Luk 21 | HCSB | STEP | He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury .

Luke 21

The Widow’s Gift

1 He ^a looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. ^b 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. ^{▼▼Lit two lepta; the lepton was the smallest and least valuable Gk coin in use.
,} ^d 3 “I tell you the truth,” He said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. ^e 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

5 As ^f some were talking about the ^{▼▼temple complex: In the Jerusalem temple, the complex included the sanctuary (the holy place and the holy of holies), at least 4 courtyards (for priests, Jewish men, Jewish women, and Gentiles), numerous gates, and several covered walkways.}temple complex, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, ^{▼▼Gifts given to the temple in fulfillment of vows to God} He said, 6 “These things that you see – the days will come ⁱ when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down!” ^j

Signs of the End of the Age

7 “Teacher,” they asked Him, “so when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ^k

8 Then He said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. ^l For many will come in My name, ^m saying, ‘I am He,’ ⁿ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them. ^o 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, ^{▼▼Or insurrections, or revolutions} don’t be alarmed. Indeed, these things must take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

10 Then He told them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ^q 11 There will be violent earthquakes, ^r and famines and plagues ^s in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. ^t 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you ^u and persecute ^v you. They will hand you over to the ^{▼▼synagogue(s): A place where the Jewish people met for prayer, worship and teaching of the Scriptures}synagogues ^x and prisons, ^y and you will be brought before kings and governors ^z because of My name. 13 It will lead to an opportunity for you to witness. ^{▼▼Lit lead to a testimony for you
,} ^ab 14 Therefore make up your minds ^{▼▼Lit Therefore place (determine) in your hearts} not to prepare your defense ahead of time, ^ad 15 for I will give you such words ^{▼▼Lit you a mouth
,} ^af and a wisdom ^ag that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ^ah 16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. ^ai They will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, ^aj 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost. ^ak 19 By your endurance gain ^{▼▼Other mss read endurance you will gain} your ^{▼▼life/soul: The Greek word psyche can be translated life or soul.}lives. ^an

The Destruction of Jerusalem

20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, ^ao then recognize that its desolation ^ap has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee ^aq to the mountains! ^ar Those inside the city ^{▼▼Lit inside her} must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance ^at to fulfill all the things that are written. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, ^au for there will be great distress in the land ^{▼▼Or the earth} and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword ^aw and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles ^{▼▼Or nations
,} ^ay until the times of the Gentiles ^az are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; ^ba and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves. ^bb 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken. ^bc 27 Then they will see the ^{▼▼Son of Man: The most frequent title Jesus used for Himself; Dn 7:13}Son of Man coming in a cloud ^be with power and great glory. ^bf 28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your ^{▼▼redemption/redeemed: The deliverance from bondage by a payment or ransom (Mk 10:45; 1Pe 1:18-19)}redemption is near!” ^bh

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29 Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize ^{▼▼Or you know} that the kingdom of God is near. 32 ^{▼▼I assure you: This is a phrase used only by Jesus to testify to the certainty and importance of His words; in Mt, Mk and Lk it is literally Amen, I say to you, and in Jn it is literally Amen, amen, I say to you.}I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. ^bk 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, ^bl but My words will never pass away. ^bm

The Need for Watchfulness

34 “Be on your guard, ^bn so that your minds are not dulled ^{▼▼Lit your hearts are not weighed down} from carousing, ^{▼▼Or hangovers} drunkenness, ^bq and worries of life, ^br or that day will come on you unexpectedly ^bs 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, ^bt praying that you may have strength ^{▼▼Other mss read you may be counted worthy} to escape ^bv all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 During ^bw the day, He was teaching in the temple complex, ^bx but in the evening He would go out and spend the night on what is called the ^{▼▼Mount of Olives: A mountain east of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley}Mount of Olives. ^bz 38 Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear Him in the temple complex. ^ca