Luke 21
Complete Jewish Bible
21 Then Yeshua looked up, and as he watched the rich placing their gifts into the Temple offering-boxes, 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small coins. 3 He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 For they, out of their wealth, have contributed money they could easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given all she had to live on.”
5 As some people were remarking about the Temple, how beautiful its stonework and memorial decorations were, he said, 6 “The time is coming when what you see here will be totally destroyed — not a single stone will be left standing!” 7 They asked him, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will these events take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?” 8 He answered, “Watch out! Don’t be fooled! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t panic. For these things must happen first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
10 Then he told them, “Peoples will fight each other, nations will fight each other, 11 there will be great earthquakes, there will be epidemics and famines in various places, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven. 12 But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before kings and governors. This will all be on account of me, 13 but it will prove an opportunity for you to bear witness. 14 So make up your minds not to worry, rehearsing your defense beforehand; 15 for I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends; some of you they will have put to death; 17 and everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 By standing firm you will save your lives.
20 “However, when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then you are to understand that she is about to be destroyed. 21 Those in Y’hudah must escape to the hills, those inside the city must get out, and those in the country must not enter it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, when everything that has been written in the Tanakh will come true. 23 What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress in the Land and judgment on the people. 24 Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course.
25 “There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be in anxiety and bewilderment at the sound and surge of the sea, 26 as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.[a] 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with tremendous power and glory.[b] 28 When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!”
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, Indeed, all the trees. 30 As soon as they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you are to know that the Kingdom of God is near! 32 Yes! I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before it has all happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
34 “But keep watch on yourselves, or your hearts will become dulled by carousing, drunkenness and the worries of everyday living, and that Day will be sprung upon you suddenly like a trap! 35 For it will close in on everyone, no matter where they live, throughout the whole world. 36 Stay alert, always praying that you will have the strength to escape all the things that will happen and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”
37 Yeshua spent his days at the Temple, teaching; while at night he went out and stayed on the hill called the Mount of Olives. 38 All the people would rise with the dawn to come and hear him at the Temple courts.
Footnotes
- Luke 21:26 Haggai 2:6, 21
- Luke 21:27 Daniel 7:13–14
Luke 21
New King James Version
The Widow’s Two Mites(A)
21 And He looked up (B)and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain (C)poor widow putting in two (D)mites.[a] 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you (E)that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings [b]for God, but she out of her poverty put in (F)all the livelihood that she had.”
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple(G)
5 (H)Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was [c]adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which (I)not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age(J)
7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
8 And He said: (K)“Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ [d]Therefore do not [e]go after them. 9 But when you hear of (L)wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
10 (M)Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great (N)earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 (O)But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and (P)prisons. (Q)You will be brought before kings and rulers (R)for My name’s sake. 13 But (S)it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 (T)Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will [f]answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom (U)which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or [g]resist. 16 (V)You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put (W)some of you to death. 17 And (X)you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 (Y)But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.
The Destruction of Jerusalem(Z)
20 (AA)“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that (AB)all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 (AC)But 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 upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles (AD)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man(AE)
25 (AF)“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, (AG)for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man (AH)coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because (AI)your redemption draws near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree(AJ)
29 (AK)Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 (AL)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My (AM)words will by no means pass away.
The Importance of Watching(AN)
34 “But (AO)take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with [h]carousing, drunkenness, and (AP)cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For (AQ)it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 (AR)Watch therefore, and (AS)pray always that you may [i]be counted (AT)worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and (AU)to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 (AV)And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but (AW)at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
Footnotes
- Luke 21:2 Gr. lepta, very small copper coins
- Luke 21:4 NU omits for God
- Luke 21:5 decorated
- Luke 21:8 NU omits Therefore
- Luke 21:8 follow
- Luke 21:14 say in defense
- Luke 21:15 withstand
- Luke 21:34 dissipation
- Luke 21:36 NU have strength to
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
