Luke 21
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Jesus Uses The Widow’s Offering To Illustrate True Giving
21 And having looked-up, He saw the rich ones throwing their gifts into the treasury[a]. 2 And He saw a certain needy widow throwing two leptos[b] there. 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow threw more than all. 4 For all these ones threw into the gifts out of the money abounding[c] to them. But this one, out of her lack[d], threw all the living[e] which she was having.
Jesus Says The Temple Will Be Destroyed. The Disciples Ask, When?
5 And while some were talking about the temple— that it has been adorned with beautiful stones and gifts-dedicated-to-God— He said, 6 “As to these things which you are observing, days will come during which a stone on a stone will not be left which will not be torn-down[f]”. 7 And 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?”
Do Not Be Deceived By False Christs Or Frightened By Wars And Disturbances
8 And the One said, “Be watching-out that you may not be deceived. For many will come on the basis of My name, saying ‘I am[g] the One’, and ‘The time has drawn-near’. Do not go after them. 9 And whenever you hear-of wars and disturbances[h], do not be frightened. For these things must take place first, but it is not immediately the end”.
There Will Be Disasters On Earth And Great Signs From Heaven
10 Then He was saying to them, “Nation will arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be both great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places. There will be both fearful[i] things and great signs from heaven.
But Before All This, You Will Be Imprisoned
12 “But before all these things, they will put their hands on you and persecute you— they handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, you being led-away before kings and governors for-the-sake-of [j] My name. 13 It will turn-out for you to be for a testimony. 14 So put in your hearts not to prepare-beforehand to speak-a-defense. 15 For I will give you a mouth, and wisdom which all the ones being opposed to you will not be able to resist or to speak-against[k]. 16 And you will be handed-over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. And they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be being hated by all because of My name. 18 And a hair of your head will by no means be[l] lost. 19 Gain[m] your souls[n] by your endurance.
And You Will See Days of Vengeance And Wrath Against This People
20 “But when you see Jerusalem being surrounded by army-encampments, then recognize that her desolation has drawn-near. 21 Then[o] let the ones in Judea be fleeing to the mountains. And let the ones in the midst of her[p] be going-out. And let the ones in the fields not be entering into her. 22 Because these are days of vengeance, that all the things having been written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe to the ones having a child in the womb, and to the ones nursing in those days. For there will be a great distress[q] upon the land, and wrath against this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword. And they will be taken-captive to all the nations. And Jerusalem will be being trampled[r] by the Gentiles[s] until which time the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Then They Will See The Son Coming On The Clouds With Great Glory
25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on earth the anguish of nations in perplexity about the roar of the sea and wave-tossing— 26 people fainting[t] from fear and the expectation of the things coming-upon the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then[u] they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now [when] these things [are] beginning to take place, straighten-up and lift-up your heads, because your redemption is drawing-near”.
The Parable of The Fig Tree: When You See This You Know The Kingdom Is Near
29 And He spoke a parable to them: “Look at the fig-tree, and all the trees. 30 When they already put-forth leaves, seeing it, you know from[v] yourselves that summer is already near. 31 So also you— when you see these things taking place, you know[w] that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you that this generation[x] will by no means pass away until all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by-no-means pass away.
Be Prepared And Keep Alert
34 “But take heed to yourselves that your hearts may not at any time be weighed-down with carousing and drunkenness and anxieties[y] pertaining-to-life, and that unexpected[z] day suddenly-come-upon[aa] you 35 like a snare. For it will come-in-upon all the ones sitting on the face of all the earth. 36 And be keeping-alert[ab] in every season, praying that you may have strength to escape[ac] all these things being about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man”.
Jesus Spends His Days In The Temple and His Nights On The Mount of Olives
37 Now as to the days, He was teaching in the temple. But as to the nights, going out [of Jerusalem], He was spending-the-night on the mountain being called ‘of Olives’. 38 And all the people were arising-very-early[ad] to come to Him in the temple to hear Him.
