Luke 21

The Widow’s Gift

21He ^olooked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. ^p2He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. ^qr3“I tell you the truth,” He said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. ^s4For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

⁵As ^tsome were talking about the temple complex, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, ^uHe said, ⁶“These things that you see—the days will come ^vwhen not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down!” ^w

Signs of the End of the Age

⁷“Teacher,” they asked Him, “so when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ^x

⁸Then He said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. ^yFor many will come in My name, ^zsaying, ‘I am He,’ ^aand, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them. ^b9When you hear of wars and rebellions, ^cdon’t be alarmed. Indeed, these things must take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

¹⁰Then He told them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ^d11There will be violent earthquakes, ^eand famines and plagues ^fin various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. ^g12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you ^hand persecute ⁱyou. They will hand you over to the ^•synagogues ^jand prisons, ^kand you will be brought before kings and governors ^lbecause of My name. ¹³It will lead to an opportunity for you to witness. ^mn14Therefore make up your minds ^onot to prepare your defense ahead of time, ^p15for I will give you such words ^qrand a wisdom ^sthat none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ^t16You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. ^uThey will kill some of you. ¹⁷You will be hated by everyone because of My name, ^v18but not a hair of your head will be lost. ^w19By your endurance gain ^xyour ^•lives. ^y

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, ^zthen recognize that its desolation ^ahas come near. ²¹Then those in Judea must flee ^bto the mountains! ^cThose inside the city ^dmust leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, ²²because these are days of vengeance ^eto fulfill all the things that are written. ²³Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, ^ffor there will be great distress in the land ^gand wrath against this people. ²⁴They will fall by the edge of the sword ^hand be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles ^ijuntil the times of the Gentiles ^kare fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵“Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; ^land there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves. ^m26People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken. ⁿ²⁷Then they will see the ^•Son of Man coming in a cloud ^owith power and great glory. ^p28But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your ^•redemption is near!” ^q

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. ³¹In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize ^rthat the kingdom of God is near. ^32•I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. ^s33Heaven and earth will pass away, ^tbut My words will never pass away. ^u

The Need for Watchfulness

³⁴“Be on your guard, ^vso that your minds are not dulled ^wfrom carousing, ^xdrunkenness, ^yand worries of life, ^zor that day will come on you unexpectedly ^a35like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶But be alert at all times, ^bpraying that you may have strength ^cto escape ^dall these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷During ^ethe day, He was teaching in the temple complex, ^fbut in the evening He would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. ^g38Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear Him in the temple complex. ^h