The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 21 -

(Mark 12:41–44)

And looking on, he saw the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury.

And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites.

And he said: Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want, hath cast in all the living that she had.

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

And some saying of the temple, that it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said:

These things which you see, the days will come in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down.

And they asked him, saying: Master, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when they shall begin to come to pass?

Who said: Take heed you be not seduced; for many will come in my name, saying, I am he; and the time is at hand: go ye not therefore after them.

And when you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass; but the end is not yet presently.

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

Then he said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there shall be great signs.

But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name’s sake.

And it shall happen unto you for a testimony.

Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.

And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death.

And you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

But a hair of your head shall not perish.

In your patience you shall possess your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army; then know that the desolation thereof is at hand.

Then let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains; and those who are in the midst thereof, depart out: and those who are in the countries, not enter into it.

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

But woe to them that are with child, and give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles; till the times of the nations be fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;

Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;

And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty.

But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

And he spoke to them in a similitude. See the fig tree, and all the trees:

When they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh;

So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.

Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Be Watchful for the Day

And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly.

For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.

And in the daytime, he was teaching in the temple; but at night, going out, he abode in the mount that is called Olivet.

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

(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