窮寡婦的奉獻

21 耶穌抬頭觀看,見有錢人正把捐項投進奉獻箱裡, 又見一個窮寡婦投進兩個小銅錢, 就說:「我實在告訴你們,這位窮寡婦奉獻的比其他人都多。 因為他們不過奉獻了自己剩餘的,但這窮寡婦卻奉獻了她賴以為生的一切。」

預言將來的事

有些人正在談論由精美的石頭和珍貴的供物所裝飾的聖殿, 耶穌說:「你們現在所見到的,將來有一天要被完全拆毀,找不到兩塊疊在一起的石頭。」

他們問:「老師,這些事什麼時候會發生呢?發生的時候有什麼預兆呢?」

耶穌回答說:「你們要小心提防,不要被迷惑。因為將來會有許多人冒我的名來,說,『我就是基督』,或說,『時候到了』,你們切勿跟從他們。 你們聽見打仗和叛亂的事,不要害怕,因為這些事一定會先發生,但末日將不會立刻來臨。」

10 耶穌接著說:「民族將與民族互鬥,國家將與國家相爭, 11 將有大地震,各處將有饑荒和瘟疫,天上也將出現恐怖的景象和大異兆。

12 「這些事情出現之前,人們要拘捕你們,迫害你們,把你們押到會堂和監牢,你們將為了我的名而被君王和官長審問。 13 那時,正是你們為我做見證的好機會。 14 你們要立定心志,不要為怎樣申辯而憂慮, 15 因為我會賜給你們口才、智慧,使你們的仇敵全無反駁的餘地。 16 你們將被父母、弟兄、親戚、朋友出賣,你們有些人會被他們害死。 17 你們將為我的名而被眾人憎恨, 18 但你們連一根頭髮也不會失落。 19 你們只要堅忍到底,必能保全自己的靈魂。

20 「你們看見耶路撒冷被重兵包圍時,就知道它被毀滅的日子快到了。 21 那時,住在猶太地區的人要趕快逃到山上去,住在城裡的人要跑到城外,住在鄉村的人不要進城, 22 因為那是報應的日子,要應驗聖經的全部記載。 23 那時,孕婦和哺育嬰兒的母親們可就遭殃了!因為將有大災難降在這地方,烈怒要臨到這些人民。 24 他們要死在刀劍之下,要被擄到外國去。耶路撒冷要被外族人蹂躪,直到外族人肆虐的日期滿了為止。

25 「日月星辰必顯出異兆,怒海洶湧、波濤翻騰,令各國驚恐不安。 26 天體必震動,人類想到世界要面臨的事都嚇得魂不附體。 27 那時,他們要看見人子駕著雲、帶著能力和極大的榮耀降臨。 28 當這些事發生時,你們要昂首挺胸,因為你們蒙救贖的日子近了。」

警醒禱告

29 耶穌又講了一個比喻:「看看無花果樹和其他樹木吧。 30 當你們看見樹木發芽長葉時,就知道夏天近了。 31 同樣,當你們看見這些事情發生時,就知道上帝的國近了。

32 「我實在告訴你們,這個世代還沒有過去,這一切都要發生。 33 天地都要消逝,但我的話永不消逝。

34 「你們要小心,不要被宴樂、醉酒和人生的掛慮所拖累,免得那日子像網羅般突然臨到你們, 35 因為那日子將要這樣臨到世上每一個人。 36 你們要時刻警醒,常常禱告,使你們能逃過這一切將要發生的災難,並能站在人子面前。」

37 耶穌每天在聖殿裡講道,晚上則到城外的橄欖山上過夜。 38 百姓一早都趕去聖殿聽祂的教導。

Teaching in the Temple

21 Then Yeshua looked up and saw the rich dropping their gifts into the treasury box. He also saw a poor widow dropping in two small copper coins. [a] And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest. For all these put in their gifts from their surplus. But she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.”

And while some were talking about the Temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, Yeshua said, “As for these things you are looking at, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another. Every one will be torn down!”

And they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, so when will these things happen? What will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”

And He said, “Watch out that you are not led astray! For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them. And when you hear of wars and chaos, do not be terrorized. For these things need to happen first, but the end will not come at once.”

10 Then He continued telling them, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes along with famines and epidemics in various places, and there will be terrors along with great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will grab you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, and leading you away to kings and governors on account of My name. 13 This will lead you to be a witness. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare ahead of time to defend yourselves— 15 for I Myself will give you speech and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 By your endurance, you will gain your souls.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter her. 22 For these are the days of punishment, to fulfill all that has been written.[b]

23 “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[c]

25 “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. And upon the earth nations will be confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. [d] 26 People will lose heart from fear and anticipation of what is overtaking the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [e] 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [f] 28 Now when these things begin to happen, stand straight and lift up your heads, because your salvation is near!”

29 Then Yeshua told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 As soon as they sprout their leaves, you see it and you know at once that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these all these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Amen, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.[g]

34 “But watch out so your hearts are not weighed down by carousing, strong drink, and the worries of life. Do not let that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come rushing upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 So during the days Yeshua was teaching in the Temple, but in the nights He went out and stayed on the Mount of Olives. [h] 38 And all the people would come early in the morning to hear Him in the Temple.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:3 Lit. lepta, the smallest coins, almost worthless in value.
  2. Luke 21:22 cf. Hos. 9:7; Dan. 9:24-27.
  3. Luke 21:24 cf. Dan. 8:13-14; Rom. 11:25.
  4. Luke 21:26 cf. Joel 3:3-4(2:30-31); Isa. 17:12.
  5. Luke 21:27 cf. Isa. 34:4 (LXX); Hag. 2:6.
  6. Luke 21:28 cf. Dan. 7:13-14.
  7. Luke 21:33 cf. Isa. 40:8; 55:9-11.
  8. Luke 21:38 cf. Lit. the mountain called “of Olives.”