The Widow's Offering
(Mark 12.41-44)1 Jesus looked around and saw rich people dropping their gifts in the Temple treasury, 2 and he also saw a very poor widow dropping in two little copper coins. 3 He said, “I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others. 4 For the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on.”
Jesus Speaks of the Destruction of the Temple
(Matthew 24.1Matthew 2Mark 13.1Mark 2)5 Some of the disciples were talking about the Temple, how beautiful it looked with its fine stones and the gifts offered to God. Jesus said, 6 “All this you see—the time will come when not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one will be thrown down.”
Troubles and Persecutions
(Matthew 24.3-14Mark 13.3-13)7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will this be? And what will happen in order to show that the time has come for it to take place?”
8 Jesus said, “Watch out; don't be fooled. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ But don't follow them. 9 Don't be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near.”
10 He went on to say, “Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another. 11 There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and plagues everywhere; there will be strange and terrifying things coming from the sky. 12 Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. 13 This will be your chance to tell the Good News. 14 Make up your minds ahead of time not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, 15 because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say. 16 You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a single hair from your heads will be lost. 19 Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.
Jesus Speaks of the Destruction of Jerusalem
(Matthew 24.15-21Mark 13.14-19)20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that it will soon be destroyed. 21 Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills; those who are in the city must leave, and those who are out in the country must not go into the city. 22 For those will be ‘The Days of Punishment,’ to make come true all that the Scriptures say. 23 How terrible it will be in those days for women who are pregnant and for mothers with little babies! Terrible distress will come upon this land, and God's punishment will fall on this people. 24 Some will be killed by the sword, and others will be taken as prisoners to all countries; and the heathen will trample over Jerusalem until their time is up.
The Coming of the Son of Man
(Matthew 24.29-31Mark 13.24-27)25 “There will be strange things happening to the sun, the moon, and the stars. On earth whole countries will be in despair, afraid of the roar of the sea and the raging tides. 26 People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses. 27 Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Matthew 24.32-35Mark 13.28-31)29 Then Jesus told them this parable: “Think of the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When you see their leaves beginning to appear, you know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the Kingdom of God is about to come.
32 “Remember that all these things will take place before the people now living have all died. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Need to Watch
34 “Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth. 36 Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came, he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.
1 And as he behelde, he sawe the rich men, which cast their giftes into the treasurie. 2 And he sawe also a certaine poore widowe which cast in thither two mites: 3 And he sayd, Of a trueth I say vnto you, that this poore widowe hath cast in more then they all. 4 For they all haue of their superfluitie cast into the offerings of God: but she of her penurie hath cast in all the liuing that she had. 5 Nowe as some spake of the Temple, how it was garnished with goodly stones, and with consecrate things, he sayd, 6 Are these ye things that ye looke vpon? the dayes will come wherein a stone shall not be left vpon a stone, that shall not be throwen downe. 7 Then they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what signe shall there be when these things shall come to passe? 8 And he sayd, Take heede, that ye be not deceiued: for many will come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, and the time draweth neere: follow ye not them therefore. 9 And when ye heare of warres and seditions, be not afraid: for these things must first come, but the ende foloweth not by and by. 10 Then said hee vnto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdome against kingdome, 11 And great earthquakes shall be in diuers places, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearefull things, and great signes shall there be from heauen. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, deliuering you vp to the assemblies, and into prisons, and bring you before Kings and rulers for my Names sake. 13 And this shall turne to you, for a testimoniall. 14 Lay it vp therefore in your heartes, that ye cast not before hand, what ye shall answere. 15 For I will giue you a mouth and wisdome, where against all your aduersaries shall not be able to speake, nor resist. 16 Yea, ye shalbe betrayed also of your parents, and of your brethren, and kinsmen, and friendes, and some of you shall they put to death. 17 And ye shall bee hated of all men for my Names sake. 18 Yet there shall not one heare of your heads perish. 19 By your patience possesse your soules. 20 And when ye see Hierusalem besieged with souldiers, then vnderstand that the desolation thereof is neere. 21 Then let them which are in Iudea, flee to the mountaines: and let them which are in the middes thereof, depart out: and let not them that are in the countrey, enter therein. 22 For these be the dayes of vengeance, to fulfill all things that are written. 23 But woe be to them that be with childe, and to them that giue sucke in those dayes: for there shalbe great distresse in this land, and wrath ouer this people. 24 And they shall fall on the edge of the sword, and shalbe led captiue into all nations, and Hierusalem shalbe troden vnder foote of the Gentiles, vntill the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 Then there shalbe signes in the sunne, and in the moone, and in the starres, and vpon the earth trouble among the nations with perplexitie: the sea and the waters shall roare. 26 And mens hearts shall faile them for feare, and for looking after those thinges which shall come on the worlde: for the powers of heauen shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Sonne of man come in a cloude, with power and great glory. 28 And when these things beginne to come to passe, then looke vp, and lift vp your heades: for your redemption draweth neere. 29 And he spake to them a parable, Behold, the figge tree, and all trees, 30 When they nowe shoote foorth, ye seeing them, knowe of your owne selues, that sommer is then neere. 31 So likewise yee, when yee see these thinges come to passe, knowe ye that the kingdome of God is neere. 32 Verely I say vnto you, This age shall not passe, till all these things be done: 33 Heauen and earth shall passe away, but my wordes shall not passe away. 34 Take heede to your selues, lest at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfeting and drunkennesse, and cares of this life, and least that day come on you at vnwares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watche therefore, and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these thinges that shall come to passe, and that ye may stand before the Sonne of man. 37 Nowe in the day time hee taught in the Temple, and at night hee went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Oliues. 38 And all the people came in the morning to him, to heare him in the Temple.