The Gospel According to St. Luke

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- Chapter 21 -

(Mark 12:41–44)

And looking around, he saw the wealthy putting their donations into the offertory.

Then he also saw a certain widow, a pauper, putting in two small brass coins.

And he said: “Truly, I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

For all these, out of their abundance, have added to the gifts for God. But she, out of what she needed, has put in all that she had to live on.”

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

And when some of them were saying, about the temple, that it was adorned with excellent stones and gifts, he said,

“These things that you see, the days will arrive when there will not be left behind stone upon stone, which is not thrown down.”

Then they questioned him, saying: “Teacher, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things will happen?”

And he said: “Be cautious, lest you be seduced. For many will come in my name, saying: ‘For I am he,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ And so, do not choose to go after them.

And when you will have heard of battles and seditions, do not be terrified. These things must happen first. But the end is not so soon.”

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

Then he said to them: “People will rise up against people, and kingdom against kingdom.

And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there will be great signs.(a)

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and into custody, dragging you before kings and governors, because of my name.

And this will be an opportunity for you to give testimony.

Therefore, set this in your hearts: that you should not consider in advance how you might respond.

For I will give to you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or contradict.

And you will be handed over by your parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends. And they will bring about the death of some of you.

And you will be hated by all because of my name.

And yet, not a hair of your head will perish.

By your patience, you shall possess your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

Then, when you will have seen Jerusalem encircled by an army, know then that its desolation has drawn near.

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and those who are in its midst withdraw, and those who are in the countryside not enter into it.

For these are the days of retribution, so that all things may be fulfilled, which have been written.

Then woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days. For there will be great distress upon the land and great wrath upon this people.

And they will fall by the edge of the sword. And they will be led away as captives into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars. And there will be, on earth, distress among the Gentiles, out of confusion at the roaring of the sea and of the waves:

men withering away out of fear and out of apprehension over the things that will overwhelm the whole world. For the powers of the heavens will be moved.

And then they will see the Son of man coming on a cloud, with great power and majesty.(b)

But when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads and look around you, because your redemption draws near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

And he told them a comparison: “Take notice of the fig tree and of all the trees.

When presently they produce fruit from themselves, you know that summer is near.

So you also, when you will have seen these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Amen I say to you, this lineage shall not pass away, until all these things happen.

Heaven and earth shall pass away. But my words shall not pass away.

Be Watchful for the Day

But be attentive to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts may be weighed down by self-indulgence and inebriation and the cares of this life. And then that day may overwhelm you suddenly.

For like a snare it will overwhelm all those who sit upon the face of the entire earth.

And so, be vigilant, praying at all times, so that you may be held worthy to escape from all these things, which are in the future, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Now in the daytime, he was teaching in the temple. But truly, departing in the evening, he lodged on the mount that is called Olivet.

And all the people arrived in the morning to listen to him in the temple.

Footnotes

(a)21:11 These two phrases, ‘terrors from heaven’ and ‘great signs,’ indicate that some of these signs will be supernatural in origin; these signs are not merely natural disasters or increases in the usual sufferings that the world endures.(Conte)

(b)21:27 This verse plainly teaches that Jesus Christ will return, bodily, at the end of the tribulation. Jesus will return bodily, for a brief time, to establish His kingdom on earth. He does not remain on earth for long, because He must reign over the earth from Heaven. So He returns to Heaven to await the day of Judgment.(Conte)

(Mark 12:41–44)

He looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.

He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.(a)

He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,

for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Mark 13:1–8)

As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,

“As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”

They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”

He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he (b) ,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.

When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Mark 13:9–13)

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.

It will turn out as a testimony for you.

Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.

You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.

You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

And not a hair of your head will perish.

“By your endurance you will win your lives.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15–25; Mark 13:14–23)

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.

For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath to this people.

They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Mark 13:24–27)

“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;

men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees.

When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.

Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near.

Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

Be Watchful for the Day

“So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.

Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.

All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

Footnotes

(a)21:2 literally, “two lepta.” 2 lepta was about 1% of a day’s wages for an agricultural laborer.

(b)21:8 or, I AM