Luke 21

A Widow’s Contribution—Mark 12:41–44

1 Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box.2 He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins.3 He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others.

4 All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

Jesus Teaches His Disciples—Matthew 24:1–35; Mark 13:1–31

5 Some of the disciples were talking about the temple complex. They noted that it was built with fine stones and decorated with beautiful gifts. So Jesus said,

6 “About these buildings that you see—the time will come when not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”
7 The disciples asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? What will be the sign when all this will occur?”8 Jesus said, “Be careful that you are not deceived. Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them!9 “When you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t be terrified! These things must happen first, but the end will not come immediately.”10 Then Jesus continued, “Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

11 There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and dreadful diseases in various places. Terrifying sights and miraculous signs will come from the sky.
12 “Before all these things happen, people will arrest and persecute you. They will hand you over to their synagogues and put you into their prisons. They will drag you in front of kings and governors because of my name.13 It will be your opportunity to testify to them.14 So make up your minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

15 I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.
16 “Even parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will betray you and kill some of you.17 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me.18 But not a hair on your head will be lost.

19 By your endurance you will save your life.
20 “When you see armies camped around Jerusalem, realize that the time is near for it to be destroyed.21 Then those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those of you in Jerusalem should leave it. Those of you in the fields shouldn’t go back into them.

22 This will be a time of vengeance. Everything that is written about it will come true.
23 “How horrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Indeed, the land will suffer very hard times, and its people will be punished.

24 Swords will cut them down, and they will be carried off into all nations as prisoners. Nations will trample Jerusalem until the times allowed for the nations to do this are over.
25 “Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations of the earth will be deeply troubled and confused because of the roaring and tossing of the sea.

26 People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe will be shaken.
27 “Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 “When these things begin to happen, stand with confidence! The time when you will be set free is near.”29 Then Jesus used this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree or any other tree.30 As soon as leaves grow on them, you know without being told that summer is near.

31 In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all this takes place.

33 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens Will Disappear

34 “Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise35 like a trap that catches a bird. That day will surprise all people who live on the earth.

36 Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”
37 During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there.

38 All of the people would get up early to hear him speak in the temple courtyard.

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.