Luke 21
New Century Version
True Giving
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple money box.[a] 2 Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the box. 3 He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. 4 They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on.”
The Temple Will Be Destroyed
5 Some people were talking about the Temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts offered to God.
But Jesus said, 6 “As for these things you are looking at, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down.”
7 They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 Jesus said, “Be careful so you are not fooled. Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the One’ and, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t follow them. 9 When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid, because these things must happen first, but the end will come later.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. 11 In various places there will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and a lack of food. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.
12 “But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail and force you to stand before kings and governors, because you follow me. 13 But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me. 14 Make up your minds not to worry ahead of time about what you will say. 15 I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong. 16 Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you, and they will kill some of you. 17 All people will hate you because you follow me. 18 But none of these things can really harm you. 19 By continuing to have faith you will save your lives.
Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed
20 “When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know it will soon be destroyed. 21 At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are near the city should not go in. 22 These are the days of punishment to bring about all that is written in the Scriptures. 23 How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people. 24 They will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over.
Don’t Fear
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea. 26 People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!”
Jesus’ Words Will Live Forever
29 Then Jesus told this story: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their leaves appear, you know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that God’s kingdom is near.
32 “I tell you the truth, all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living. 33 Earth and sky will be destroyed, but the words I have spoken will never be destroyed.
Be Ready All the Time
34 “Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly, 35 like a trap on all people on earth. 36 So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During the day, Jesus taught the people in the Temple, and at night he went out of the city and stayed on the Mount of Olives. 38 Every morning all the people got up early to go to the Temple to listen to him.
Footnotes
- 21:1 money box A special box in the Jewish place of worship where people put their gifts to God.
Luke 21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 21
The Poor Widow’s Contribution.[a] 1 (A)When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury 2 and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. 3 He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; 4 for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold.(B) 5 [b]While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, 6 “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”(C)
The Signs of the End. 7 (D)Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 8 He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’[c] Do not follow them!(E) 9 When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(F) 11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
The Coming Persecution. 12 (G)“Before all this happens,[d] however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.(H) 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 (I)for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking[e] that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 (J)You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.(K) 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.(L) 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.(M)
The Great Tribulation.[f] 20 (N)“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.(O) 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city,(P) 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people.(Q) 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles[g] are fulfilled.(R)
The Coming of the Son of Man.(S) 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.(T) 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens[h] will be shaken.(U) 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(V) 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”(W)
The Lesson of the Fig Tree.(X) 29 He taught them a lesson. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; 31 in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.(Y) 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(Z)
Exhortation to Be Vigilant. 34 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise(AA) 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”(AB)
Ministry in Jerusalem. 37 During the day, Jesus was teaching in the temple area, but at night he would leave and stay at the place called the Mount of Olives.(AC) 38 And all the people would get up early each morning to listen to him in the temple area.
Footnotes
- 21:1–4 The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Lk 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section (Lk 20:45–47). The story is taken from Mk 12:41–44.
- 21:5–36 Jesus’ eschatological discourse in Luke is inspired by Mk 13 but Luke has made some significant alterations to the words of Jesus found there. Luke maintains, though in a modified form, the belief in the early expectation of the end of the age (see Lk 21:27, 28, 31, 32, 36), but, by focusing attention throughout the gospel on the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus and by reinterpreting the meaning of some of the signs of the end from Mk 13 he has come to terms with what seemed to the early Christian community to be a delay of the parousia. Mark, for example, described the desecration of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans (Mk 13:14) as the apocalyptic symbol (see Dn 9:27; 12:11) accompanying the end of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. Luke (Lk 21:20–24), however, removes the apocalyptic setting and separates the historical destruction of Jerusalem from the signs of the coming of the Son of Man by a period that he refers to as “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). See also notes on Mt 24:1–36 and Mk 13:1–37.
- 21:8 The time has come: in Luke, the proclamation of the imminent end of the age has itself become a false teaching.
