The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 21 -

(Mark 12:41–44)

Jesus looked up from where he was sitting and saw rich people putting their gifts into the temple offering box.

He also saw a poor widow put in two small coins of very little value.

And he said to his disciples, “The truth is that this poor widow has put into the offering box more money than all these rich people.

For they all have a lot of money, but they gave only a small part of it. But this widow, who is very poor, has given all the money that she had to buy what she needed.

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

Some of Jesus’ disciples were talking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and decorations that people had given. But Jesus said,

“These things you are looking at will be destroyed completely. Yes, the time is coming when not one of these stones will be left on top of another.”

Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will happen to show that these things are about to take place?”

Jesus replied, “Be careful that no one deceives you. For many people will come and each will claim to be me. Each will say about himself, ‘I am the Messiah!’ They will also say, ‘The time is almost here, when God will rule as king!’ Do not follow after them to become their disciples!

Also, whenever you hear about wars and people fighting each other, do not be terrified. For these things must happen before the end of the world comes.”

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

“Various people groups will attack each other, and various kings will fight each other.

And in various places there will be great earthquakes, as well as famines and terrible diseases. Many things will happen that will cause people to be very afraid, and people will see strange things in the sky that will show that something very important is going to happen.

But before all these things happen, they will arrest you, treat you badly and hand you over to the synagogues for trial and hand you over to the prisons. They will put you on trial in the presence of kings and high government authorities because you follow me.

That will be a time for you to tell them the truth about me.

So be determined not to worry ahead of time about what you will say to defend yourselves,

because I will give you the right words and wisdom so that you will know what to say. As a result, none of the people accusing you will be able to say you are wrong.

And even your parents and brothers and other relatives and friends will betray you, and they will kill some of you.

In general, everybody will hate you because you believe in me.

But not even one hair from your head shall be destroyed.

If you go through difficult times and prove your trust in God, you will save yourselves.”

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

“When you see armies surround Jerusalem, then you will know that they will soon destroy this city.

At that time those of you who are in the region of Judea must flee to the mountains. And those of you who are in this city must leave. Those of you who are in the nearby countryside must not come into the city.

For this will be the time when God will punish this city; when he does, the words in the scriptures will come true.

How terrible it will be for the pregnant women and those nursing their babies in those days, because there will be great suffering in the land, and its people will suffer enormously because God will be angry with them.

Many of them will die because soldiers will attack them with weapons. Others will become prisoners and they will be sent to many places around the world. The Gentiles will keep marching their troops through the streets of Jerusalem for as long as God allows.”

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

“At this time, strange things will happen to the sun, the moon, and the stars. And on earth, people groups will become very frightened, and they will become confused because of the roaring ocean and its huge waves.

People will be so afraid that they will faint, because they are waiting for what will happen next in the world. The stars in the sky will have to leave from their usual places.

Then all people will see me, the Son of Man, coming in the clouds with power and brilliant light.

So when those terrible things begin to happen, stand up straight and look upward, because God will soon rescue you.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

Then Jesus told them a parable: “Think about the fig trees, and even all the trees.

Whenever you see that their leaves are sprouting, you know that summer is near.

In the same way, when you see these things that I have just described happening, you will know then that God will soon show himself as king.

I am telling you the truth: This generation of people will not come to an end before all these things that I have just now described happen.

The sky and the earth will come to an end, but what I tell you will never come to an end.

Be Watchful for the Day

“Be very careful to control yourselves. Do not go to parties where people are acting immorally or getting drunk. And do not carry the cares of this life with you. If you live this way, you will stop waiting for me to return. And then, at that moment, I will surprise you when I come. I will come so suddenly it will be like when an animal trap springs closed without warning.

Indeed, I will return without warning, and that day will come when you are not ready to see me.

So you must be always ready for my coming. And always pray that you may be able to go through all these hard things in safety, and that I, the Son of Man, declare you innocent when I come to judge the world.”

Each day Jesus was teaching people in the temple. But every evening he went out of the city and stayed all night on the Mount of Olives.

And early every morning all the people came to the temple to listen to 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