The Poor Widow's Offering

(Mark 12:41-44)

1And he looked up and saw the rich casting their gifts into the treasury; 2but he saw also a certain poor widow casting therein two mites. 3And he said, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow has cast in more than all; 4for all these out of their abundance have cast into the gifts [of God]; but she out of her need has cast in all the living which she had.

Temple Destruction Foretold

(Matthew 24:1-4; Mark 13:1-9)

5And as some spoke of the temple, that it was adorned with goodly stones and consecrated offerings, he said, 6[As to] these things which ye are beholding, days are coming in which there shall not be left stone upon stone which shall not be thrown down.

7And they asked him saying, Teacher, when then shall these things be; and what [is] the sign when these things are going to take place? 8And he said, See that ye be not led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he], and the time is drawn nigh: go ye not [therefore] after them. 9And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end is not immediately.

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9-14; Mark 13:10-13)

10Then he said to them, Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there shall be both great earthquakes in different places, and famines and pestilences; and there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

12But before all these things they shall lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering [you] up to synagogues and prisons, bringing [you] before kings and governors on account of my name; 13but it shall turn out to you for a testimony. 14Settle therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand [your] defence, 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opposers shall not be able to reply to or resist. 16But ye will be delivered up even by parents and brethren and relations and friends, and they shall put to death [some] from among you, 17and ye will be hated of all for my name's sake. 18And a hair of your head shall in no wise perish. 19By your patient endurance gain your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

(Matthew 24:15-25; Mark 13:14-23)

20But when ye see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that its desolation is drawn nigh. 21Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of it depart out, and those who are in the country not enter into it; 22for these are days of avenging, that all the things that are written may be accomplished. 23But woe to them that are with child and to them who give suck in those days, for there shall be great distress upon the land and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of [the] nations until [the] times of [the] nations be fulfilled.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26-31; Mark 13:24-27)

25And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity [at] the roar of the sea and rolling waves, 26men ready to die through fear and expectation of what is coming on the habitable earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws nigh.

The lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31)

29And he spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees; 30when they already sprout, ye know of your own selves, [on] looking [at them], that already the summer is near. 31So also ye, when ye see these things take place, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall in no wise pass away until all come to pass. 33The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away.

Be Watchful

34But take heed to yourselves lest possibly your hearts be laden with surfeiting and drinking and cares of life, and that day come upon you suddenly unawares; 35for as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth. 36Watch therefore, praying at every season, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things which are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

37And by day he was teaching in the temple, and by night, going out, he remained abroad on the mountain called [the mount] of Olives; 38and all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.