Luke 21 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Jesus saw some rich people putting their gifts for God into the temple money box. {\cf2\super [329]}

² Then Jesus saw a poor widow. {\cf2\super [330]} She put two small copper coins into the box.

³ Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. This poor widow gave only two small coins. But she really gave more than all those rich people.

⁴ The rich people have plenty; they gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor. But she gave all she had. And she needed that money to help her live.”

⁵ Some of the followers were talking about the temple. {\cf2\super [331]} They said, “This is a beautiful temple, built with the best stones. Look at the many good gifts that have been offered to God!”

⁶ But Jesus said, “The time will come when all that you see here will be destroyed. Every stone \{of these buildings\} will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another!”

⁷ Some followers asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will show us that it is time for these things to happen?”

⁸ Jesus said, “Be careful! Don’t be fooled. Many people will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am \{the Christ {\cf2\super [332]} \}’ and, ‘The right time has come!’ But don’t follow them.

⁹ When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid. These things must happen first. Then the end will come later.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms.

¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and other bad things in many places. In some places there will be no food for the people to eat. Terrible things will happen, and amazing things will come from heaven to warn people.

¹² “But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and do bad things to you. People will judge you in their synagogues {\cf2\super [333]} and put you in jail. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. People will do all these things to you because you follow me.

¹³ But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me.

¹⁴ Don’t worry about what you will say.

¹⁵ I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies can answer.

¹⁶ Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you. They will kill some of you.

¹⁷ All people will hate you because you follow me.

¹⁸ But none of these things can really harm you.

¹⁹ You will save yourselves by continuing strong in your faith through all these things.

²⁰ “You will see armies all around Jerusalem. Then you will know that the time for the destruction of Jerusalem has come.

²¹ At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must leave quickly. If you are near the city, don’t go in!

²² The prophets {\cf2\super [334]} wrote many things about the time when God will punish his people. The time I am telling you about is the time when all these things must happen.

²³ At that time, it will be bad for women that are pregnant or have small babies. Why? Because very bad times will come to this land. God will be angry with these people (the Jews).

²⁴ Some of the people will be killed by soldiers. Other people will be made prisoners and taken to every country. The holy city of Jerusalem will be walked on by non-Jewish people until their time is finished.

²⁵ “Amazing things will happen with the sun, moon, and stars. The people on earth will feel trapped. The oceans will be upset, and the people will not know why.

²⁶ People will become afraid. They will be very worried about what will happen to the world. Everything in the sky will be changed.

²⁷ Then people will see the Son of Man {\cf2\super [335]} coming on a cloud with power and great glory.

²⁸ When these things begin to happen, don’t fear. Look up and be happy! Don’t worry. Be happy, because you know that the time when God will free you is near!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told this story: “Look at all the trees. The fig tree is a good example.

³⁰ When it becomes green (grows buds), you know that summer is near.

³¹ It is the same with these things I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, then you will know that God’s kingdom is coming very soon.

³² “I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living!

³³ The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed; but the words I have said will never be destroyed!

³⁴ “Be careful! Don’t spend your time drinking and getting drunk. Or don’t be too busy with worldly things. If you do that, you will not be able to think right. And then the end might come when you are not ready.

³⁵ It will come like a surprise to all people on earth.

³⁶ So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to continue safely through all these things that will happen. And pray that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man. {\cf2\super [336]} ”

³⁷ During the day, Jesus taught the people in the temple {\cf2\super [337]} area. At night he went out of the city and stayed all night on the Mount of Olives. {\cf2\super [338]}

³⁸ Every morning all the people got up early to go listen to Jesus at the temple.