Footnotes
- Luke 21:1 See Mk 12:41.
- Luke 21:2 This copper coin was the smallest denomination of Jewish coins, 1/128th of a denarius.
- Luke 21:4 Or, overflowing, being left over.
- Luke 21:4 Or, shortcoming, deficiency. That is, out of what was already not enough.
- Luke 21:4 That is, means-of-living.
- Luke 21:6 Or, destroyed, demolished, done-away-with.
- Luke 21:8 Or, I am He. That is, I am the Messiah.
- Luke 21:9 Or, insurrections, instabilities.
- Luke 21:11 Or, terrors, horrors. That is, fearful sights or events.
- Luke 21:12 That is, from your point of view. Or, because-of, from the persecutor’s point of view.
- Luke 21:15 Or, contradict.
- Luke 21:18 Or, perish. That is, eternally; or, without God’s permission.
- Luke 21:19 Or, Acquire, Obtain, Get.
- Luke 21:19 Or, lives. That is, your eternal lives with God.
- Luke 21:21 Or, At that time. See Mt 24:9.
- Luke 21:21 That is, Jerusalem.
- Luke 21:23 Or, calamity, trouble.
- Luke 21:24 Or, tread-on.
- Luke 21:24 Or, nations.
- Luke 21:26 Or, expiring (dying).
- Luke 21:27 Or, at that time.
- Luke 21:30 That is, from your own knowledge and experience.
- Luke 21:31 Or, know that (a command).
- Luke 21:32 See Mt 24:34.
- Luke 21:34 Or, worries, cares.
- Luke 21:34 Or, unforeseen, sudden.
- Luke 21:34 Or, spring-upon.
- Luke 21:36 Or, keeping-alert, praying in every season.
- Luke 21:36 Or, flee-from.
- Luke 21:38 That is, before dawn.
Luke 21
King James Version
21 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
Luke 21
English Standard Version
The Widow's Offering
21 (A)Jesus[a] looked up and saw the rich (B)putting their gifts into (C)the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two (D)small copper coins.[b] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, (E)this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (F)poverty put in all (G)she had to live on.”
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5 (H)And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, (I)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, (J)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, (K)“See that you are not led astray. For (L)many will come in my name, saying, (M)‘I am he!’ and, (N)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be (O)terrified, for these things (P)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, (Q)“Nation will rise against nation, and (R)kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great (S)earthquakes, and in various places (T)famines and pestilences. And there will be (U)terrors and great (V)signs from heaven. 12 But before all this (W)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to (X)the synagogues and (Y)prisons, and you (Z)will be brought before (AA)kings and (AB)governors for my name's sake. 13 (AC)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds (AD)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for (AE)I will give you a mouth and (AF)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or (AG)contradict. 16 You will be delivered up (AH)even by parents and brothers[c] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 (AI)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But (AJ)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your (AK)endurance you will gain your lives.
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “But (AL)when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that (AM)its desolation has come near. 21 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, 22 for these are (AN)days of (AO)vengeance, to fulfill (AP)all that is written. 23 (AQ)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 (AR)wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and (AS)be led captive among all nations, and (AT)Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, (AU)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 “And (AV)there will be signs in sun and moon (AW)and stars, and on the earth (AX)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For (AY)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see (AZ)the Son of Man coming in a cloud (BA)with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and (BB)raise your heads, because (BC)your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see (BD)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 (BE)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 (BF)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (BG)my words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves (BH)lest (BI)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and (BJ)cares of this life, and (BK)that day come upon you suddenly (BL)like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But (BM)stay awake at all times, (BN)praying that you may (BO)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and (BP)to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 And (BQ)every day he was teaching in the temple, but (BR)at night he went out and lodged on (BS)the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning (BT)all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
Footnotes
- Luke 21:1 Greek He
- Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
- Luke 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
