穷寡妇的奉献

21 耶稣抬头观看,见有钱人正把捐项投进奉献箱里, 又见一个穷寡妇投进两个小铜钱, 就说:“我实在告诉你们,这位穷寡妇奉献的比其他人都多。 因为他们不过奉献了自己剩余的,但这穷寡妇却奉献了她赖以为生的一切。”

预言将来的事

有些人正在谈论由精美的石头和珍贵的供物所装饰的圣殿, 耶稣说:“你们现在所见到的,将来有一天要被完全拆毁,找不到两块叠在一起的石头。”

他们问:“老师,这些事什么时候会发生呢?发生的时候有什么预兆呢?”

耶稣回答说:“你们要小心提防,不要被迷惑。因为将来会有许多人冒我的名来,说,‘我就是基督’,或说,‘时候到了’,你们切勿跟从他们。 你们听见打仗和叛乱的事,不要害怕,因为这些事一定会先发生,但末日将不会立刻来临。”

10 耶稣接着说:“民族将与民族互斗,国家将与国家相争, 11 将有大地震,各处将有饥荒和瘟疫,天上也将出现恐怖的景象和大异兆。

12 “这些事情出现之前,人们要拘捕你们,迫害你们,把你们押到会堂和监牢,你们将为了我的名而被君王和官长审问。 13 那时,正是你们为我做见证的好机会。 14 你们要立定心志,不要为怎样申辩而忧虑, 15 因为我会赐给你们口才、智慧,使你们的仇敌全无反驳的余地。 16 你们将被父母、弟兄、亲戚、朋友出卖,你们有些人会被他们害死。 17 你们将为我的名而被众人憎恨, 18 但你们连一根头发也不会失落。 19 你们只要坚忍到底,必能保全自己的灵魂。

20 “你们看见耶路撒冷被重兵包围时,就知道它被毁灭的日子快到了。 21 那时,住在犹太地区的人要赶快逃到山上去,住在城里的人要跑到城外,住在乡村的人不要进城, 22 因为那是报应的日子,要应验圣经的全部记载。 23 那时,孕妇和哺育婴儿的母亲们可就遭殃了!因为将有大灾难降在这地方,烈怒要临到这些人民。 24 他们要死在刀剑之下,要被掳到外国去。耶路撒冷要被外族人蹂躏,直到外族人肆虐的日期满了为止。

25 “日月星辰必显出异兆,怒海汹涌、波涛翻腾,令各国惊恐不安。 26 天体必震动,人类想到世界要面临的事都吓得魂不附体。 27 那时,他们要看见人子驾着云、带着能力和极大的荣耀降临。 28 当这些事发生时,你们要昂首挺胸,因为你们蒙救赎的日子近了。”

警醒祷告

29 耶稣又讲了一个比喻:“看看无花果树和其他树木吧。 30 当你们看见树木发芽长叶时,就知道夏天近了。 31 同样,当你们看见这些事情发生时,就知道上帝的国近了。

32 “我实在告诉你们,这个世代还没有过去,这一切都要发生。 33 天地都要消逝,但我的话永不消逝。

34 “你们要小心,不要被宴乐、醉酒和人生的挂虑所拖累,免得那日子像网罗般突然临到你们, 35 因为那日子将要这样临到世上每一个人。 36 你们要时刻警醒,常常祷告,使你们能逃过这一切将要发生的灾难,并能站在人子面前。”

37 耶稣每天在圣殿里讲道,晚上则到城外的橄榄山上过夜。 38 百姓一早都赶去圣殿听祂的教导。

真正的奉献

21 耶稣抬头看到很多富人都在往大殿里的奉献箱里捐献礼物, 他还发现一个穷寡妇把两枚小铜钱投了进去。 耶稣便说∶“实话告诉你们吧,这个穷寡妇比其他所有的人给予的更多, 因为,其他人给的是他们多余的钱,而她的钱本来就不够用,但是她却献出了她用以维持生活的钱。”

对未来的警告

耶稣的一些门徒正谈论着大殿,他们说大殿是用精美的石头和奉献给上帝的供品装饰起来的,非常华丽。

耶稣却说∶“当那时刻来临时,你们看见的这一切将会被毁掉,建筑物的每块石头都将被丢到平地,就连两块垒在一起的石头也不会有。”

一些门徒问耶稣说∶“老师,这些事会在什么时候发生呢?在此之前,将有什么征兆呢?”

耶稣说∶“你们要当心,不要上当,因为将会有很多人假借我的名义而来,说∶‘我是基督’,他们还会说∶‘那个时刻近在咫尺了。’但是不要跟从他们。 当你们听说发生了战争和叛乱时,不必惊慌,因为,这些事情一定会首先发生的,但是结局不会立即来临的。”

10 耶稣又对他们说∶“民族与民族之间、王国与王国之间会互相攻打。 11 世上各地将会发生大地震、饥荒和瘟疫,可怕的预示和大的迹象由天而降。

12 “但是,在所有这一切发生之前,他们将逮捕你们、迫害你们,把你们交到会堂受审,还会把你们投入监狱。你们将会被迫站在国王和统治者面前。因为你们跟随我,所以他们才这样对待你们。 13 但这将给你们一个机会去讲诉有关我的事情。 14 你们要决定事先不要担心该如何为自己辨护, 15 因为我将给予你们智慧与言辞,那是你们所有的敌人所抗拒不了、驳斥不倒的。 16 但是,你们甚至会被父母、兄弟、亲戚和朋友出卖,他们会杀害你们中间的一些人, 17 你们会因为跟随我而遭到所有人的憎恨。 18 但是,尽管如此,你们连一根头发都不会失去。 19 只要你们坚韧不拔,就会拯救你们自己。

