Luke 21

1 Then [at that moment, and] Jesus looked up [recovered his sight, gazed upwards] and saw [perceived, attended to] the rich [wealthy, having an abundance] putting [casting, throwing] their gifts [offerings, sacrifices] into [toward, into the direction of] the treasury [temple treasury, a place for storing money], word study 2 and He saw [perceived, noticed] a poor [needy, impoverished] widow [a woman who has lost her husband] put in [casting, throwing] two [a pair, a couple] small [tiny, insignificant] copper coins [mites, a small amount of money]. word study 3 “Truly [of a truth, surely] I tell you,” He said, “this [the specific] poor [crouching and cowering] widow [a woman who has lost her husband] has put in [cast in, thrown] more [a greater amount] than all [every one of] the others [they all, the rest together]. word study 4 For they all [out of their abundance, from their superfluity] contributed [cast in, gave] out of their surplus [excess, more than enough], but she [this poor woman] out of her poverty [deficiency, lack] has put in [thrown in, given] all [everything, her entire living] she had to live on [her whole means of subsistence, her daily existence].” word study 5 As some [certain] of the disciples were remarking [talking, speaking] how the temple [sacred place, house of God] was adorned [decorated, garnished] with beautiful [goodly, fair] stones [rocks, building materials] and consecrated [devoted, votive] gifts [offerings, donations], Jesus said [spoke, uttered], word study 6 “As for what [these things] you see [behold, observe] here, the time [days, a period of time] will come [arrive, draw near] when not one [no] stone [rock, foundation] will be left [remain, stay] on another [upon, against]; every one [each, all] will be thrown [destroyed, torn] down [completely, utterly].” word study 7 “Teacher [instructor, rabbi],” they asked, “when [at what time, in the future] will these things [events, happenings] happen? And what [which sign, what indication] will be the sign [token, indication] that they are about [on the point of, ready to] to take place [come to pass, occur]?” word study 8 Jesus answered, “See to it [take heed, be aware] that you are not deceived [led astray, misled]. For many will come in My name [claiming My authority, using My identity], claiming, ‘I am He [the Messiah, the Christ],’ and, ‘The time [the right moment, the opportune season] is near [approaching, at hand].’ Do not follow them [do not go after, do not pursue]. word study 9 When [at any time, whenever] you hear [listen and understand] of wars [conflicts, battles] and rebellions [uprisings, tumults], do not be alarmed [terrified, frightened]. These things [events, circumstances] must [are necessary, have to] happen first [beforehand, previously], but the end [goal, conclusion] is not [by no means] imminent [immediately, right away].” word study 10 Then [at that specific point in time] He told them, “Nation [a people or Gentiles] will rise [be lifted up or stand up] against [in opposition to] nation [a people or Gentiles], and kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion] against [in opposition to] kingdom [a realm or domain]. word study 11 There will be great [severe, intense] earthquakes [shakings of the ground], famines [times of hunger, lack of food], and pestilences [plagues, epidemic diseases] in various [divers, different] places, along with fearful [terrifying, causing terror] sights [things that cause fear] and great [large, significant] signs [indications, tokens] from heaven [the sky, God’s realm]. word study 12 But before [prior to, in advance of] all this [these events, this period of time], they will seize [lay their hands on, take hold of] you and persecute [pursue, harass] you. On account of [because of, for the sake of] My name [My character, My authority] they will deliver [hand over, surrender] you to the synagogues [gatherings, assemblies] and prisons [places of confinement, jails], and they will bring [lead, guide] you before [into the presence of] kings [rulers, sovereigns] and governors [high-ranking officials, leaders]. word study 13 This will be [an opportunity to speak on behalf of God, a chance to testify] your opportunity [a time to serve, a moment to bear witness] to serve [to act as, to function as] as witnesses [for a testimony, to provide evidence, a proof or evidence of the truth]. word study 14 So make up your mind [settle it therefore in your hearts] not to worry [meditate beforehand, premeditate] beforehand [before the time comes] how to defend [give an account of, answer for] yourselves [your actions, your faith]. word study 15 For I [the speaker] will give you [directly and personally] speech [a mouth, words to speak] and wisdom [spiritual understanding] that none [not one] of your adversaries [those opposed to you] will be able [have the power] to resist [stand against] or contradict [dispute or argue against]. word study 16 You will be betrayed [handed over, delivered up] even by parents [fathers and mothers] and brothers [male siblings, fellow believers] and relatives [kinsfolk, family members] and friends [those who are friendly, companions], and some of you will be put to death [killed, caused to be executed]. word study 17 And [also, in addition] you will be hated [detested, loved less] by [under the authority of] everyone [all men, every person] because of [through, on account of] My [I, the speaker’s] name [character, authority, who I am]. word study 18 Yet [not even in the slightest] not even a hair [the smallest part] of your head [the upper part of the body] will [absolutely, under no circumstances] perish [be destroyed, lost, or come to an end]. word study 19 By your patient [enduring, persevering] endurance [in your patience, through perseverance] you will gain [possess, acquire, obtain] your [breath of life, seat of emotions] souls [lives, eternal life]. word study 20 But when [at any time, whenever] you see Jerusalem [the holy city, capital of Palestine] surrounded [encircled, compassed] by armies [army camps, military forces], you will know [understand, recognize] that her desolation [devastation, laying waste] is near [at hand, approaching, come near]. word study 21 Then let those who are in [the region of] Judea