- 21:12 Before all this happens…: to Luke and his community, some of the signs of the end just described (Lk 21:10–11) still lie in the future. Now in dealing with the persecution of the disciples (Lk 21:12–19) and the destruction of Jerusalem (Lk 21:20–24) Luke is pointing to eschatological signs that have already been fulfilled.
- 21:15 A wisdom in speaking: literally, “a mouth and wisdom.”
- 21:20–24 The actual destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in A.D. 70 upon which Luke and his community look back provides the assurance that, just as Jesus’ prediction of Jerusalem’s destruction was fulfilled, so too will be his announcement of their final redemption (Lk 21:27–28).
- 21:24 The times of the Gentiles: a period of indeterminate length separating the destruction of Jerusalem from the cosmic signs accompanying the coming of the Son of Man.
- 21:26 The powers of the heavens: the heavenly bodies mentioned in Lk 21:25 and thought of as cosmic armies.
Lukas 21
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
En fattig änka ger allt hon har
(Mark 12:41-44)
21 Jesus såg upp och lade märke till hur de rika lade sina gåvor i offerkistorna. 2 Men han såg också hur en fattig änka lade dit två kopparslantar.
3 Då sa han: ”Sannerligen, den där fattiga änkan gav mer än alla de andra, 4 för de tog bara en liten del av sitt överflöd och lade det bland gåvorna. Men hon, som är så fattig, lade dit allt hon hade att leva på.”
Jesus talar om framtiden
(Matt 24:1-22; Mark 13:1-20)
5 Några började nu tala om templet med alla dess vackra stenar och dyrbara gåvor som människor skänkt. Han sa:
6 ”Allt det ni ser här ska i sinom tid jämnas med marken, inte en sten ska lämnas kvar på den andra.”
7 ”Mästare, när ska detta hända?” undrade de. ”Vilket blir tecknet på att tiden har kommit då dessa ting ska gå i uppfyllelse?”
8 Han svarade: ”Se upp så att ingen lurar er! Många ska komma i mitt namn och säga: ’Det är jag’, och ’Tiden är nära.’ Men följ dem inte! 9 Och när ni får höra om krig och oroligheter, så grips inte av panik. Det måste ske först, men det betyder inte att slutet har kommit.” 10 Han fortsatte: ”Folk och länder ska resa sig mot varandra. 11 Det blir allvarliga jordbävningar, epidemier och hungersnöd på den ena platsen efter den andra. Fruktansvärda saker ska hända och stora tecken ska visa sig på himlen.
12 Men innan allt detta inträffar, ska man gripa er och förfölja er. Ni ska dras inför domstol i synagogorna och kastas i fängelse, och ni ska ställas inför kungar och makthavare för mitt namns skull. 13 Men detta ger er samtidigt tillfälle att vittna. 14 Bestäm därför i era hjärtan att inte i förväg planera några försvarstal, 15 för jag ska ge er ord och visdom som ingen av era motståndare kan stå emot eller motbevisa.
16 Ni ska bli förrådda till och med av föräldrar, syskon, släktingar och vänner, och några av er kommer att dödas. 17 Ni ska bli hatade av alla för mitt namns skull. 18 Men inte ett hårstrå på ert huvud ska gå förlorat. 19 Genom att hålla ut ska ni vinna ert liv.
20 Men den dag ni ser Jerusalem omringat av arméer, då vet ni att stadens undergång är nära. 21 Då måste de som är i Judeen fly upp i bergen. De som är i staden måste lämna den, och ingen som är ute på landet får gå in i staden. 22 Då har tiden kommit för straffet, och allt som står skrivet ska gå i uppfyllelse. 23 Ve dem som är gravida eller ammar när den tiden kommer! Det ska bli stor nöd i landet och vrede ska drabba folket. 24 Många ska brutalt dödas med svärd och föras bort som fångar till alla de andra folken. Jerusalem ska trampas av främmande folk, tills deras tider är fullbordade.
