A lesson in giving

1Looking up He saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasure chest.

2But He also saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

3So He said: “I tell you truly that this poor widow put in more than all of them;

4because all these others put in gifts for God out of their abundance, but she, out of her destitution, put in all she had to live on.” ⁴²⁹

Jerusalem will be destroyed

5Then, as some were admiring the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,

6“These things that you see—the days will come in which not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down.” ⁴³⁰

7So they asked Him, saying: “Teacher, so when will these things be?” and “What will be the sign when these things are about to happen?” ⁴³¹

8So He said: “Be careful, so as not to be deceived, because many will come in my name saying: ‘I am’ and ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore do not go after them.

9But whenever you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; because these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Things will get bad, really bad

10Then He said to them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11And there will be severe earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of my name.

13But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

14So settle it in your hearts not to practice giving a defense beforehand;

15because I will give you ⁴³²a mouth and wisdom such that all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or withstand. ⁴³³

16You will be betrayed even by parents and relatives, friends and ‘brothers’; and they will put some of you to death.

17And you will be hated by all because of my name. ⁴³⁴

18(Not even one hair of your head will be wasted ⁴³⁵

19—you must secure your souls by your endurance.)

Jerusalem will be destroyed

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

21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let those who are in the city get out, and let those who are in the country not enter her.

22Because these are days of vengeance, that all the written things may be fulfilled.

23But woe to those who are pregnant and to those nursing babies in those days! There will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.

24Yes, they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ⁴³⁶

Christ will return to the earth

25“There will be signs in sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, at the roaring and tossing of the sea; ⁴³⁷

26men fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming on the inhabited earth—because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ⁴³⁸

27Then they will see the Son of the Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28Now when these things begin to happen, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Parable of the fig tree

29Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

30Whenever they are already budding, you see and know by yourselves that summer is now near.

31So you also, whenever you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.

32I tell you assuredly, this generation ⁴³⁹will certainly not pass away until all has happened.

33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. ⁴⁴⁰

Watch and pray

34“But keep a watch on yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and cares of life, and that Day come upon you suddenly.

35Because it will come like a trap upon all those who dwell on the surface of the whole earth.

36So be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy ⁴⁴¹to escape all these things ⁴⁴²that are about to happen and to stand before the Son of the Man.”

37In the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called ‘of Olives.’

38Then early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to hear Him.