21
“This Destitute Widow Has Put In Far More Than Indeed All the Others”
1 When Jesus+ looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the trumpet-shaped receptacles located in the Court of Women, in which contributions to the temple were collected.+
2 He also saw a poor widow putting in two tiny copper coins worth next-to-nothing.+
3 He said, “I tell ᵖyou the truth: This destitute widow has put in far more than indeed all the others.
4 All of these people, you see, merely put in+ this: What they never really needed anyway.+ She, however, put in this: What she truly did need,+ indeed everything she had to live on.”
“When Will These Things Happen, Then? And What Will Be the Sign When These Things Are About to Take Place?”
5 As some were talking about the temple complex, how it was adorned with such beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus+ said,
6 “As for these things that ᵖyou are looking at, the time+ will come when no two stones will be left standing together; all will be torn down!+”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen, then? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
8 Jesus+ said, “Make sure that ᵖyou don’t allow yourselves to be deceived! There will appear in my name, you see, many imposters, claiming, ‘ I am he!’, and, ‘The appointed time is drawing near!’+ Do not follow them!+
9 Now when ᵖyou hear of wars and insurrections,+ don’t be frightened, for these things must take place first,+ but its end+ will not come right away.”
10 Then Jesus+ continued and said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and ‘kingdom against kingdom.’+
11 Not only will there be these—violent earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places—but there will also be these: Terrifying events and great signs from the sky.++
12 “Prior to these things, however, all of them, people+ will arrest+ ᵖyou and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, and ᵖyou will be brought before kings and rulers because of my name.+
13 This will result in an opportunity for ᵖyou to bear witness.
14 Resolve in your hearts, therefore, not to rehearse+ your defense ahead of time.
15 I, you see, will give ᵖyou words full of wisdom,+ which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute.+
16 Now, ᵖyou will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will have some of you put to death,+
17 and ᵖyou will be hated by everyone because of my name.
18 Yet not a hair on ᵖyour heads will be lost.
19 It is by patiently enduring+ that ᵖyou will gain your lives.+
20 Now when you see Jerusalem beginning+ to be surrounded by armies, then you must recognize that her desolation is drawing near.
21 At that time+ those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city+ must get out, and those out in the countryside must not enter the city.+
22 For what will this time be? A time+ of God’s vengeance,+ when he carries out+ all the things that are written.+
23 How terrible it will be for pregnant+ women and nursing mothers at that time!+ For there will be great distress in the land+ and wrath against this people;
24 they will die+ by the edge of the sword and be carried off as captives among all the Gentiles.+ Jerusalem, in fact, will go on being trampled by Gentiles until the appointed times of the Gentiles are completed,+
25 when+ there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars,+ and on the earth great distress and confusion among the nations+ because of the roaring of the sea and its surging waves,+
26 people fainting from dread+ of the things that are coming against mankind.+ ‘The powers of the heavens,’ you see, ‘will be shaken.’+
27 And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on+ a cloud’+ with power and great glory.+
28 Now, when these things begin to take place,+ be strong+ and take courage,+ because ᵖyour release from slavery and oppression+ is drawing near.”
29 Then Jesus+ told them a parable: “Pay close attention to the fig tree and all the other trees.
30 As soon as they start putting out leaves, ᵖyou recognize from your own observation+ that summer is already very near.
31 In the same way, ᵖyou, too, when you observe these things unfolding, recognize that the Kingdom of God is very near!
32 Amen, I solemnly+ tell ᵖyou this: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.
33 It is heaven+ and the earth+ that will pass away!+ My words, however, will never pass away.
34 “Now, ᵖyou must constantly be on your guard, so that ᵖyou aren’t dulled and staggering around like a drunkard and caught up in the worries of everyday life,+ and that day fall upon ᵖyou unexpectedly
35 like a trap.+ For it will come upon all the inhabitants of the entire earth.
36 But stay alert at all times, praying that ᵖyou may have as much strength as you need to flee+ all these things that are destined to take place, and to appear without shame+ before the Son of Man.”+
37 Now the temple courts were where Jesus+ spent each day teaching. Each evening, meanwhile, he would go out and lodge on the Mount of Olives.
38 As for all the people, they would get up early in the morning and go to him in the temple courts to listen to him.