När Jesus kommer tillbaka
(Matt 24:23-35; Mark 13:21-31)
25 Sedan ska tecken visa sig i solen, månen och stjärnorna, och på jorden ska folken gripas av ångest och förvirring inför havets och vågornas dån. 26 Människor ska gå under av skräck inför det som ska drabba världen, för himlens krafter skakas.[a] 27 Då ska man få se Människosonen komma på ett moln med makt och stor härlighet.[b] 28 Men när ni ser allt detta hända, räta på er och fatta mod, för då är er befrielse nära.”
Liknelsen om fikonträdet
29 Sedan berättade Jesus en liknelse för dem: ”Lägg märke till fikonträdet, eller vilket annat träd som helst. 30 Då bladen börjar knoppas, vet ni att sommaren snart är här. 31 På samma sätt vet ni att Guds rike snart är här, när ni ser allt detta hända.
32 Sannerligen säger jag er: detta släkte ska inte gå under innan allt detta händer.[c] 33 Himmel och jord ska förgå, men mina ord ska aldrig förgå.
Var beredda
(Matt 24:36-51; Mark 13:32-37)
34 Var på er vakt, så att era hjärtan inte förslöas av festande och supande, eller av vardagliga bekymmer. Annars överraskas ni av den dagen 35 som av en snara. Den ska komma över alla som bor på hela jorden. 36 Håll er ständigt vakna! Be att ni ska få kraft att fly undan det som väntar, så att ni kan stå inför Människosonen.”
37 På dagarna var Jesus i templet och undervisade, men varje kväll gick han ut till det berg som kallades Olivberget och övernattade där. 38 Folkmassorna samlades redan tidigt på morgonen för att höra honom i templet.
Lucas 21
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
La ofrenda de la viuda
21 (A)Levantando Jesús la vista, vio a los ricos que echaban sus ofrendas[a] en el arca del tesoro. 2 Vio también a una viuda pobre que echaba allí dos pequeñas monedas de cobre(B);
3 y dijo: «En verdad les digo, que esta viuda tan pobre echó más que todos ellos; 4 porque todos ellos echaron en la ofrenda[b]de lo que les sobra[c], pero ella, de su pobreza, echó todo lo que tenía para vivir[d](C)».
Profecía sobre la destrucción del templo
5 (D)Mientras algunos estaban hablando del templo, de cómo[e] estaba adornado con hermosas piedras y ofrendas votivas, Jesús dijo: 6 «En cuanto a estas cosas que ustedes están mirando, vendrán días en que no quedará piedra sobre piedra(E)que no sea derribada».
7 Ellos le preguntaron: «Maestro, ¿cuándo sucederá[f] esto, y qué señal[g] habrá cuando estas cosas vayan a suceder?». 8 Jesús respondió: «Cuídense de no ser engañados; porque muchos vendrán en Mi nombre, diciendo: “Yo soy(F)el Cristo[h]”, y: “El tiempo está cerca”. No los sigan(G). 9 Y cuando oigan de guerras y disturbios, no se aterroricen; porque estas cosas tienen que suceder primero, pero el fin no sucederá inmediatamente».
Señales y persecuciones
10 Entonces les dijo: «Se levantará nación contra nación y reino contra reino; 11 habrá grandes terremotos, y plagas y hambres en diversos lugares; y habrá terrores y grandes señales[i]del cielo.
12 »Pero antes de todas estas cosas, (H) a ustedes les echarán mano, y los perseguirán, entregándolos a las sinagogas y cárceles, llevándolos ante reyes y gobernadores por causa de Mi nombre. 13 Esto les dará oportunidad de testificar[j](I). 14 Por tanto, propónganse en sus corazones no preparar de antemano su defensa(J); 15 porque Yo les daré a ustedes palabras[k](K)y sabiduría que ninguno de sus adversarios podrá resistir ni contradecir.
