The Widow’s Offering

1And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2And He saw a poor widow putting [†]in two [†]lepta. 3And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. 4For they all put in their gifts out of their abundance; but she, out of what she lacked, put in all [†]that she had for living.”

5And while some were talking about the temple, that it had been adorned with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said, 6“As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”

7So they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [†]sign when these things are about to take place?” 8And He said, “See to it that you are not deceived; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Do not go after them. 9And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”

Signs of Christ’s Return

10Then He continued saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be terrors and great [†]signs from heaven.

12“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, [†]bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13It will result in [†]an opportunity for your testimony. 14So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your perseverance you will gain your [†]lives.

20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of [†]the city must leave, and those who are in the countryside must not enter [†]the city; 22because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the [†]land and wrath against this people, 24and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

When Christ Returns

25“And there will be [†]signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the [†]world; for the POWERS OF [†]THE HEAVENS will be shaken. 27And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. 28But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they put forth leaves and you see it for yourselves, know that summer is now near. 31So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I say to you, this [†]generation will not pass away until all things take place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

34“But be on guard, so that your hearts will not be overcome with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35for it will come upon all those who inhabit the face of all the earth. 36But keep on the alert at all times, praying earnestly that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37Now [†]during the day He was teaching in the temple, but [†]during the night He would go out and spend it on [†]the mount called “of [†]Olives.” 38And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.