The Widow’s
Offering
1
As Jesus looked up, he
saw the
rich
putting
their
gifts into
the temple
treasury.
2 He also
saw a poor
widow put
in two
very small
copper
coins.
3 “Truly I
tell you,”
he said,
“this poor
widow has
put in
more than
all the
others.
4 All
these
people
gave their
gifts out
of their
wealth;
but she
out of her
poverty
put in all
she had to
live on.”
The Destruction of
the Temple
and Signs
of the End
Times
5 Some of his disciples
were
remarking
about how
the temple
was
adorned
with
beautiful
stones and
with gifts
dedicated
to God.
But Jesus
said,
6 “As
for what
you see
here, the
time will
come when
not one
stone will
be left on
another;
every one
of them
will be
thrown
down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked,
“when will
these
things
happen?
And what
will be
the sign
that they
are about
to take
place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out
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.
9 When
you hear
of wars
and
uprisings,
do not be
frightened.
These
things
must
happen
first, but
the end
will not
come right
away.”
10 Then he said to them:
“Nation
will rise
against
nation,
and
kingdom
against
kingdom.
11 There
will be
great
earthquakes,
famines
and
pestilences
in various
places,
and
fearful
events and
great
signs from
heaven.
12 “But before all this,
they will
seize you
and
persecute
you. They
will hand
you over
to
synagogues
and put
you in
prison,
and you
will be
brought
before
kings and
governors,
and all on
account of
my name.
13 And so
you will
bear
testimony
to me.
14 But
make up
your mind
not to
worry
beforehand
how you
will
defend
yourselves.
15 For I
will give
you words
and wisdom
that none
of your
adversaries
will be
able to
resist or
contradict.
16 You
will be
betrayed
even by
parents,
brothers
and
sisters,
relatives
and
friends,
and they
will put
some of
you to
death.
17 Everyone
will hate
you
because of
me.
18 But
not a hair
of your
head will
perish.
19 Stand
firm, and
you will
win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem
being
surrounded
by armies,
you will
know that
its
desolation
is near.
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
not enter
the city.
22 For
this is
the time
of
punishment
in
fulfillment
of all
that has
been
written.
23 How
dreadful
it will be
in those
days for
pregnant
women and
nursing
mothers!
There will
be great
distress
in the
land and
wrath
against
this
people.
24 They
will fall
by the
sword and
will be
taken as
prisoners
to all the
nations.
Jerusalem
will be
trampled
on by the
Gentiles
until the
times of
the
Gentiles
are
fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in
the sun,
moon and
stars. On
the earth,
nations
will be in
anguish
and
perplexity
at the
roaring
and
tossing of
the sea.
26 People
will faint
from
terror,
apprehensive
of what is
coming on
the world,
for the
heavenly
bodies
will be
shaken.
27 At that
time they
will see
the Son of
Man coming
in a cloud
with power
and great
glory.
28 When
these
things
begin to
take
place,
stand up
and lift
up your
heads,
because
your
redemption
is drawing
near.”
29 He told them this
parable:
“Look at
the fig
tree and
all the
trees.
30 When
they
sprout
leaves,
you can
see for
yourselves
and know
that
summer is
near.
31 Even
so, when
you see
these
things
happening,
you know
that the
kingdom of
God is
near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this
generation
will
certainly
not pass
away until
all these
things
have
happened.
33 Heaven
and earth
will pass
away, but
my words
will never
pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your
hearts
will be
weighed
down with
carousing,
drunkenness
and the
anxieties
of life,
and that
day will
close on
you
suddenly
like a
trap.
35 For
it will
come on
all those
who live
on the
face of
the whole
earth.
36 Be
always on
the watch,
and pray
that you
may be
able to
escape all
that is
about to
happen,
and that
you may be
able to
stand
before the
Son of
Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was
teaching
at the
temple,
and each
evening he
went out
to spend
the night
on the
hill
called the
Mount of
Olives,
38 and all
the people
came early
in the
morning to
hear him
at the
temple.