16 »Pero serán entregados aun por padres, hermanos, parientes y amigos; y matarán a algunos de ustedes, 17 y serán odiados de todos por causa de Mi nombre. 18 Sin embargo, ni un cabello de su cabeza(L)perecerá. 19 Con su perseverancia ganarán sus almas[l](M).
20 »Pero cuando ustedes vean a Jerusalén rodeada de ejércitos(N) , sepan entonces que su desolación está cerca. 21 Entonces los que estén en Judea, huyan a los montes, y los que estén en medio de la ciudad[m], aléjense; y los que estén en los campos, no entren en ella(O). 22 Porque estos son días de venganza(P), para que se cumplan todas las cosas que están escritas.
23 »¡Ay de las que estén encinta y de las que estén criando en aquellos días! Porque habrá una gran calamidad sobre la tierra, e ira para este pueblo(Q) . 24 Caerán a filo de espada(R)y serán llevados cautivos a todas las naciones. Jerusalén será pisoteada por los gentiles(S), hasta que los tiempos de los gentiles se cumplan(T).
La venida del Hijo del Hombre
25 »Habrá señales[n] en el sol, en la luna y en las estrellas, y sobre la tierra, angustia entre las naciones, perplejas a causa del rugido del mar y de las olas, 26 desfalleciendo los hombres por el temor y la expectación de las cosas que vendrán sobre el mundo[o]; porque las potencias de los cielos serán sacudidas.
27 »Entonces verán al Hijo del Hombre que viene en una nube(U) con poder y gran gloria(V) . 28 Cuando estas cosas empiecen a suceder, levántense[p]y alcen la cabeza, porque se acerca su redención(W)».
Parábola de la higuera
29 Jesús les dijo también una parábola: «Miren la higuera y todos los árboles. 30 Cuando ya brotan las hojas, al verlo, ustedes mismos saben(X)que el verano ya está cerca. 31 Asimismo ustedes, cuando vean que suceden estas cosas, sepan que el reino de Dios está cerca(Y). 32 En verdad les digo que no pasará esta generación hasta que todo esto suceda. 33 El cielo y la tierra pasarán, pero Mis palabras no pasarán(Z).
Exhortación a velar
34 »Estén alerta(AA) , no sea que sus corazones se carguen con disipación, embriaguez y con las preocupaciones de la vida, y aquel día venga súbitamente sobre ustedes como un lazo; 35 porque vendrá sobre todos los que habitan sobre la superficie de toda la tierra. 36 Pero velen en todo tiempo(AB), orando para que tengan fuerza para escapar de todas estas cosas que están por suceder, y puedan estar en pie delante del Hijo del Hombre(AC)».
37 Durante el día[q] Jesús enseñaba en el templo(AD), pero al oscurecer[r] salía(AE) y pasaba la noche en el monte llamado de los Olivos(AF). 38 Y todo el pueblo iba temprano al templo[s] a escuchar a Jesús(AG).
Footnotes
- 21:1 O donativos.
- 21:4 O el donativo.
- 21:4 O de su abundancia.
- 21:4 Lit. toda la subsistencia que tenía.
- 21:5 Lit. que.
- 21:7 Lit. será.
- 21:7 O milagro.
- 21:8 I.e. el Mesías.
- 21:11 O milagros.
- 21:13 Lit. Esto los llevará a un testimonio.
- 21:15 Lit. una boca.
- 21:19 O conservarán sus vidas.
- 21:21 Lit. ella.
- 21:25 O milagros.
- 21:26 Lit. la tierra habitada.
- 21:28 O cobren ánimo.
- 21:37 Lit. los días.
- 21:37 Lit. por las noches.
- 21:38 Lit. a Él en el templo.
Luke 21
New International Version
The Widow’s Offering(A)
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(B) 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 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)
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “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.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 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) 9 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)
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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