Luke 21
1 Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
[Jesus] looked up [from where he was sitting] and saw rich people putting their gifts into the [offering] boxes [in the Temple courtyard].
2 and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
He also saw a poor widow putting in two [small] copper coins.
3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
He said [to his disciples], “The truth is that these rich people have a lot of money, [but] they gave [only a small part of it]. But this woman, who is very poor, has put in all the money that she had to pay for the things she needs! So [God considers that] [HYP] this poor widow has put more money into the box than all the others.”
4 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
5 As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,
Some [of Jesus’ disciples] talked about the Temple. [They commented about] the beautiful stones [used in building the Temple] and the other decorations that [people] had given, decorations [that were on the walls]. But he said,
6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
“[I want to tell you something about] these things that you are looking at. [They will be destroyed] {[Foreign invaders will] destroy [these buildings]} [completely]. Every stone [in these buildings] will be thrown down {They will throw down every stone in these buildings}. Not one stone will be left {They will not leave one stone} on top of another.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
[Later] his disciples asked him, “Teacher, when will that happen? What will happen [to the temple] to indicate that the things [you(sg) just told us] are about to happen?”
8 Jesus answered, “See to it 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.
He said, “[All that I will say is], be sure that you are not deceived {that they do not deceive [you]} [about these things]! Many [people] will come and say (that I [sent them]/that they have my authority) [MTY]. They will say, ‘I am [the Messiah]!’ They will also [say] ‘It is now the time [when God will begin to rule]!’ Do not follow them [to become their disciples]
9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”
Also, whenever you hear about wars and riots, do not be terrified. Keep in mind that [God has said that] those things must happen. But [when they happen], it will not mean that [the world] will end right away!”
10 Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Then he said to them, “[Groups in various] countries will fight each other, and [various] governments [will also fight] against each other.
11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
There will be [big] earthquakes, and in various places there will be famines and plagues. [People will see] things that will terrify them. There will also be unusual things happening in the sky.
12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
But before all these things happen, [some of] you will be persecuted and arrested {people will persecute some of you and arrest you} [MTY]. [Some of] you will be put {They will put [some of] you} [on trial] in the places where you gather to worship, and [you will be thrown] into prison. You will be put on trial {[They] will put you on trial} in front of high government authorities because you are my [MTY] [disciples].
13 This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
So determine within yourselves not to be worrying before that happens what you will say to defend yourselves,
15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
because I will make you wise [HEN] so that you will [know] what to say. As a result, none of your enemies will be able to oppose what you say or (refute you/show that you are wrong).
16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
[And there will also be other evil things that will happen]: Even your parents and brothers and [other] relatives and friends [who do not believe in me] will (betray you/help your enemies to seize you). They will kill some of you.
17 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.
[In general], most people will [HYP] hate you because [you believe in] me [MTY].
18 Yet not even a hair of your head will perish.
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
By enduring [all these things people will do to you], you will preserve your [eternal] life [SYN].”
20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.
“But when you see that Jerusalem has been surrounded by the armies of [your enemies], you will know that it is time for [this city] to be completely destroyed {[them] to completely destroy [this city]}.
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 stay out of the city.
At that time those [of you] who are in Judea [district] must flee to the [higher] hills. Those who are in this city must leave [quickly]. Those who are in the nearby countryside must not go back into the city [to get any of their possessions before they flee].
22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
[You must obey what I tell you] because, in order that all the things that are written [in the Scriptures] will be fulfilled, [God] will very severely punish [the people who stay in this city].
23 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.
[I feel] very sorry for women [in this city] who will be pregnant, and women who will be nursing [their babies] in those days, [because it will be very difficult for them to run away! I] feel sorry [because] the people in this [land] will suffer greatly [MTY] [when God punishes them].
24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Many of them will be killed {Their enemies will kill many of them} with swords. [Others will be captured] and taken {They will capture [others] and take them} to [HYP] [other] countries. Non-Jewish people will trample over Jerusalem until the time [that God has determined for them to rule the city] is ended.”
25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
“There will also be strange things that will [happen to] the sun, the moon, and the stars. In [many] nations, [people] will be very frightened, and they will be anxious [when they hear] the ocean roaring and [see huge] waves.
26 Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
People will faint because they will be afraid as they wait for what will happen. [They will be afraid] because the powerful [objects] in the sky will be shaken {shake}.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Then they will see [me], the one who came from heaven, coming in a cloud powerfully and very gloriously.
28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
So when these things that [I have just now described] begin to happen, stand up [straight and] be brave, because it will be close to the time when [God] will free you [from all suffering].”
29 Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
[Then] Jesus told his disciples this parable: “Think about the fig tree, and all the [other] trees.
30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
As soon as you see their leaves beginning to sprout, you know that summer is near.
31 So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Similarly, when you see these things that [I have just described] happening, you will know that it is almost time for God to [truly] rule as king.
32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Keep this in mind: All the things that [I have just now described] will happen before all the people who have observed the things that I have done have died.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
[You can be certain that these things] that I have told [you] about will happen. That they will happen is more [certain] than that the earth and sky will continue to exist.”
34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
“But be on guard. Do not be getting drunk with carousing or let yourselves be distracted by worries [concerning] your lives [SYN] {or let worries [concerning] your lives [SYN] distract you}. [If you do wrong things like those, you may be suddenly surprised by my return] [MTY], like a trap [suddenly catches an animal in it].
35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
So be ready at all times. Pray that you will be able to endure without being afraid of all these [difficult] things that will happen, so that you will then stand [confidently] before me, the one who came from heaven.”
37 Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
Each day [during that week Jesus] taught the people in the Temple [courtyard in Jerusalem]. But at night he [and his disciples] left [the city] and stayed on Olive [Tree] Hill.
38 And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.
Early [each] morning many people came to the Temple [courtyard] to listen to him.
