Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

24 (A)Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, (B)there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

As he sat on (C)the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him (D)privately, saying, “Tell us, (E)when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your (F)coming and of (G)the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, (H)“See that no one leads you astray. For (I)many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am (J)the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you (K)are not alarmed, for this (L)must take place, but the end is not yet. For (M)nation will rise against nation, and (N)kingdom against kingdom, and there will be (O)famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of (P)the birth pains.

“Then (Q)they will deliver you up (R)to tribulation and (S)put you to death, and (T)you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and (U)betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many (V)false prophets will arise (W)and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, (X)the love of many will grow cold. 13 (Y)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom (Z)will be proclaimed throughout the whole world (AA)as a testimony (AB)to all nations, and (AC)then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation (AD)spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in (AE)the holy place ((AF)let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 (AG)Let the one who is on (AH)the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And (AI)alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be (AJ)great tribulation, (AK)such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for (AL)the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 (AM)Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For (AN)false christs and (AO)false prophets will arise and (AP)perform great signs and wonders, (AQ)so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, (AR)I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, (AS)he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 (AT)For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be (AU)the coming of the Son of Man. 28 (AV)Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 “Immediately after (AW)the tribulation of those days (AX)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and (AY)the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then (AZ)will appear in heaven (BA)the sign of the Son of Man, and then (BB)all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and (BC)they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven (BD)with power and great glory. 31 And (BE)he will send out his angels with a loud (BF)trumpet call, and they will (BG)gather (BH)his elect from (BI)the four winds, (BJ)from one end of heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, (BK)at the very gates. 34 (BL)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 (BM)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (BN)my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

36 “But concerning that day and hour (BO)no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, (BP)nor the Son,[b] (BQ)but the Father only. 37 (BR)For as were the days of Noah, (BS)so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 (BT)For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, (BU)marrying and giving in marriage, until (BV)the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, (BW)so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 (BX)Two women will be grinding (BY)at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, (BZ)stay awake, for you do not know on what day (CA)your Lord is coming. 43 (CB)But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night (CC)the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be (CD)ready, for (CE)the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is (CF)the faithful and (CG)wise servant,[c] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 (CH)Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, (CI)he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master (CJ)is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants[d] and eats and drinks with (CK)drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come (CL)on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place (CM)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:10 Or stumble
  2. Matthew 24:36 Some manuscripts omit nor the Son
  3. Matthew 24:45 Or bondservant; also verses 46, 48, 50
  4. Matthew 24:49 Or bondservants

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

(A)And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, (B)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, (C)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, (D)“See that you are not led astray. For (E)many will come in my name, saying, (F)‘I am he!’ and, (G)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be (H)terrified, for these things (I)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

10 Then he said to them, (J)“Nation will rise against nation, and (K)kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great (L)earthquakes, and in various places (M)famines and pestilences. And there will be (N)terrors and great (O)signs from heaven. 12 But before all this (P)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to (Q)the synagogues and (R)prisons, and you (S)will be brought before (T)kings and (U)governors for my name's sake. 13 (V)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds (W)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for (X)I will give you a mouth and (Y)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or (Z)contradict. 16 You will be delivered up (AA)even by parents and brothers[a] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 (AB)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But (AC)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your (AD)endurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem

20 “But (AE)when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that (AF)its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are (AG)days of (AH)vengeance, to fulfill (AI)all that is written. 23 (AJ)Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and (AK)wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and (AL)be led captive among all nations, and (AM)Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, (AN)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “And (AO)there will be signs in sun and moon (AP)and stars, and on the earth (AQ)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For (AR)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see (AS)the Son of Man coming in a cloud (AT)with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and (AU)raise your heads, because (AV)your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see (AW)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 (AX)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 (AY)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (AZ)my words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

34 “But watch yourselves (BA)lest (BB)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and (BC)cares of this life, and (BD)that day come upon you suddenly (BE)like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But (BF)stay awake at all times, (BG)praying that you may (BH)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and (BI)to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters

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