Luke 21
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich men who were 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 He 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, “Truly I say to you, 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 All of these gave gifts out of their abundance. But this widow, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.”
5 As some spoke of the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, 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 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn 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, when will these things happen? 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 Jesus answered, “Be careful that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' 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 When you hear of wars and riots, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end will not happen immediately.”
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 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, and in various places famines and plagues. There will be terrifying 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 of these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you over to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors because 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 It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
That will be a time for you to tell [them about me].
14 Therefore resolve in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time,
So determine within yourselves not to be worrying before that happens what you will say to defend yourselves,
15 for I will give you words and wisdom that all your adversaries will not 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 But you will be delivered up also by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, 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 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 But not a hair of your head will perish.
But your souls will be absolutely safe [IDM].
19 In your endurance you will gain your souls.
By enduring [all these things people will do to you], you will preserve your [eternal] life [SYN].”
20 When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its destruction 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 in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the city leave it, and those who are out in the country must not enter 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 days of vengeance, so that all the things that are written will 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 Woe to them who are pregnant and to them who are nursing in those days! For there will be great distress upon 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 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and they will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled 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, in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth. The nations will be in distress, anxious because of the roar of the sea and 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 There will be men fainting from fear and from expectation of the things which are coming upon the world. 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 Then 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 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is coming 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 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 buds, you see for yourselves and know that summer is already 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, you 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 say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
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 pay attention to yourselves, so that your hearts are not burdened with the effects of drinking and intoxication, and the worries of life, and then that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
“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 everyone living on the face of the whole earth.
[You need to know that my return will surprise] everyone all over the earth.
36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to escape all these things that will take place, 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 So during the days he was teaching in the temple, and at night he went out and stayed 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 All of the people came early in the morning to hear him in the temple.
Early [each] morning many people came to the Temple [courtyard] to listen to him.
