Destruction of the Temple Predicted

13 As(A) he was going out of the temple,(B) one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher,(C) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” (D)

Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?(E) Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives(F) across from the temple,(G) Peter,(H) James,(I) John,(J) and Andrew(K) asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name,(L) saying, ‘I am he,’(M) and they will deceive(N) many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,(O) don’t be alarmed;(P) these things must take place,(Q) but it is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(R) There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.[a] These are the beginning(S) of birth pains.(T)

Persecutions Predicted

“But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts,[b](U) and you will be flogged(V) in the synagogues.(W) You will stand before governors and kings(X) because of me,(Y) as a witness(Z) to them.(AA) 10 And it is necessary that the gospel(AB) be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will betray(AC) brother to death,(AD) and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name,(AE) but the one who endures to the end will be saved.(AF)

The Great Tribulation

14 “When you see the abomination of desolation[c](AG) standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea(AH) must flee to the mountains. 15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house,(AI) 16 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.(AJ) 17 Woe (AK) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

18 “Pray(AL) it[d] won’t happen in winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation,(AM) the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning(AN) of creation(AO) until now and never will be again. 20 If the Lord(AP) had not cut those days short,(AQ) no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect,(AR) whom he chose.(AS)

21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah!(AT) See, there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders(AU) to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:(AV) The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; 25 the stars(AW) will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.(AX) 26 Then they will see the Son of Man(AY) coming(AZ) in clouds(BA) with great power(BB) and glory.(BC) 27 He will send out the angels(BD) and gather his elect(BE) from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.(BF)

The Parable of the Fig Tree

28 “Learn(BG) this lesson(BH) from the fig(BI) tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.(BJ) 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize[e] that he[f] is near—at the door.

30 “Truly I tell you,(BK) this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth(BL) will pass away,(BM) but my words will never pass away.(BN)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

32 “Now concerning that day(BO) or hour no one knows—neither the angels(BP) in heaven nor the Son(BQ) —but only the Father.(BR)

33 “Watch! Be alert![g] For you don’t know when the time(BS) is coming.(BT)

34 “It is like(BU) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants,(BV) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert,(BW) since you don’t know when the master(BX) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.(BY) 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Footnotes

  1. 13:8 Other mss add and disturbances
  2. 13:9 Or sanhedrins
  3. 13:14 Dn 9:27
  4. 13:18 Other mss read “Pray that your escape
  5. 13:29 Or you know
  6. 13:29 Or it
  7. 13:33 Other mss add and pray

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

13 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”(A)

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,(B) “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.(C) Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’[a] and they will lead many astray.(D) When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Persecution Foretold

“As for yourselves, beware, for they will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them.(E) 10 And the good news[b] must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit.(F) 12 Sibling will betray sibling to death and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,(G) 13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.(H)

The Desolating Sacrilege

14 “But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;(I) 15 the one on the housetop must not go down or enter to take anything from the house; 16 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 17 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!(J) 18 Pray that it may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now and never will be.(K) 20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved, but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. 21 And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’[c] or ‘Look! There he is!’—do not believe it.(L) 22 False messiahs[d] and false prophets will appear and produce signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.(M) 23 But be alert; I have already told you everything.(N)

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,(O)
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.(P) 27 Then he will send out the angels and gather the[e] elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he[f] is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.(Q) 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(R)

The Necessity for Watchfulness

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.(S) 33 Beware, keep alert,[g] for you do not know when the time will come.(T) 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.(U) 35 Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn,(V) 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Footnotes

  1. 13.6 Gk I am
  2. 13.10 Gk gospel
  3. 13.21 Or the Christ
  4. 13.22 Or christs
  5. 13.27 Other ancient authorities read his
  6. 13.29 Or it
  7. 13.33 Other ancient authorities add and pray