Read the Gospels in 40 Days
The Widow’s Offering
21 Jesus[a] looked up[b] and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.[c] 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.[d] 3 He[e] said, “I tell you the truth,[f] this poor widow has put in more than all of them.[g] 4 For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth.[h] But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”[i]
The Signs of the End of the Age
5 Now[j] while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned[k] with beautiful stones and offerings,[l] Jesus[m] said, 6 “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another.[n] All will be torn down!”[o] 7 So[p] they asked him,[q] “Teacher, when will these things[r] happen? And what will be the sign that[s] these things are about to take place?” 8 He[t] said, “Watch out[u] that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’[v] and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them! 9 And when you hear of wars and rebellions,[w] do not be afraid.[x] For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.”[y]
Persecution of Disciples
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms[z] against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and famines[aa] and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights[ab] and great signs[ac] from heaven. 12 But before all this,[ad] they will seize[ae] you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues[af] and prisons. You[ag] will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.[ah] 14 Therefore be resolved[ai] not to rehearse[aj] ahead of time how to make your defense. 15 For I will give you the words[ak] along with the wisdom[al] that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents,[am] brothers, relatives,[an] and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name.[ao] 18 Yet[ap] not a hair of your head will perish.[aq] 19 By your endurance[ar] you will gain[as] your lives.[at]
The Desolation of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded[au] by armies, then know that its[av] desolation[aw] has come near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee[ax] to the mountains. Those[ay] who are inside the city must depart. Those[az] who are out in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance,[ba] to fulfill[bb] all that is written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress[bc] on the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They[bd] will fall by the edge[be] of the sword and be led away as captives[bf] among all nations. Jerusalem[bg] will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[bh]
The Arrival of the Son of Man
25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars,[bi] and on the earth nations will be in distress,[bj] anxious[bk] over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 26 People will be fainting from fear[bl] and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.[bm] 27 Then[bn] they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud[bo] with power and great glory. 28 But when these things[bp] begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption[bq] is drawing near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 Then[br] he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.[bs] 30 When they sprout leaves, you see[bt] for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know[bu] that the kingdom of God[bv] is near. 32 I tell you the truth,[bw] this generation[bx] will not pass away until all these things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.[by]
Be Ready!
34 “But be on your guard[bz] so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.[ca] 35 For[cb] it will overtake[cc] all who live on the face of the whole earth.[cd] 36 But stay alert at all times,[ce] praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must[cf] happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 So[cg] every day Jesus[ch] was teaching in the temple courts,[ci] but at night he went and stayed[cj] on the Mount of Olives.[ck] 38 And all the people[cl] came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.[cm]
Judas’ Decision to Betray Jesus
22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread,[cn] which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2 The[co] chief priests and the experts in the law[cp] were trying to find some way[cq] to execute[cr] Jesus,[cs] for they were afraid of the people.[ct]
3 Then[cu] Satan[cv] entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve.[cw] 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard[cx] how he might[cy] betray Jesus,[cz] handing him over to them.[da] 5 They[db] were delighted[dc] and arranged to give him money.[dd] 6 So[de] Judas[df] agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus[dg] when no crowd was present.[dh]
The Passover
7 Then the day for the feast[di] of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.[dj] 8 Jesus[dk] sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover[dl] for us to eat.”[dm] 9 They[dn] said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare[do] it?” 10 He said to them, “Listen,[dp] when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water[dq] will meet you.[dr] Follow him into the house that he enters, 11 and tell the owner of the house,[ds] ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. Make preparations there.” 13 So[dt] they went and found things[du] just as he had told them,[dv] and they prepared the Passover.
The Lord’s Supper
14 Now[dw] when the hour came, Jesus[dx] took his place at the table[dy] and the apostles joined[dz] him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired[ea] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again[eb] until it is fulfilled[ec] in the kingdom of God.”[ed] 17 Then[ee] he took a cup,[ef] and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit[eg] of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”[eh] 19 Then[ei] he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body[ej] which is given for you.[ek] Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And in the same way he took[el] the cup after they had eaten,[em] saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant[en] in my blood.