flee [to escape, run away] to the mountains, let those in the city [in the midst of it, within its walls] get out [depart, leave], and let those in the country [rural areas, countryside] stay out of [not enter, avoid] the city. word study 22 For these [specific, appointed] are the days [periods of time, epochs] of vengeance [punishment, retribution], to fulfill [complete, bring to pass] all [every, entire] that is written [recorded]. word study 23 How miserable [woe, a cry of sorrow] those days will be for pregnant [with child, expecting] and nursing [suckling, caring for] mothers! For there will be great [intense, severe] distress [trouble, anguish] upon the land [earth, ground] and wrath [anger, judgment] against this people [nation, group of individuals]. word study 24 They will fall [by the mouth of the sword, killed] by the edge of the sword [a short sword or dagger] and be led captive [taken as prisoners, made captives] into all [every, the whole of] the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people]. And Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine, a holy city] will be trodden down [trampled, crushed] by the Gentiles [nations, non-Jewish people], until [till the time of fulfillment, completion] the times [appointed seasons, set periods] of the Gentiles [nations, people] are fulfilled [completed, made full]. word study 25 There will be signs [indications of God’s power, supernatural tokens] in the sun [the celestial body] and moon [the lunar body, reflecting God’s glory] and stars [the celestial bodies, declaring God’s majesty], and on the earth [the terrestrial sphere, the realm of human existence] dismay [deep distress, anxiety] among the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Jewish communities], bewildered [in perplexity, utterly confused] by the roaring [resounding, tumultuous noise] of the sea [the vast ocean] and the surging [tossing, waves crashing] of the waves [the turbulent swell, the rolling billows]. word study 26 Men [people, humans] will faint [failing at heart, breathe out their life] from fear [alarm, terror] and anxiety [expectation, apprehension] over what is coming [arriving, invading] upon the earth [world, land], for the powers [strength, miraculous ability] of the heavens [sky, God’s home] will be shaken [agitated, moved]. word study 27 At that time [then, at a specific point] they will see [perceive, behold] the Son [Child, descendant] of Man [a human, a person] coming [arriving, returning] in a cloud [a visible mass of water vapor] with power [strength, ability] and great [much, abundant] glory [honor, praise, a state of splendor]. word study 28 When these things [that I have just now described] begin [to commence] to happen, stand up [straighten up, rise] and lift up [raise, elevate] your heads [the upper part of the body], because [for the reason that] your redemption [being set free from sin] is drawing near [approaching, coming close].” word study 29 Then Jesus told [shared, spoke to] them a parable [a story that teaches a moral lesson, an illustration]: “Look [see, behold, perceive] at the fig tree and all [every, everything] the trees [plants with trunks and branches]. word study 30 When [at the point of sprouting, as they now shoot forth] they sprout [put forth, produce] leaves, you can see [perceive, look at] for yourselves [of your own selves, personally] and know [understand, recognize] that summer [the warm season] is [exists, is present] near [close at hand, approaching]. word study 31 So also [in the same way, thus], when you see [perceive, experience] these things [events, signs] happening [coming to pass, taking place], know [understand, recognize] that the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the one true deity] is near [at hand, close by]. word study 32 Truly [verily, with absolute certainty] I tell you, this [present, current] generation [group of people living at the same time] will not [by no means, never] pass away [come to an end, disappear] until [till, before] all [every, everything] these things [events, happenings] have happened [been fulfilled, accomplished]. word study 33 Heaven [the sky and God’s home] and earth [the soil, a region, or the entire globe] will pass away [come to an end, perish], but My words [message, idea, or divine expression] will never [not at all, under no circumstances] pass away [disappear, be forgotten]. word study 34 But watch [be cautious, take heed to] yourselves, or your hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] will be weighed down [overcharged, burdened] by dissipation [excessive indulgence, surfeiting], drunkenness [intoxication, being under the influence], and the worries [concerns, anxieties] of life [this present earthly existence]—and that day [a specific, appointed time] will spring upon you suddenly [unexpectedly, without warning] like a snare [a trap, a surprise attack]. word study 35 For [as a reason, explaining why] it will come [arrive, invade] upon [to, against] all [every, everyone] who dwell [sit, reside] on the face [presence, countenance] of all [the whole, entire] the earth [land, soil, globe]. word study 36 So keep watch [be vigilant, stay awake] at all times [in every season, continually], and pray [make supplication, beg for help] that you may have the strength [be strong enough, prevail] to escape [flee from, be delivered from] all that is about to happen [ensue, come to pass] and to stand [be in an upright position, stand confidently] before [in the presence of] the Son [Child, descendant] of Man [a human, humanity].” word study 37 Every day [during the daytime, in the day time] Jesus taught [instructing, guiding] at the temple [the sacred place, the Temple in Jerusalem], but every evening [at night, in the night] He went out [departing, going forth] to spend the night [to lodge, to abide] on the Mount [the mountain, the high elevation] of Olives [olive trees, the place of olives]. word study 38 And [also, in addition] early [at dawn, when the day began] in the morning [at the break of day] all [every, the entire] the people [a nation, a group of individuals] would come [gather, assemble] to hear [listen to, obey] Him [Jesus, the Messiah] at [in, within] the temple [a sacred place, the house of God]. word study