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。

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。

The Widow’s Offering

21 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury;(A) he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.(B) He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,(C) “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”(D)

Signs and Persecutions

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’[a] and, ‘The time is near!’[b] Do not go after them.(E)

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom;(F) 11 there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.(G) 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.(H) 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance,(I) 15 for I will give you words[c] and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.(J) 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.(K) 17 You will be hated by all because of my name.(L) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(M) 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.(N)

The Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold

20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.[d](O) 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it,(P) 22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written.(Q) 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; 24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.(R)

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.(S) 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.(T) 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”[e](U)

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.(V) 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(W)

Exhortation to Watch

34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly,(X) 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”(Y)

37 Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called.(Z) 38 And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.

Footnotes

  1. 21.8 Gk I am
  2. 21.8 Or at hand
  3. 21.15 Gk a mouth
  4. 21.20 Or is at hand
  5. 21.28 Or at hand

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)