A Final Discourse
21 “But look, the hand of the one who betrays[eo] me is with me on the table.[ep] 22 For the Son of Man is to go just as it has been determined,[eq] but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 So[er] they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.
24 A dispute also started[es] among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.[et] 25 So[eu] Jesus[ev] said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’[ew] 26 Not so with you;[ex] instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader[ey] like the one who serves.[ez] 27 For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table,[fa] or the one who serves? Is it not[fb] the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one[fc] who serves.
28 “You are the ones who have remained[fd] with me in my trials. 29 Thus[fe] I grant[ff] to you a kingdom,[fg] just as my Father granted to me, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit[fh] on thrones judging[fi] the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon,[fj] Simon, pay attention![fk] Satan has demanded to have you all,[fl] to sift you like wheat,[fm] 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon,[fn] that your faith may not fail.[fo] When[fp] you have turned back,[fq] strengthen[fr] your brothers.” 33 But Peter[fs] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”[ft] 34 Jesus replied,[fu] “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow[fv] today until you have denied[fw] three times that you know me.”
35 Then[fx] Jesus[fy] said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag,[fz] or traveler’s bag,[ga] or sandals, you didn’t lack[gb] anything, did you?” They replied,[gc] “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, the one who[gd] has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag[ge] too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this scripture must be[gf] fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’[gg] For what is written about me is being fulfilled.”[gh] 38 So[gi] they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”[gj] Then he told them, “It is enough.”[gk]
On the Mount of Olives
39 Then[gl] Jesus[gm] went out and made his way,[gn] as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives,[go] and the disciples followed him. 40 When he came to the place,[gp] he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”[gq] 41 He went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take[gr] this cup[gs] away from me. Yet not my will but yours[gt] be done.” 43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And in his anguish[gu] he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.][gv] 45 When[gw] he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted[gx] from grief. 46 So[gy] he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation!”[gz]
Betrayal and Arrest
47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared,[ha] and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up[hb] to Jesus to kiss him.[hc] 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”[hd] 49 When[he] those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should[hf] we use our swords?”[hg] 50 Then[hh] one of them[hi] struck the high priest’s slave,[hj] cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said,[hk] “Enough of this!” And he touched the man’s[hl] ear and healed[hm] him. 52 Then[hn] Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,[ho] and the elders who had come out to get him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw?[hp] 53 Day after day when I was with you in the temple courts,[hq] you did not arrest me.[hr] But this is your hour,[hs] and that of the power[ht] of darkness!”
Jesus’ Condemnation and Peter’s Denials
54 Then[hu] they arrested[hv] Jesus,[hw] led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.[hx] But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a slave girl,[hy] seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man was with him too!” 57 But Peter[hz] denied it: “Woman,[ia] I don’t know[ib] him!” 58 Then[ic] a little later someone else[id] saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man,[ie] I am not!” 59 And after about an hour still another insisted,[if] “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.”[ig] 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” At that moment,[ih] while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.[ii] 61 Then[ij] the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord,[ik] how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.[il]
63 Now[im] the men who were holding Jesus[in] under guard began to mock him and beat him. 64 They[io] blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly,[ip] “Prophesy! Who hit you?”[iq] 65 They also said many other things against him, reviling[ir] him.
66 When day came, the council of the elders of the people gathered together, both the chief priests and the experts in the law.[is] Then[it] they led Jesus[iu] away to their council[iv] 67 and said, “If[iw] you are the Christ,[ix] tell us.” But he said to them, “If[iy] I tell you, you will not[iz] believe, 68 and if[ja] I ask you, you will not[jb] answer. 69 But from now on[jc] the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand[jd] of the power[je] of God.” 70 So[jf] they all said, “Are you the Son of God,[jg] then?” He answered[jh] them, “You say[ji] that I am.” 71 Then[jj] they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves[jk] from his own lips!”[jl]
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