Luke 21

A Poor Widow’s Offering

1 And he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the contribution box,2 and he saw a certain poor widow putting in there two small copper coins.t3 And he said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all of them.

4 For these all put gifts into the offering out of their abundance, but this woman out of her poverty put in all the means of subsistence that she had.”

The Destruction of the Temple Predicted

5 And while some were speaking about the temple, that it was adorned with precious stones and votive offerings, he said,

6 “As for these things that you see—days will come in which not one stone will be left on another stone that will not be thrown down!”

Signs of the End of the Age

7 And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”8 And he said, Watch out that you are not deceived! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them!9 And when you hear about wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end will not be at once.”10 Then he said to them, “nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

11 There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places. There will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

Persecution of Disciples Predicted

12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.13 This will turn out to you for a time of witness.14 Therefore make up your mindst not to prepare in advance to speak in your own defense,15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your opponents will not be able to resist or contradict.16 And you will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put to death some of you.17 And you will be hated by all because of my name.18 Even a hair of your head will never perish!

19 By your patient endurance you will gain your lives.

The Desolation of Jerusalem

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside itt must depart, and those in the fields must not enter into it,22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all the things that are written can be fulfilled.23 Woe to those who are pregnantt and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people,

24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations,t and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Arrival of the Son of Man

25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity from the noise of the sea and its surging,26 people fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.t27 And then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloudt with power and great glory.

28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.30 When they put out foliage, now you see for yourselves and know that by this time the summer is near.31 So also you, when you see these things happening, knowt that the kingdom of God is near.32 Truly I say to you that this generation will never pass away until all things take place!

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

Be Alert

34 “But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who reside on the face of the whole earth.

36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 So throughout the days he was teaching in the temple courts, and throughout the nights he was going out and spending the night on the hill that is called the Mount of Olives.

38 And all the people were getting up very early in the morning to come to him in the temple courts to listen to him.

Luke 21

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.2 And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:4 for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said,6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.7 And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.9 And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;11 and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.12 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.13 It shall turn out unto you for a testimony.14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.16 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.18 And not a hair of your head shall perish.19 In your patience ye shall win your souls.20 But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.21 Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein.22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.23 Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.29 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:30 when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.37 And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.