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

LUKE 21

A Widow's Offering

(Mark 12.41-44)

1 Jesus looked up and saw some rich people tossing their gifts into the offering box. 2 He also saw a poor widow putting in a few cents. 3 And he said, “I tell you that this poor woman has put in more than all the others.

4 Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had.”

The Temple Will Be Destroyed

(Matthew 24.1,2; Mark 13.1,2)

6 “Do you see these stones? The time is coming when not one of them will be left in place. They will all be knocked down.”

Warning about Trouble

(Matthew 24.3-14; Mark 13.3-13)

7  t Some people asked, “Teacher, when will all this happen? How can we know when these things are about to take place?”

8 Jesus replied:
Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, “I am Christ!” and “Now is the time!” But don't follow them.

9 When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but this isn't the end.
10 Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other.

11 There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.
12 Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your synagogues and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors.

13 But this will be your chance to tell about your faith.
14  t Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. 15 I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong. 16 You will be betrayed by your own parents, brothers, family, and friends. Some of you will even be killed. 17 Because of me, you will be hated by everyone. 18 But don't worry!t

19 You will be saved by being faithful to me.

Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed

(Matthew 24.15-21; Mark 13.14-19)

24 Some of them will be killed by swords. Others will be carried off to foreign countries. Jerusalem will be overrun by foreign nations until their time comes to an end.

When the Son of Man Appears

(Matthew 24.29-31; Mark 13.24-27)

28 When all of this starts happening, stand up straight and be brave. You will soon be set free.

A Lesson from a Fig Tree

(Matthew 24.32-35; Mark 13.28-31)

29 Then Jesus told them a story:
When you see a fig tree or any other tree 30 putting out leaves, you know that summer will soon come. 31 So, when you see these things happening, you know that God's kingdom will soon be here. 32 You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all of this takes place.

33 The sky and the earth won't last forever, but my words will.

A Warning

36 Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.
37  t Jesus taught in the temple each day, and he spent each night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Everyone got up early and came to the temple to hear him teach.