New Testament in a Year

The Widow’s Offering

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their gifts into the temple offering boxes. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus said. “That poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these other people gave a lot because they are rich. But even though she is poor, she put in everything. She had nothing left to live on.”

When the Temple Will Be Destroyed and the Signs of the End

⁵ Some of Jesus’ disciples were talking about the temple. They spoke about how it was decorated with beautiful stones and with gifts that honored God. But Jesus asked, ⁶ “Do you see all this? The time will come when not one stone will be left on top of another. Every stone 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 Jesus replied, “Keep watch! Be careful that you are not fooled. Many will come in my name. They will claim, ‘I am he!’ And they will say, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them. ⁹ Do not be afraid when you hear about wars and about fighting against rulers. Those things must happen first. But the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. ¹¹ In many places there will be powerful earthquakes. People will go hungry. There will be terrible sicknesses. Things will happen that will make people afraid. There will be great and miraculous signs from heaven.

¹² “But before all this, people will arrest you and treat you badly. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison. You will be brought to kings and governors. All this will happen to you because of my name. ¹³ And so you will be witnesses about me. ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry ahead of time about how to stand up for yourselves. ¹⁵ I will give you words of wisdom. None of your enemies will be able to withstand them or prove them wrong. ¹⁶ Even your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends will hand you over to the authorities. The authorities will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair on your head will be harmed. ¹⁹ Remain strong in the faith, and you will receive eternal life.