1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich men who were putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 He saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So he said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. 4 All of these gave gifts out of their abundance. But this widow, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.” 5 As some spoke of the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn down.” 7 So they asked him, saying, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when these things are about to happen?” 8 Jesus answered, “Be careful that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not go after them. 9 When you hear of wars and riots, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end will not happen immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues. There will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all of these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you over to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14 Therefore resolve in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, 15 for I will give you words and wisdom that all your adversaries will not be able to resist or contradict. 16 But you will be delivered up also by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 In your endurance you will gain your souls. 20 When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its destruction is near. 21 Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the city leave it, and those who are out in the country must not enter the city. 22 For these are days of vengeance, so that all the things that are written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to them who are pregnant and to them who are nursing in those days! For there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and they will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth. The nations will be in distress, anxious because of the roar of the sea and waves. 26 There will be men fainting from fear and from expectation of the things which are coming upon the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is coming near.” 29 Jesus told them a parable, “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they sprout buds, you see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 But pay attention to yourselves, so that your hearts are not burdened with the effects of drinking and intoxication, and the worries of life, and then that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon everyone living on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 So during the days he was teaching in the temple, and at night he went out and stayed on the Mount of Olives. 38 All of the people came early in the morning to hear him in the temple.
Luke 21 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (38)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 12:41–44; John 8:20; 2 Chronicles 36:18; Matthew 27:6; Nehemiah 13:13
- 2 Mark 12:42
- 3 2 Corinthians 8:12; Acts 10:34; 2 Corinthians 8:2–3; Exodus 35:21–29; Mark 12:43–44
- 4 Acts 2:44–45; Luke 15:12; Acts 4:34; Luke 8:43
- 5 Matthew 24:1–51; Mark 13:1–37; John 2:20
- 6 Mark 13:2; Matthew 24:2; Zechariah 14:2; Lamentations 5:18; Acts 6:13–14
- 7 Mark 13:3–4; Mark 13:14; Acts 1:6–7; Luke 21:27–28; Luke 21:20–21
- 8 1 John 4:1; Mark 13:5–6; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Matthew 24:11
- 9 Luke 21:28; Matthew 24:6–8; Mark 13:7–8; Isaiah 51:12–13; Luke 21:18–19
- 10 Acts 2:19–20; Mark 13:8; Hebrews 12:27; Zechariah 14:13; Zechariah 14:2–3
- 11 Matthew 24:29–30; Luke 21:25–27
- 12 1 Peter 4:12–14; Acts 9:4; John 16:2–3; Acts 26:2–11; Acts 25:1–2
- 13 Philippians 1:28; Philippians 1:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:3–4
- 14 Luke 12:11–12; Mark 13:11; Matthew 10:19–20
- 15 Jeremiah 1:9; Ephesians 6:19; Luke 12:12; Acts 6:10; Exodus 4:11–12
- 16 Luke 12:53; Revelation 6:9; Matthew 10:21; Jeremiah 9:4; Micah 7:5–6
- 17 John 15:19; Luke 6:22; 2 Corinthians 12:10; John 15:21; Matthew 24:9
- 18 Matthew 10:30; 1 Samuel 14:45; Acts 27:34; Luke 12:7; 2 Samuel 14:11
- 19 Hebrews 10:36; Matthew 10:22; James 1:3; Romans 5:3; Revelation 3:10
- 20 Luke 19:43; Daniel 9:27; Mark 13:14; Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:7
- 21 Jeremiah 6:1; Mark 13:15; Proverbs 22:3; Exodus 9:20–21; Luke 17:31–33
- 22 Hosea 9:7; Isaiah 65:12–16; 2 Peter 2:9; Isaiah 34:8; Isaiah 63:4
- 23 Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17; Luke 23:29; Lamentations 4:10; Deuteronomy 28:56–57
- 24 Romans 11:25; Revelation 11:2; Isaiah 63:18; Daniel 12:7; Daniel 9:27
- 25 Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:30–31; Revelation 6:12–14; Daniel 12:1; Isaiah 24:23
- 26 Deuteronomy 28:65–67; Matthew 24:29; 2 Peter 3:10–12; Leviticus 26:36; Mark 13:25
- 27 Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Matthew 26:64; Daniel 7:13
- 28 Romans 8:23; Isaiah 60:1–2; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:19; Isaiah 12:1–3
- 29 Mark 13:28–30; Matthew 24:32–35
- 30 Luke 12:57
- 31 James 5:9; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Peter 4:7; Matthew 3:2; Luke 12:51–57
- 32 Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30; Matthew 23:36; Matthew 16:28; Luke 11:50–51
- 33 Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 51:6; Psalm 102:26
- 34 Mark 4:19; Luke 12:45–46; Luke 12:40; 1 Thessalonians 5:2–8; 1 Peter 4:3–7
- 35 Revelation 16:15; Isaiah 24:17–18; Jeremiah 48:43–44; Luke 17:37; Psalm 11:6
- 36 1 John 2:28; Matthew 25:13; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 24:42; 1 Peter 4:7
- 37 Luke 22:39; Matthew 21:17; Mark 11:19; Matthew 26:55; Matthew 21:1
- 38 John 8:1–2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… set aside all their possessions for the Lord's purposes, bestowing joyfully and freely not the less valuable portions of their property, since they have the hope of better things [hereafter]; as that poor widow acted who cast all her living into the treasury of God.
I hear the voice of my God commanding, let not "your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness." "Drunkenness," it is far from me; Thou wilt have mercy, that it approach not near unto me.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
And elsewhere indeed He saith, "I will give you a mouth and wisdom;" but here, "It is the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you," advancing them unto the dignity of the prophets.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
These things have already come to pass; and again, And fearful sights from heaven, and mighty storms.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… continually upon every occasion, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day shall come upon you unawares; for as a snare shall it come upon all dwelling upon the face of the earth." "Let your loins, therefore, be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye like to …