Luke 21

A poor widow’s offering

1 Looking up, Jesus saw rich people throwing their gifts into the collection box for the temple treasury.2 He also saw a poor widow throw in two small copper coins worth a penny.t3 He said, "I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than them all.

4 All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had to live on."

The temple’s fate

5 Some people were talking about the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and ornaments dedicated to God. Jesus said,

6 "As for the things you are admiring, the time is coming when not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished."

7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will these things happen? What sign will show that these things are about to happen?"
8 Jesus said, "Watch out that you aren’t deceived. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘It’s time!’ Don’t follow them.

9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end won’t happen immediately."
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other.11 There will be great earthquakes and wide-scale food shortages and epidemics. There will also be terrifying sights and great signs in the sky.12 But before all this occurs, they will take you into custody and harass you because of your faith. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.13 This will provide you with an opportunity to testify.14 Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance.15 I’ll give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to counter or contradict.16 You will be betrayed by your parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends. They will execute some of you.17 Everyone will hate you because of my name.18 Still, not a hair on your heads will be lost.

19 By holding fast, you will gain your lives.
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that its destruction is close at hand.21 At that time, those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those in the city must escape, and those in the countryside must not enter the city.22 These are the days of punishment, when everything written will find its fulfillment.23 How terrible it will be at that time for women who are pregnant or for women who are nursing their children. There will be great agony on the earth and angry judgment on this people.

24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be plundered by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are concluded.
25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves.26 The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world.27 Then they will see the Human Onet coming on a cloud with power and great splendor.

28 Now when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads because your redemption is near."

A lesson from the fig tree

29 Jesus told them a parable. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that God’s kingdom is near.32 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until everything has happened.

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
34 "Take care that your hearts aren’t dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don’t let that day fall upon you unexpectedly,35 like a trap. It will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth.

36 Stay alert at all times, praying that you are strong enough to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand before the Human One."t
37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, but he spent each night on the Mount of Olives.

38 All the people rose early in the morning to hear him in the temple area.

Luke 21

The Widow’s Offering

1 Jesust looked upt and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.tss2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.s3 Het said, “I tell you the truth,t this poor widow has put in more than all of them.s

4 For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth.t But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”t

The Signs of the End of the Age

5 Nowt while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorneds with beautiful stones and offerings,t Jesust said,6 “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another.s All will be torn down!”t7 Sot they asked him,t “Teacher, when will these thingss happen? And what will be the sign thatt these things are about to take place?”8 Het said, “Watch outt that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’t and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them!

9 And when you hear of wars and rebellions,t do not be afraid.t For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.”s

Persecution of Disciples

10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in armst against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.11 There will be great earthquakes, and faminess and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sightst and great signss from heaven.12 But before all this,s they will seizet you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagoguess and prisons. Yout will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.t14 Therefore be resolvedt not to rehearset ahead of time how to make your defense.15 For I will give you the wordst along with the wisdomt that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.16 You will be betrayed even by parents,s brothers, relatives,t and friends, and they will have some of you put to death.17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name.s18 Yett not a hair of your head will perish.s

19 By your endurances you will gains your lives.t

The Desolation of Jerusalem

20 “But when you see Jerusalems surroundeds by armies, then know that itst desolations has come near.21 Then those who are in Judea must flees to the mountains. Thoset who are inside the city must depart. Thoset who are out in the country must not enter it,22 because these are days of vengeance,t to fulfillt all that is written.23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distresss on the earth and wrath against this people.

24 Theyt will fall by the edget of the sword and be led away as captivess among all nations. Jerusalemt will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.s

The Arrival of the Son of Man

25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars,s and on the earth nations will be in distress,t anxioust over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.26 People will be fainting from feart and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.s27 Thent they will see the Son of Manarriving in a clouds with power and great glory.

28 But when these thingss begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemptions is drawing near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29 Thent he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.t30 When they sprout leaves, you seet for yourselves and know that summer is now near.31 So also you, when you see these things happening, knowt that the kingdom of Gods is near.32 I tell you the truth,t this generations will not pass away until all these things take place.

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.s

Be Ready!

34 “But be on your guardts so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.s35 Fort it will overtaket all who live on the face of the whole earth.s

36 But stay alert at all times,s praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that mustt happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Sot every day Jesust was teaching in the temple courts,t but at night he went and stayedt on the Mount of Olives.ts

38 And all the peoples came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.st