Beginning
The Widow’s Offering(A)
21 He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts in the treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow putting in two mites,[a] 3 and He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these out of their abundance have put in their gifts for God. But she out of her poverty has put in all the living she had.”
The Destruction of the Temple Foretold(B)
5 As some spoke of how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come when not one stone shall be left on another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs and Persecutions(C)
7 They asked Him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when this is about to happen?”
8 He said, “Beware lest you be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. 9 When you hear of wars and commotions, do not be afraid. For these things must first take place, but the end will not be at hand.”
10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 Great earthquakes will occur in various places, and there will be famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all these things, they will seize you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14 Therefore resolve in your hearts beforehand not to practice your defense. 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your opponents will be able to neither refute nor resist. 16 You will be betrayed by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. And they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake, 18 but not a hair of your head shall perish. 19 In your endurance you will gain your souls.
The Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold(D)
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its desolation has drawn near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led away captive to all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man(E)
25 “There will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming on the inhabited earth. For the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they 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 lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree(F)
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are sprouting leaves already, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So in like manner, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Exhortation to Watch
34 “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts become burdened by excessiveness and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that Day comes on you unexpectedly. 35 For as a snare it will come on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Therefore watch always and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day He was teaching in the temple, and each night He went out and stayed on the mountain called the Mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came early in the morning to hear Him in the temple.
The Plot to Kill Jesus(G)
22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, drew near. 2 And the chief priests and scribes were seeking how to kill Jesus, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. 4 He went and discussed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray Him to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him money. 6 He fully consented and searched for an opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowds.
The Preparation of the Passover(H)
7 Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came, when the Passover lamb must be killed. 8 He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat it.”
9 They said to Him, “Where will You have us prepare it?”
10 He said to them, “Now, as you enter the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you there. Follow him into the house which he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 12 He will show you a large furnished upper room. Prepare there.”
13 They went and found it as He had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
The Lord’s Supper(I)
14 When the hour had come, He and the twelve apostles with Him sat down. 15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 And He took the cup and gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 Then He took the bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 In like manner, He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood which is shed for you. 21 But see the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me at the table. 22 Indeed, the Son of Man goes as it has been determined. But woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 They began to inquire among themselves which of them it was who would do this.
The Dispute About Greatness
24 There was also rivalry among them concerning which of them was to be counted the greatest. 25 He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But you are not so. Instead, let him who is greatest among you be as the younger, and he who rules as he who serves. 27 For who is greater: he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? But I am among you as He who serves. 28 You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I appoint to you a kingdom as My Father has appointed one to Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have repented, strengthen your brothers.”
33 He said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death.”
34 He said, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Purse, Bag, and Sword
35 Then He said to them, “When I sent you without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.”
36 He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it and also a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I tell you, what is written must yet be accomplished in Me, ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’[b] Indeed, what is written concerning Me has a fulfillment.”
38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “It is enough.”
The Prayer on the Mount of Olives(J)
39 According to His custom, He came out and went to the Mount of Olives. And His disciples followed Him. 40 When He came there, He said to them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose from prayer and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you fall into temptation.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus(K)
47 While He was yet speaking, a crowd came. And he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those who were around Him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus said, “This is enough!” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the temple guard, and the elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a rebel? 53 Daily, while I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”
Peter’s Denial of Jesus(L)
54 Then they arrested Him, and led Him away, and brought Him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant girl saw him as he sat near the fire, and gazed at him, and said, “This man was with Him.”
57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 About an hour later another man firmly declared, “Certainly, this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” Immediately, while he was yet speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And Peter went outside and wept bitterly.
The Mocking and Whipping of Jesus(M)
63 The men who guarded Jesus mocked Him and whipped Him. 64 When they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, “Prophesy! Who struck You?” 65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
Jesus Before the Council(N)
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him away to their council, saying, 67 “Are You the Christ? Tell us!”
He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I also question you, you will not answer Me or release Me. 69 From now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70 They all said, “Are You then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “You truly say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it from His own mouth.”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.