen from east to west.28 t28 Where there is a corpse, there will always be buzzards. t

When the Son of Man Appears

29 (Mark 13.24-27; Luke 21.25-28) t Right after those days of suffering, “The sun will become dark,
and the moon
will no longer shine.
The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky t will be shaken.”

30 t Then a sign will appear in the sky. And there will be the Son of Man.t All nations on earth will weep when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 At the sound of a loud trumpet, he will send his angels to bring his chosen ones together from all over the earth.

A Lesson from a Fig Tree

32 (Mark 13.28-31; Luke 21.29-33) Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know that summer is near.33 So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come.t34 I can promise you that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens.35 The sky and the earth won’t last forever, but my words will.

No One Knows the Day or Time

36 (Mark 13.32-37; Luke 17.26-30, 34-36) No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know.t Only the Father knows.37 t37 When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived.38 People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and Noah went into the big boat.

39 t39 They didn’t know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.
40 Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.41 Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.42 So be on your guard! You don’t know when your Lord will come.43 t43 Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in.44 Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.

Faithful and Unfaithful Servants

45 (Luke 12.35-48) Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time?46 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job.47 You may be sure that a servant who is always faithful will be put in charge of everything the master owns.48 But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won’t return until late.49 Suppose that evil servant starts beating the other servants and eats and drinks with people who are drunk.50 If that happens, the master will surely come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him.

51 That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the ones who only pretended to serve their master. There they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.

Matthew 25

A Story About Ten Girls

1 t The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten girls took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom.t2 Five of the girls were foolish and five were wise.3 The foolish ones took their lamps, but no extra oil.

4 The ones who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps.
5 The groom was late arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 Then in the middle of the night someone shouted, “Here’s the groom! Come to meet him!”
7 When the girls got up and started getting their lamps ready,

8 the foolish ones said to the others, “Let us have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out.”

9 The girls who were wise answered, “There’s not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves.”
10 While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The girls who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed.

11 t11 Later the other girls returned and shouted, “Sir, sir! Open the door for us!”

12 But the groom replied, “I don’t even know you!”
13 So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.

A Story About Three Servants

14 (Luke 19.11-27) t The kingdom is also like what happened when a man went away and put his three servants in charge of all he owned.

15 The man knew what each servant could do. So he handed five thousand coins to the first servant, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Then he left the country.
16 As soon as the man had gone, the servant with the five thousand coins used them to earn five thousand more.17 The servant who had two thousand coins did the same with his money and earned two thousand more.

18 But the servant with one thousand coins dug a hole and hid his master’s money in the ground.
19 Some time later the master of those servants returned. He called them in and asked what they had done with his money.

20 The servant who had been given five thousand coins brought them in with the five thousand that he had earned. He said, “Sir, you gave me five thousand coins, and I have earned five thousand more.”

21 “Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”

22 Next, the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, “Sir, you gave me two thousand coins, and I have earned two thousand more.”

23 “Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”
24 The servant who had been given one thousand coins then came in and said, “Sir, I know that you are hard to get along with. You harvest what you don’t plant and gather crops where you haven’t scattered seed.

25 I was frightened and went out and hid your money in the ground. Here is every single coin!”
26 The master of the servant told him, “You are lazy and good-for-nothing! You know that I harvest what I don’t plant and gather crops where I haven’t scattered seed.

27 You could have at least put my money in the bank, so that I could have earned interest on it.”
28 Then the master said, “Now your money will be taken away and given to the servant with ten thousand coins!29 t29 Everyone who has something will be given more, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken from those who don’t have anything.30 t30 You are a worthless servant, and you will be thrown out into the dark where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”

The Final Judgment

31 t When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne.

32 The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created.35 When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me,

36 and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.”
37 Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink?38 When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear

39 or visit you while you were sick or in jail?”

40 The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”
41 Then the king will say to those on his left, “Get away from me! You are under God’s curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!42 I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink.

43 I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.”

44 Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?”

45 The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.”

46 t Then Jesus said, “Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life.”

Matthew 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 (Mark 14.1, 2; Luke 22.1, 2; John 11.45-53) When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples,

2 t2 “You know that two days from now will be Passover. That is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross.”
3 At that time the chief priests and the nation’s leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest.4 They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death.5 But they said, “We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot.”

At Bethany

6 (Mark 14.3-9; John 12.1-8) Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy.t7 t7 A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head.8 But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, “Why such a waste?

9 We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor.”
10 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said: Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me.11 t11 You will always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me.12 She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.t13 You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.

Judas and the Chief Priests

14 (Mark 14.10, 11; Luke 22.3-6) Judas Iscariott was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests15 t15 and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas thirty silver coins,16 and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.

Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples

17 (Mark 14.12-21; Luke 22.7-13; John 13.21-30) On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus’ disciples came to him and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?”

18 Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, “Our teacher says, ‘My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.’ ”

19 They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.

20-21 When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, “One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies.”

22 The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, “Lord, you can’t mean me!”
23 t He answered, “One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me.

24 The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it’s going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born.”
25 Judas said, “Teacher, you surely don’t mean me!” “That’s what you say!” Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.

The Lord’s Supper

26 (Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25) During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”

27 Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and drink it.28 t28 This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven.29 From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.”30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter’s Promise

31 (Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38) t Jesus said to his disciples, “During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, ‘I will strike down
the shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.’

32 t32 But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

33 Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”
34 Jesus replied, “I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”35 But Peter said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don’t know you.” All the others said the same thing.

Jesus Prays

36 (Mark 14.32-42; Luke 22.39-46) Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

37 Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John.t He was very sad and troubled,

38 and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”

39 Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup.t But do what you want, and not what I want.”
40 He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour?

41 Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”

42 Again Jesus went to pray and said, “My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want.”
43 Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open.

44 He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45 Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting?t The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.46 Get up! Let’s go. The one who will betray me is already here.”

Jesus is Arrested

47 (Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12) Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation’s leaders.

48 Judas had told them ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.” t

49 Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “My friend, why are you here?” t The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51 One of Jesus’ followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting.53 Don’t you know that I could ask my Father, and right away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels?

54 But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?”
55 t Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.56 But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.” All of Jesus’ disciples left him and ran away.

Jesus is Questioned by the Council

57 (Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54, 55, 63-71; John 18.13, 14, 19-24) After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation’s leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there.

58 But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest’s palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.
59 The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court.t60 But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward

61 t61 and said, “This man claimed that he would tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days.”
62 The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Why don’t you say something in your own defense? Don’t you hear the charges they are making against you?”

63 But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, “With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?” t

64 t “That is what you say!” Jesus answered. “But I tell all of you, ‘Soon you will see
the Son of Man
sitting at the right side t of God All-Powerful
and coming on the clouds
of heaven.’ ”

65 t The high priest then tore his robe and said, “This man claims to be God! We don’t need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said.66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is guilty and deserves to die!”67 t67 Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him68 and said, “You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!”

Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus

69 (Mark 14.66-72; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18, 25-27) While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus from Galilee.”

70 But in front of everyone Peter said, “That isn’t so! I don’t know what you are talking about!”

71 When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”

72 Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, “I don’t even know that man!”

73 A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, “We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee.”
74 Peter began to curse and swear, “I don’t know that man!” Right then a rooster crowed,

75 and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went out and cried hard.