Luke 21
1 Looking up He saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasure chest.
[Jesus] looked up [from where he was sitting] and saw rich people putting their gifts into the [offering] boxes [in the Temple courtyard].
2 But He also saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites.
He also saw a poor widow putting in two [small] copper coins.
3 So He said: “I tell you truly that this poor widow put in more than all of them;
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 because all these others put in gifts for God out of their abundance, but she, out of her destitution, put in all she had to live on.”
5 Then, as some were admiring the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He 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 “These things that you see—the days will come in which not one stone will be left upon another that will not 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 So they asked Him, saying: “Teacher, so when will these things be?” and “What will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”
[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 So He said: “Be careful, so as not to be deceived, because many will come in my name saying: ‘I am’ and ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore do not go after 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 But whenever you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; because these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
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 said to them: “Nation will be raised up 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 And there will be severe earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful events 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 these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of my name.
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 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 So settle it in your hearts not to practice giving a defense beforehand;
So determine within yourselves not to be worrying before that happens what you will say to defend yourselves,
15 because I will give you a mouth and wisdom such that all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or withstand.
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 relatives, friends and ‘brothers’; and they will put some of you 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 all because of my name.
[In general], most people will [HYP] hate you because [you believe in] me [MTY].
18 (Not even one hair of your head will be wasted
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 —you must secure your souls by your endurance.)
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, then know that her desolation is at hand.
“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 who are in the city get out, and let those who are in the country not enter her.
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 Because these are days of vengeance, that all the written things may be fulfilled.
[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 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those nursing babies in those days! There will be great distress in the land, and wrath to 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 Yes, they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by 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 sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, at the roaring and tossing of the sea;
“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 fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming on the inhabited earth—because 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 Then they will see the Son of the 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 Now when these things begin to happen, straighten 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 He 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 Whenever they are already budding, you see and know by yourselves that summer is now near.
As soon as you see their leaves beginning to sprout, you know that summer is near.
31 So you also, whenever 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 I tell you assuredly, this generation will certainly not pass away until all has 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 by no means 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 keep a watch on yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and cares of life, and that Day come upon you suddenly.
“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 Because it will come like a trap upon all those who dwell on the surface of the whole earth.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 So be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that are about to happen and to stand before the Son of the 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 In the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called ‘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 Then early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to hear Him.
Early [each] morning many people came to the Temple [courtyard] to listen to him.
