21 Alipokuwa Hekaluni Yesu aliwaona matajiri wakiweka sadaka zao kwenye sanduku la sadaka. Akamwona na mama mmoja mjane, maskini sana, akiweka humo sarafu mbili. Akasema, “Nawaambia kweli, huyu mjane ametoa sadaka kubwa zaidi kuliko hao wengine wote. Kwa maana hao wengine wametoa sehemu ndogo tu ya utajiri wao, lakini yeye, ingawa ni maskini, ametoa vyote alivyokuwa navyo.”

Dalili Za Siku Za Mwisho

Baadhi ya watu walikuwa wakizungumza kuhusu Hekalu jinsi lilivyopambwa kwa mawe mazuri na mapambo maridadi yaliyotolewa kama sadaka kwa Mungu. Yesu akawaambia, “Wakati unakuja ambapo vyote hivyo mnavyovistaajabia sasa vitabomolewa, halitabaki hata jiwe moja juu ya jingine.” Wakamwuliza, “Mwalimu, mambo haya yatatokea lini na ni dalili gani zitaonyesha kwamba yanakari bia?” Akawajibu, “Jihadharini msije mkadanganywa. Maana wengi watakuja wakitumia jina langu, na kusema, ‘Mimi ndiye’ na ‘Wakati umekaribia’. Msiwafuate. Na mtakaposikia habari za vita na machafuko, msiogope, kwa maana hayo ni lazima yatokee kwanza, ila mwisho hautatokea wakati huo.”

10 Kisha akawaambia: “Taifa moja litapigana na taifa lin gine na utawala mmoja utapigana na utawala mwingine. 11 Kutaku wepo na matetemeko ya ardhi, njaa kali na magonjwa ya kuambukiza katika sehemu mbalimbali; kutakuwa na matukio ya kutisha na ishara kuu kutoka mbinguni.”

Mateso

12 “Lakini kabla haya yote hayajatokea watu watawakamata ninyi na kuwatesa. Mtashtakiwa mbele ya wakuu wa masinagogi na kufungwa magerezani; na wengine mtapelekwa kushtakiwa mbele ya wafalme na watawala kwa ajili ya jina langu. 13 Na hii itawapa nafasi ya kutoa ushuhuda kuhusu imani yenu. 14 Lakini msiwe na wasiwasi juu ya matayarisho ya utetezi wenu kabla ya mashtaka. 15 Kwa maana nitawapa maneno na hekima ambayo maadui zenu hawa taweza kukataa au kupinga. 16 Mtasalitiwa na wazazi, ndugu, jamaa na marafiki na baadhi yenu mtauawa. 17 Watu wote watawa chukia kwa ajili yangu. 18 Lakini hautapotea hata unywele mmoja wa vichwa vyenu! 19 Simameni imara nanyi mtaokoa nafsi zenu.”

Kuteketezwa Kwa Yerusalemu

20 “Mkiona mji wa Yerusalemu umezungukwa na majeshi, faham uni kwamba karibu utaangamizwa. 21 Wakati huo, wale walio Yudea wakimbilie milimani; walio mjini Yerusalemu waondoke humo na wale walioko mashambani wasije mjini. 22 Kwa sababu huu utakuwa wakati wa kulipiza kisasi ili yale yote yaliyosemwa kwenye Maan diko yatimie.

23 “Ole wao akina mama watakaokuwa waja wazito na wata kaokuwa wakinyonyesha! Kutakuwa na dhiki nchini na ghadhabu ya Mungu itakuwa juu ya watu wa taifa hili. 24 Wengine watauawa kwa silaha na wengine watachukuliwa mateka na kupelekwa nchi mbalim bali. Na Yerusalemu itamilikiwa na watu wa mataifa mengine mpaka muda wa mataifa hayo utakapokwisha.”

Kuja Kwa Mwana Wa Adamu

25 “Kutakuwa na matukio ya ajabu kwenye jua, mwezi na nyota. Hapa ulimwenguni, mataifa yatakuwa katika dhiki na wasi wasi kutokana na ngurumo na dhoruba za kutisha zitakazotokea baharini. 26 Watu watakufa moyo kwa hofu na wasiwasi kuhusu yale wanayoogopa kuwa yataukumba ulimwengu; kwani nguvu za anga zita tikisika. 27 Ndipo wataniona mimi Mwana wa Adamu nikija katika wingu kwa uwezo na utukufu mkuu. 28 Mambo haya yakianza kutokea, simameni imara, mjipe moyo, kwa kuwa ukombozi wenu unakaribia.”

29 Akawaambia mfano, “Utazameni mtini na miti mingine yote. 30 Inapochipua majani, mnatambua ya kuwa wakati wa mavuno uko karibu. 31 Hali kadhalika, mkiyaona mambo haya yanatokea, faham uni kwamba Ufalme wa Mungu umekaribia. 32 Nawaambieni kweli, kizazi hiki hakitakwisha kabla mambo haya hayajatokea. 33 Mbingu na nchi zitatoweka lakini maneno yangu yatadumu daima.” Siku Ya Mwisho Itakuja Ghafla

34 Jihadharini msije mkatawaliwa na ulafi, ulevi na wasiwasi wa maisha haya. Kisha siku ikafika pasipo ninyi kutazamia mka naswa! 35 Kwa maana siku hiyo itawakumba watu wote waishio duniani. 36 Kaeni macho na ombeni ili Mungu awawezeshe kuepuka yale yote yatakayotokea na mweze kusimama mbele yangu mimi Mwana wa Adamu.”

37 Kila siku Yesu alikuwa akifundisha Hekaluni na jioni ili pofika alikwenda kulala kwenye mlima wa Mizeituni. 38 Na asubuhi na mapema watu wote walikuwa wakija Hekaluni kumsikiliza.

The Widow’s Offering(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(B) He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”(C)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(D)(E)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;(F) every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.(G) When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(H) 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.(I)

12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.(J) 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.(K) 15 For I will give you(L) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,(M) and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.(N) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(O) 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.(P)

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,(Q) you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.(R) 22 For this is the time of punishment(S) in fulfillment(T) of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled(U) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.(V) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(W) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(X) coming in a cloud(Y) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(Z)

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(AA) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(AB) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(AC)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(AD) and that day will close on you suddenly(AE) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(AF) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(AG) and each evening he went out(AH) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(AI) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(AJ)