1Christ valueth the poor widow's two mites above all the larger offerings of the rich: 5foretelleth the destruction of the temple; 7the signs and calamities that should precede and accompany it; 25and what should happen at the time of the Son of man's coming: 34he exhorteth to watchfulness and prayer.
1AND he lookeda up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the 1treasury.
a 2 Kings 12:9; Mark 12:41.
1 Of this treasury, see 2 Kings 12:9; Mat. 27:6.
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither 2two mites.b
2 Or, very little ones. See of the value of the same, Mark 12:42.
b (Gr. lepton) about 1/8th of $0.01.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poorc widow hath cast in more than they all:
c 2 Cor. 8:12.
4For all these have of their 3abundance cast in 4unto the offerings of God: but she 5of her penury hath cast in all the 6living that she had.
3 Or, surplus.
4 That is, unto the other gifts which were given and consecrated to God, and kept in the treasury.
5 That is, of that which she herself wanted or had need to live on.
6 Or, livelihood. See Mark 12:44.
5¶Andd as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and 7gifts, he said,
d Mat. 24:1; Mark 13:1.
7 These were properly such gifts, which in the temple were consecrated to God, and hung for ornament. See the same in 2 Kings 11:10.
6As for these things which ye behold, thee days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
e 1 Kings 9:7; Micah 3:12; Luke 19:44.
7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8Andf he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: forg many shall come 8in my name, saying, 9I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
f Jer. 29:8; Mat. 24:4; Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:18; 2 Thes. 2:2; 1 John 4:1.
g Jer. 14:14; 23:21.
8 Or, under My Name, that is, falsely ascribing My Name to themselves.
9 Gr. I am, namely the Christ, as is expressed in Mat. 24:5.
9But when ye shall hear of wars and 10commotions,h be not terrified: for these things must 11first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 The Greek word signifies such commotions or confusions whereby nothing at all is left in its state or place.
h civil uprisings.
11 Namely, before the city and temple of Jerusalem shall be laid waste.
10Then said he unto them, Nationi shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
i Isa. 19:2.
11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and 12fearful sights and great signs shall there 13be from heaven.
12 See hereof the Jewish historian Josephus, de bello Jud. lib. 7, cap. 12.
13 Or, happen.
12Butj before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the 14synagogues, and into prisons,k being brought before kingsl and rulers for my name's sake.
j Mat. 10:17; 24:9; Mark 13:9; John 16:2; Rev. 2:10.
14 In which the faithful were scourged also, as may be seen in Acts 5:40, 22:19, 26:11.
k Acts 4:3; 5:18; 12:4; 16:24.
l Acts 25:23.
13And it shall 15turn to you for a 16testimony.
15 Gr. come down, descend, that is, become, tend.
16 Namely, as well of their cruelty and stubbornness, as of your steadfastness in the confession of My Name, and of the truth of My prophecies.
1417Settlemit therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
17 Gr. set it therefore in your hearts. Or, resolve.
m Mat. 10:19; Mark 13:11.
15Forn I will give you a 18mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsayo nor resist.
n Exod. 4:12; Isa. 54:17; Mat. 10:19; Acts 6:10.
18 That is, capability and boldness in speaking by My Spirit. See Mark 13:11.
o contradict*
16Andp ye shall be 19betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put toq death.
p Micah 7:6.
19 Or, be delivered.
q Acts 7:59; 12:2.
17Andr ye shall be hated of 20all men for my name's sake.
r Mat. 10:22; Mark 13:13.
20 Namely, worldly men. See John 15:18.
18Buts there shall not an 21hair of your head perish.
s 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 14:11; 1 Kings 1:52; Mat. 10:30.
21 That is, no man shall be able to hurt you in the least without the will of your heavenly Father. Similar phrases see 1 Sam. 14:45; 1 Kings 1:52.
19In your patience possess ye your souls.
20Andt when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
t Dan. 9:27; Mat. 24:15; Mark 13:14.
21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter 22thereinto.
22 Namely, in the city of Jerusalem.
22For these be the days of 23vengeance, thatu all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 Namely, of God, upon the stubbornness of the Jewish people.
u Dan. 9:26, 27; Mat. 24:15; Mark 13:14.
23But 24woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in 25the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 This word Christ uses, not threatening as He does against the pharisees, Luke 11:42, etc., but lamenting them by reason of the troubles which then would come upon them.
25 Gr. on the earth.
24And they shall fall by the 26edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, 27untilv the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
26 Gr. the mouth.
27 Namely, appointed for the calling of the Gentiles, Rom. 11:25, after the fulfillment whereof, those things shall come to pass which follow hereafter; or appointed for judgment and vengeance upon the Gentiles, when the measure of their sins shall be filled up.
v Rom. 11:25.
25¶Andw there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves 28roaring;
w Isa. 13:10; Ezek. 32:7; Joel 2:31; 3:15; Mat. 24:29; Mark 13:24; Rev. 6:12.
28 Gr. echo. Or, loud noise.
26Men’s 29hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on 30the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be 31shaken.
29 Or, men shall give up the ghost, or shall be discouraged.
30 Gr. the inhabited, namely, the earth.
31 Namely, up and down like the waves of the sea. See Mat. 24:49.
27Andx then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and 32great 33glory.
x Dan. 7:10; Mat. 16:27; 24:30; 25:31; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Acts 1:11; 2 Thes. 1:10; Rev. 1:7.
32 Gr. much.
33 Namely, in His heavenly majesty, and accompanied with the holy angels, Mat. 25:31.
28And when these things begin to come to pass, then 34look up, and lift up your heads; fory35your redemption draweth nigh.
34 Or, raise yourselves, namely, for joy and expectation, Mat. 24:33.
y Rom. 8:23.
35 Namely, your perfect deliverance from all evil, Rom. 8:23.
29Andz he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
z Mat. 24:32; Mark 13:28.
30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the 36kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
36 Namely, of glory. See 1 Cor. 15:24; 2 Tim. 4:18.
32Verily I say unto you, This 37generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
37 Namely, of the Jewish people.
33Heavenaa and earth shall 38pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
aa Psalm 102:26; Isa. 51:6; Mat. 24:35; Heb. 1:11.
38 See hereof, 2 Peter 3:10.
34¶Andab take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overchargedac with surfeiting,ad and drunkenness, and 39cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
ab Rom. 13:13; 1 Thes. 5:6; 1 Peter 4:7.
ac overburdened*
ad sickness from overeating or drinking
39 Namely, too great or immoderate, which hinder a man from watching for Christ’s future return.
35Forae as a snare shall it come on all them that 40dwell on the face of the whole earth.
ae 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15.
40 Or, are seated upon the whole earth.
36Watchaf ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape 41all these things that shall come to pass, and to 42stand before the Son of man.
af Mat. 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33; Luke 12:40; 1 Thes. 5:6.
41 That is, all these judgments and miseries.
42 That is, exist, and appear before Him with boldness.
37Andag in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
ag John 8:2.
38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.