The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 21 -

(Mark 12:41–44)

And as he behelde, he sawe the rich men, which cast their giftes into the treasurie.

And he sawe also a certaine poore widowe which cast in thither two mites:

And he sayd, Of a trueth I say vnto you, that this poore widowe hath cast in more then they all.

For they all haue of their superfluitie cast into the offerings of God: but she of her penurie hath cast in all the liuing that she had.

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

Nowe as some spake of the Temple, how it was garnished with goodly stones, and with consecrate things, he sayd,

Are these ye things that ye looke vpon? the dayes will come wherein a stone shall not be left vpon a stone, that shall not be throwen downe.

Then they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what signe shall there be when these things shall come to passe?

And he sayd, Take heede, that ye be not deceiued: for many will come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, and the time draweth neere: follow ye not them therefore.

And when ye heare of warres and seditions, be not afraid: for these things must first come, but the ende foloweth not by and by.

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

Then said hee vnto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdome against kingdome,

And great earthquakes shall be in diuers places, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearefull things, and great signes shall there be from heauen.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, deliuering you vp to the assemblies, and into prisons, and bring you before Kings and rulers for my Names sake.

And this shall turne to you, for a testimoniall.

Lay it vp therefore in your heartes, that ye cast not before hand, what ye shall answere.

For I will giue you a mouth and wisdome, where against all your aduersaries shall not be able to speake, nor resist.

Yea, ye shalbe betrayed also of your parents, and of your brethren, and kinsmen, and friendes, and some of you shall they put to death.

And ye shall bee hated of all men for my Names sake.

Yet there shall not one heare of your heads perish.

By your patience possesse your soules.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

And when ye see Hierusalem besieged with souldiers, then vnderstand that the desolation thereof is neere.

Then let them which are in Iudea, flee to the mountaines: and let them which are in the middes thereof, depart out: and let not them that are in the countrey, enter therein.

For these be the dayes of vengeance, to fulfill all things that are written.

But woe be to them that be with childe, and to them that giue sucke in those dayes: for there shalbe great distresse in this land, and wrath ouer this people.

And they shall fall on the edge of the sword, and shalbe led captiue into all nations, and Hierusalem shalbe troden vnder foote of the Gentiles, vntill the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

Then there shalbe signes in the sunne, and in the moone, and in the starres, and vpon the earth trouble among the nations with perplexitie: the sea and the waters shall roare.

And mens hearts shall faile them for feare, and for looking after those thinges which shall come on the worlde: for the powers of heauen shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Sonne of man come in a cloude, with power and great glory.

And when these things beginne to come to passe, then looke vp, and lift vp your heades: for your redemption draweth neere.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

And he spake to them a parable, Behold, the figge tree, and all trees,

When they nowe shoote foorth, ye seeing them, knowe of your owne selues, that sommer is then neere.

So likewise yee, when yee see these thinges come to passe, knowe ye that the kingdome of God is neere.

Verely I say vnto you, This age shall not passe, till all these things be done:

Heauen and earth shall passe away, but my wordes shall not passe away.

Be Watchful for the Day

Take heede to your selues, lest at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfeting and drunkennesse, and cares of this life, and least that day come on you at vnwares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watche therefore, and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these thinges that shall come to passe, and that ye may stand before the Sonne of man.

Nowe in the day time hee taught in the Temple, and at night hee went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Oliues.

And all the people came in the morning to him, to heare him in the Temple.

(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