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Matthew 23:27-24:14
New Century Version
Matthew 23:27-24:14
New Century Version
27 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs that are painted white. Outside, those tombs look fine, but inside, they are full of the bones of dead people and all kinds of unclean things. 28 It is the same with you. People look at you and think you are good, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil.
29 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and you show honor to the graves of those who lived good lives. 30 You say, ‘If we had lived during the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the prophets.’ 31 But you give proof that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 And you will complete the sin that your ancestors started.
33 “You are snakes! A family of poisonous snakes! How are you going to escape God’s judgment? 34 So I tell you this: I am sending to you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify. Some of them you will beat in your synagogues and chase from town to town. 35 So you will be guilty for the death of all the good people who have been killed on earth—from the murder of that good man Abel to the murder of Zechariah[a] son of Berakiah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all of these things will happen to you people who are living now.
Jesus Feels Sorry for Jerusalem
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you did not let me. 38 Now your house will be left completely empty. 39 I tell you, you will not see me again until that time when you will say, ‘God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord.’”[b]
The Temple Will Be Destroyed
24 As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his followers came up to show him the Temple’s buildings. 2 Jesus asked, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground.”
3 Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his followers came to be alone with him. They said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that it is time for you to come again and for this age to end?”
4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one fools you. 5 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will fool many people. 6 You will hear about wars and stories of wars that are coming, but don’t be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. 7 Nations will fight against other nations; kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat, and there will be earthquakes in different places. 8 These things are like the first pains when something new is about to be born.
9 “Then people will arrest you, hand you over to be hurt, and kill you. They will hate you because you believe in me. 10 At that time, many will lose their faith, and they will turn against each other and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe lies. 12 There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other. 13 But those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved. 14 The Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come.
Footnotes
- 23:35 Abel . . . Zechariah In the order of the books of the Hebrew Old Testament, the first and last men to be murdered.
- 23:39 ‘God . . . Lord.’ Quotation from Psalm 118:26.
Matthew 23:27-24:14
New International Version
Matthew 23:27-24:14
New International Version
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(A) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(B) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(C) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(D) what your ancestors started!(E)
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(F) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(G) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(H) others you will flog in your synagogues(I) and pursue from town to town.(J) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(K) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(L) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(M) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(N)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(O) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(P) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(Q) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[a]”(R)
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(S)
24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another;(T) every one will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives,(U) the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming(V) and of the end of the age?”(W)
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.(X) 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.(Y) 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(Z) There will be famines(AA) and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted(AB) and put to death,(AC) and you will be hated by all nations because of me.(AD) 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets(AE) will appear and deceive many people.(AF) 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(AG) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom(AH) will be preached in the whole world(AI) as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26
New Century Version (NCV) 
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.