The Gospel According to St. Luke

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- Chapter 21 -

(Mark 12:41–44)

Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.(a)

“Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,

“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.

So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.

For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.

And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.

Yet not even a hair of your head will perish.

By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.

For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(b)

When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

Be Watchful for the Day

But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.

So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

Footnotes

(a)21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1/128 of a denarius.

(b)21:27 See Daniel 7:13–14.

(Mark 12:41–44)

He looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.

He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.(a)

He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,

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.”

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,

“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.”

They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”

He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he (b) ,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.

When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

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.

It will turn out as a testimony for you.

Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.

You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.

You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

And not a hair of your head will perish.

“By your endurance you will win your lives.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

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.

For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

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.

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.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

“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;

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.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees.

When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.

Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near.

Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

Be Watchful for the Day

“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.

For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.

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.”

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.

All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

Footnotes

(a)21:2 literally, “two lepta.” 2 lepta was about 1% of a day’s wages for an agricultural laborer.

(b)21:8 or, I AM