Luke 21:1–28

True Giving

21As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple money box. ^{n 2}Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the box. ³He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. ⁴They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on.”

The Temple Will Be Destroyed

⁵Some people were talking about the Temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts offered to God.

But Jesus said, ⁶“As for these things you are looking at, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down.”

⁷They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸Jesus said, “Be careful so you are not fooled. Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the One’ and, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t follow them. ⁹When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid, because these things must happen first, but the end will come later.”

¹⁰Then he said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. ¹¹In various places there will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and a lack of food. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.

¹²“But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail and force you to stand before kings and governors, because you follow me. ¹³But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me. ¹⁴Make up your minds not to worry ahead of time about what you will say. ¹⁵I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong. ¹⁶Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you, and they will kill some of you. ¹⁷All people will hate you because you follow me. ¹⁸But none of these things can really harm you. ¹⁹By continuing to have faith you will save your lives.

Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed

²⁰“When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know it will soon be destroyed. ²¹At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are near the city should not go in. ²²These are the days of punishment to bring about all that is written in the Scriptures. ²³How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people. ²⁴They will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over.

Don’t Fear

²⁵“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea. ²⁶People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!”