1As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.3‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others.4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’
The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times
5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,6‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’7‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’8He replied: ‘Watch out 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.9When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.’10Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.12‘But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.13And so you will bear testimony to me.14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.17Everyone will hate you because of me.18But not a hair of your head will perish.19Stand firm, and you will win life.20‘When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.22For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been written.23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.25‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.26People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’29He told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig-tree and all the trees.30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.32‘Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.34‘Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.35For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.’37Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,38and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Luke 21
English Standard Version
The Widow’s Offering
1Jesus[1] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, (2Ki 12:9; Mr 12:41; Joh 8:20)2and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.[2] (Lu 12:59)3And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. (2Co 8:2; 2Co 8:12)4For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Lu 8:43; Php 4:11)
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, (Mt 24:1; Mr 13:1)6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Lu 17:22; Lu 19:43)7And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” (Ac 1:6)8And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. (Jer 14:14; Jer 29:8; Mt 3:2; Mt 4:17; Mr 1:15; Joh 8:24; Eph 5:6; Col 2:8; 2Th 2:3; 1Jo 2:18; 1Jo 3:7)9And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” (Lu 24:37; Re 1:1)
20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. (Da 9:27; Lu 19:43)21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,22for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. (Isa 34:8; Isa 63:4; Ho 9:7; Mt 1:22; Lu 18:7)23Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. (Lu 23:29; 1Th 2:16)24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (De 28:64; Ps 79:1; Isa 63:3; Isa 63:18; Da 8:13; Da 12:7; Zec 12:3; Ro 11:25; Re 11:2)
29And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.30As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. (Mt 16:3; Lu 12:57)31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.32Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. (Lu 9:27)33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Ps 102:26; Ps 119:89; Isa 40:8; Isa 51:6; Mt 5:18; Heb 12:27; 1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 3:10)