Luke · 38 verses

Luke 21

Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.

The chapter

What happens here

Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.

A poor widow puts two small copper coins into the treasury, and Jesus says she has given more than everyone else because, unlike the rich, she has given everything she had to live on.

Two coins, and stones destined for the groundvv. 1–19

Jesus notices the widow after noticing the rich, and the arithmetic of the treasury is promptly turned upside down: surplus gives less than poverty when poverty gives its whole living. Then the disciples admire the temple’s beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, only for Jesus to announce that not one stone will remain on another. Asked when this will happen, He describes impostors, wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, persecution, betrayal, hatred, and death. Oddly, the promise that not even a hair will perish stands beside the warning that some will be put to death. The disciples are to become witnesses, supplied with speech and wisdom rather than advance rehearsals.

Jerusalem surrounded, the heavens shakenvv. 20–36

When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, its desolation is near, and the instructions become briskly geographical: those in Judea are to flee to the mountains, those in the city are to get out, and those in the country are to stay out of the city. Sword, captivity, and Gentile trampling follow. Then the scale expands magnificently and terribly: signs appear in sun, moon, and stars; the sea roars; nations are bewildered; the powers of the heavens are shaken. The Son of Man comes in a cloud with power and great glory. Jesus gives the fig tree as a small botanical clock for all this, while heaven and earth pass away but His words do not. The final snare is not merely an army but the ordinary clutter of dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life.

Teaching by day, the Mount of Olives by nightvv. 37–38

Jesus teaches every day at the temple, then leaves each evening to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning, the people return to the temple to hear Him. After armies, cosmic signs, and the end of heaven and earth, the passage closes with this very regular arrangement: teaching, departure, night, and a morning crowd.

The text

Read it

Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.

  1. Luke 21:1Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

  2. Luke 21:2and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

  3. Luke 21:3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

  4. Luke 21:4For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

  5. Luke 21:5As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,

  6. Luke 21:6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

  7. Luke 21:7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

  8. Luke 21:8Jesus answered, “See to it 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.

  9. Luke 21:9When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”

  10. Luke 21:10Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

  11. Luke 21:11There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

  12. Luke 21:12But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

  13. Luke 21:13This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.

  14. Luke 21:14So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.

  15. Luke 21:15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

  16. Luke 21:16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.

  17. Luke 21:17And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.

  18. Luke 21:18Yet not even a hair of your head will perish.

  19. Luke 21:19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.

  20. Luke 21:20But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

  21. Luke 21:21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.

  22. Luke 21:22For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

  23. Luke 21:23How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

  24. Luke 21:24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

  25. Luke 21:25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

  26. Luke 21:26Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

  27. Luke 21:27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

  28. Luke 21:28When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

  29. Luke 21:29Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

  30. Luke 21:30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

  31. Luke 21:31So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

  32. Luke 21:32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

  33. Luke 21:33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

  34. Luke 21:34But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

  35. Luke 21:35For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.

  36. Luke 21:36So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

  37. Luke 21:37Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

  38. Luke 21:38And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

01 — Also here

Who else the chapter reaches

Names written in the English are linked in the text above. These are the ones that are not: an entity the Hebrew or Greek names under a spelling the translation does not use, or one reached only by an assertion about a verse of this chapter.

Named in the Hebrew or Greek somewhere in this chapter, under a form the English renders differently — the registry's Ludim against the translation's Ludites — so there is no word in the sentence to hang the link on.

02 — Read alongside

Where this is echoed

Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 408 passages were voted onto 38 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.

  • 361 John 2:28And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
  • 15Jeremiah 1:9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
  • 36Matthew 25:13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
  • 33Isaiah 40:8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
  • 361 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
  • 33Mark 13:31Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
  • 33Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
  • 15Ephesians 6:19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
  • 361 Corinthians 16:13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
  • 15Luke 12:12For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
  • 25Isaiah 13:10For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
  • 34Mark 4:19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
  • 33Isaiah 51:6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
  • 36Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
  • 19Hebrews 10:36You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
  • 32Mark 13:30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

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