21
1 He
looked up and
saw the rich
people who
were putting their
gifts into the
treasury.
2 He
saw a certain
poor widow casting
in two small brass
coins.
3 He
said,
“Truly I tell
you, this poor
widow put in
more than all
of them,
4 for all these
put in gifts
for God from
their abundance,
but she, out
of her poverty,
put in all
that she had
to live
on.”
5 As
some were talking
about the temple
and how it
was decorated with
beautiful stones
and gifts, he said,
6 “As for these
things which you
see, the days
will come in
which there will
not be left here
one stone on
another that
will not
be thrown down.”
7 They
asked him, “Teacher, so when will
these things be?
What is the
sign that these
things are about
to happen?”
8 He
said,
“Watch out that
you don’t get
led astray, for
many will come
in my name,
saying, ‘I am
he,’ and, ‘The
time is at
hand.’ Therefore don’t
follow them.
9 When you hear
of wars
and disturbances, don’t
be terrified,
for these things
must happen
first, but the
end won’t come
immediately.”
10 Then
he said to
them,
“Nation will
rise against
nation, and kingdom
against kingdom.
11 There will be
great earthquakes,
famines, and
plagues in
various places.
There will be
terrors and
great signs from
heaven.
12 But before all
these things,
they will lay
their hands on
you and will
persecute you,
delivering you
up to synagogues
and prisons, bringing
you before kings
and governors
for my name’s
sake.
13 It will turn
out as a
testimony for
you.
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 will
not be able
to withstand or
to contradict.
16 You will be
handed over even
by parents, brothers,
relatives, and
friends. They
will cause some
of you to
be put to
death.
17 You will be
hated by all
men for my
name’s sake.
18 And not a
hair of your
head will perish.
19 “By your
endurance you
will win your
lives.
20 “But when you
see Jerusalem
surrounded by
armies, then
know that its
desolation is at
hand.
21 Then let those
who are in
Judea flee to
the mountains.
Let those who
are in the
middle of
her depart. Let
those who are
in the country
not enter
therein.
22 For these are
days of
vengeance, that
all things which
are written may
be fulfilled.
23 Woe to those
who are pregnant
and to those
who nurse infants in
those days! For
there will be
great distress in
the land and
wrath to this
people.
24 They will fall
by the edge
of the sword,
and will be led
captive into all
the nations.
Jerusalem will
be trampled down
by the Gentiles
until the times
of the Gentiles
are fulfilled.
25 “There will be
signs in the
sun, moon,
and stars; and
on the
earth anxiety of
nations, in perplexity
for the roaring
of the sea
and the waves;
26 men fainting for
fear and for
expectation of
the things which
are coming on
the world, for
the powers of
the heavens will
be shaken.
27 Then they will
see the Son
of Man coming
in a cloud
with power and
great glory.
28 But when these
things begin to
happen, look up
and lift up
your heads,
because your redemption
is near.”
29 He
told them a
parable.
“See the fig
tree and all
the trees.
30 When they are
already budding, you
see it and
know by your
own selves that
the summer is
already near.
31 Even so you
also, when you
see these things
happening, know
that God’s Kingdom
is near.
32 Most certainly I
tell you, this
generation will
not pass away
until all things
are accomplished.
33 Heaven and
earth will pass
away, but my
words will by
no means pass
away.
34 “So be careful,
or your hearts
will be loaded down
with carousing, drunkenness,
and cares of
this life, and
that day will
come on
you suddenly.
35 For it will
come like a
snare on all
those who dwell
on the surface
of all the
earth.
36 Therefore be watchful
all the time,
praying that you
may be counted worthy
to escape all
these things
that will happen,
and to stand
before the Son
of Man.”
37 Every
day Jesus was
teaching in the
temple, and every
night he would
go out and spend
the night on
the mountain that
is called Olivet.
38 All
the people came
early in the
morning to him
in the temple
to hear him.