Luke 21

Chapter 21

Jesus talks about a poor widow's gift to God

1Then Jesus looked up and he saw something that was happening in the temple. There was a box for money there. Many rich people were putting their gifts of money into the box.

2Then he saw a woman who was coming there. She was a widow and she was very poor. She put two small coins into the box. They had only a little value 3Jesus said, ‘Let me tell you this. This poor woman has put a bigger gift into the box than all the other people have put in there. 4All those rich people have plenty of money. They only gave a small part of that. But this woman has almost nothing. She put everything that she had into the box. That money was what she needed to live.’

Jesus talks about a time of great trouble

5Some of Jesus' disciples were talking about the temple. They spoke about the many beautiful stones in the walls. They also spoke about the many gifts to God that people had put there. 6Jesus said to them, ‘You can see all these beautiful things now. But a day is coming when enemies will completely destroy it all. Not even one stone will remain on top of another stone.’

7They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will all these things happen? What signs will show us that they will soon happen?’

8Jesus replied. ‘Be careful! Some people will tell you things that are not true. Do not believe them. Many people will say that they have come on my behalf. They will say, “I am the Messiah” They will say, “Now is the time!” Do not agree with those people. 9You will hear about wars and about fights against rulers. Do not be afraid. Those things must happen first, but the end of everything will not happen immediately.’

10Jesus then said to them, ‘People from one country will attack the people from another country. Kings and their armies will fight against other kings and their armies. 11The ground will shake with great earthquakes. In many different places, people will be hungry, with no food. People will suffer with bad diseases. Things that show God's power will happen in the sky so that people are afraid.

12But before all those things happen, people will take hold of you. They will cause you to suffer. They will take you to the leaders in their meeting places and they will put you in prisons. They will make you stand in front of kings and rulers. All this will happen because you are my disciples. 13This will be the time to tell people the good news about me. 14You will have to answer their questions. But decide not to think now about what you will say. Wait until that time comes. 15I will give you the right words to speak at that time. I will help you to be wise. Your enemies will not be able to argue against you. They will be quiet.

16Even your parents and other people in your family will turn against you. They will give you to your enemies. They will even kill some of you. 17Everybody will hate you because you are my disciples. 18But your life will be safe with me. You will not lose even one hair from your head. 19Yes, you will have true life, if you remain strong.

Jesus warns that armies will destroy Jerusalem

20One day you will see Jerusalem with armies all around it. Then you will know that enemies will soon destroy that city. 21People in Judea must then run away to the hills to hide. People that are inside the city must leave it. People that are outside in the fields must not go back into the city. 22This is when God will punish the people in the city. Then all the things will happen that are written in the Bible. 23That will be a bad time for women who are soon to have a baby! It will also be a bad time for those women who have little babies! Yes, very bad things will happen to all the people of this country. God will be very angry with the people who live here.

24At that time, enemies will fight God's people and kill many of them in war. They will take some of them away as prisoners to live in all the other countries. Foreign nations will destroy Jerusalem. They will rule here until their time comes to an end.’

The Son of Man will return to this world

25‘You will see strange things happen to the sun and to the moon and to the stars. Down on earth, people in many countries will become very afraid. The sea will make a lot of noise with great waves. 26These things will frighten people so that they become very weak. The powerful things in the sky will shake. People will be very afraid about what will soon happen in the world. 27Then they will see the Son of Man as he comes in a cloud. He will have great power and bright glory. 28When these things begin to happen, stand up! Be brave and look up, because God will save you very soon.’

Jesus teaches a lesson about when he will return

29Then Jesus told them a story to explain this future time. He said, ‘Think about fig trees and other trees as well. 30When you see new leaves on a tree, you know that summer will come soon. Nobody needs to tell you that. 31In the same way, you will see these strange things happening. Then you will know that the kingdom of God will soon be here.

32I tell you this. The people who are alive now will not all die until all these things happen. 33One day, the earth and the sky will have an end. But my words will be there for ever.

34But be careful how you live! Do not eat or drink too much. Do not fill your minds with thoughts about what you need to live. If you do, that day will come as a surprise. It will catch you suddenly like a trap! 35It will happen to everyone who lives anywhere on the earth. 36So be ready all the time! Continue to pray that you will be strong. Then you will remain safe through all these things that must happen! You will stand in front of the Son of Man and you will not be afraid.’

37Every day Jesus was teaching people in the yard of the temple. Each night he went out of the city and he stayed on the Mount of Olives. 38Each morning he returned to the temple. All the people were going there early in the morning to listen to him.

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