21Luke 21

The Widow's Offering

1Jesus looked around and saw rich people dropping their gifts in the Temple treasury,Select Luke 21:1

2and he also saw a very poor widow dropping in two little copper coins.Select Luke 21:2

3He said, “I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.Select Luke 21:3

4For the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on.”Select Luke 21:4

Jesus Speaks of the Destruction of the Temple

5Some of the disciples were talking about the Temple, how beautiful it looked with its fine stones and the gifts offered to God. Jesus said,Select Luke 21:5

6“All this you see—the time will come when not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one will be thrown down.”Select Luke 21:6

Troubles and Persecutions

7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will this be? And what will happen in order to show that the time has come for it to take place?”Select Luke 21:7

8Jesus said, “Watch out; don't be fooled. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ But don't follow them.Select Luke 21:8

9Don't be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near.”Select Luke 21:9

10He went on to say, “Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another.Select Luke 21:10

11There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and plagues everywhere; there will be strange and terrifying things coming from the sky.Select Luke 21:11

12Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake.Select Luke 21:12

13This will be your chance to tell the Good News.Select Luke 21:13

14Make up your minds ahead of time not to worry about how you will defend yourselves,Select Luke 21:14

15because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say.Select Luke 21:15

16You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death.Select Luke 21:16

17Everyone will hate you because of me.Select Luke 21:17

18But not a single hair from your heads will be lost.Select Luke 21:18

19Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.Select Luke 21:19

Jesus Speaks of the Destruction of Jerusalem

20“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.Select Luke 21:20

21Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills; those who are in the city must leave, and those who are out in the country must not go into the city.Select Luke 21:21

22For those will be ‘The Days of Punishment,’ to make come true all that the Scriptures say.Select Luke 21:22

23How terrible it will be in those days for women who are pregnant and for mothers with little babies! Terrible distress will come upon this land, and God's punishment will fall on this people.Select Luke 21:23

24Some will be killed by the sword, and others will be taken as prisoners to all countries; and the heathen will trample over Jerusalem until their time is up.Select Luke 21:24

The Coming of the Son of Man

25“There will be strange things happening to the sun, the moon, and the stars. On earth whole countries will be in despair, afraid of the roar of the sea and the raging tides.Select Luke 21:25

26People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses.Select Luke 21:26

27Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory.Select Luke 21:27

28When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near.”Select Luke 21:28

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29Then Jesus told them this parable: “Think of the fig tree and all the other trees.Select Luke 21:29

30When you see their leaves beginning to appear, you know that summer is near.Select Luke 21:30

31In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the Kingdom of God is about to come.Select Luke 21:31

32“Remember that all these things will take place before the people now living have all died.Select Luke 21:32

33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.Select Luke 21:33

The Need to Watch

34“Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch youSelect Luke 21:34

35like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth.Select Luke 21:35

36Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”Select Luke 21:36

37Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came, he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives.Select Luke 21:37

38Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.Select Luke 21:38