耶路撒冷的毁灭

20 “现在,当你们看到耶路撒冷被军队围困的时候,你们就知道她的毁灭近在眼前了。 21 那时,住在犹太地区的人应该逃到山上去,住在城里的人们要离开,住在乡下的人们一定不要进城, 22 因为这些日子是惩罚的时刻,是为了要实现《经》上所记载的一切事情。 23 在那些日子里,孕妇和哺乳的妇女要遭多大的罪啊。(我说这话)因为这片土地上将发生大灾难,上帝的愤怒即将降临在这些人身上。 24 他们将倒在刀刃上,他们将成为所有民族的俘虏,耶路撒冷将要受到外族人的践踏,直到外族人的时代期满为止。

不要畏惧

25 “日月星辰将会有迹象,地球上所有的民族都将陷入绝望,波涛汹涌轰鸣的大海会令人惶惑不安。 26 人们将会为降临在这个世界上的事情,恐惧颤栗,以致于昏厥,因为天空的一切都会改变。 27 那时候,人们会看见人子伴着力量和巨大的荣耀驾云而来。 28 当这些事情开始发生时,要站起来,抬起你们的头,因为你们获释的日子近在咫尺了。”

我的话将永生

29 然后,耶稣又讲了一个比喻∶“看看这棵无花果树和所有其它的树, 30 一旦它们开始长叶,你们看到就会知道夏天要来了。 31 同样,当你们看到所有这一切发生时,你们就会知道上帝的王国临近了。

32 “我实话告诉你们,这一代人死之前,这一切将会发生。 33 天地将会消逝,但我的话绝不会消逝的。

随时做好准备

34 “要当心,不要让狂饮作乐和现世的烦恼麻痹了你们的内心。那一天会像一个圈套忽然落在你们身上, 35 的确,它将落到生活在地上的所有人的身上! 36 因此,要时时刻刻地警惕着、祈祷着,祈祷你们能从即将发生的事情里得到幸存,并充满信心地站在人子的面前。”

37 白天,耶稣都在大殿院里教导人们,晚上,他出城到橄榄山上去过夜。 38 所有的人每天都早早起来,到大殿去听他讲。

21 And he looked up and saw the rich casting their gifts into the treasury;

but he saw also a certain poor widow casting therein two mites.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow has cast in more than all;

for all these out of their abundance have cast into the gifts [of God]; but she out of her need has cast in all the living which she had.

And as some spoke of the temple, that it was adorned with goodly stones and consecrated offerings, he said,

[As to] these things which ye are beholding, days are coming in which there shall not be left stone upon stone which shall not be thrown down.

And they asked him saying, Teacher, when then shall these things be; and what [is] the sign when these things are going to take place?

And he said, See that ye be not led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, *I* am [he], and the time is drawn nigh: go ye not [therefore] after them.

And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end is not immediately.

10 Then he said to them, Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;

11 there shall be both great earthquakes in different places, and famines and pestilences; and there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

12 But before all these things they shall lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering [you] up to synagogues and prisons, bringing [you] before kings and governors on account of my name;

13 but it shall turn out to you for a testimony.

14 Settle therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand [your] defence,

15 for *I* will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opposers shall not be able to reply to or resist.

16 But ye will be delivered up even by parents and brethren and relations and friends, and they shall put to death [some] from among you,

17 and ye will be hated of all for my name's sake.

18 And a hair of your head shall in no wise perish.

19 By your patient endurance gain your souls.

20 But when ye see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that its desolation is drawn nigh.

21 Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of it depart out, and those who are in the country not enter into it;

22 for these are days of avenging, that all the things that are written may be accomplished.

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

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of [the] nations until [the] times of [the] nations be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity [at] the roar of the sea and rolling waves,

26 men ready to die through fear and expectation of what is coming on the habitable earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

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

28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws nigh.

29 And he spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees;

30 when they already sprout, ye know of your own selves, [on] looking [at them], that already the summer is near.

31 So also *ye*, when ye see these things take place, know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall in no wise pass away until all come to pass.

33 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away.

34 But take heed to yourselves lest possibly your hearts be laden with surfeiting and drinking and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly unawares;

35 for as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch therefore, praying at every season, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things which are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

37 And by day he was teaching in the temple, and by night, going out, he remained abroad on the mountain called [the mount] of Olives;

38 and all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

The Widow’s Offering(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(B) He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”(C)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(D)(E)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;(F) every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He 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.(G) When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(H) 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.(I)

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. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.(J) 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.(K) 15 For I will give you(L) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,(M) and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.(N) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(O) 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.(P)

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,(Q) you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then 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.(R) 22 For this is the time of punishment(S) in fulfillment(T) of all that has been written. 23 How 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. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled(U) 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.(V) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(W) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(X) coming in a cloud(Y) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(Z)

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(AA) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(AB) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(AC)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(AD) and that day will close on you suddenly(AE) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(AF) 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.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(AG) and each evening he went out(AH) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(AI) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(AJ)