Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the
offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper
coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their
abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live
on.”
And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned
with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that
you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one
stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked
him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign
when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that
you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I
am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when
you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things
must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in
various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors
and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay
their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the
synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and
governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear
witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate
beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or
contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers
and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.
You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your
head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that
its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee
to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and
let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are
days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women
who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those
days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath
against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be
led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled
underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled.
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the
earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of
the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with
foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things
begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because
your redemption is drawing near.”
And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the
trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and
know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these
things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all
has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away.
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with
dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day
come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who
dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times,
praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that
are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went
out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning
all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
