§ 128. The signs of Christ's coming to destroy Jerusalem, etc. (Third Day Of The Week.) Mount of Olives.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. XXIV. 15-42.CH. XXIII. 14-37.
15 When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,[253] stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand,)14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains:
16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
19 And wo unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!17 But wo to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath-day:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.20 And except that the Lord had shortened these days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.21 And then, if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or lo, he is there; believe him not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.22 For false Christs, and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
26 Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:[254]24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:28 Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
34 Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.30 Verily, I say unto you, That this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,[255]34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work; and commanded the porter to watch.
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.
Luke.
CH. XXI. 20-36.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judea 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 thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But wo unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And 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 roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your ownselves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

§ 129. Transition to Christ's final coming. Exhortation. Parables. (Third Day Of The Week.) Mount of Olives.

Matthew.
CH. XXIV. 43-51. CH. XXV. 1-30.
43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
CH. XXV.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil: for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents, went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came, and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest[256] that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

§ 130. Scenes of the Judgment Day. (Third Day Of The Week.) Mount of Olives.

Matthew.
CH. XXV. 31-46.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

§ 131. The Rulers conspire. The Supper at Bethany. Treachery of Judas. (Fourth Day Of The Week.) Jerusalem. Bethany.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. XXVI. 1-16.CH. XIV. 1-11.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said| unto his disciples,
2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests, and the scribes, sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
5 But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people.2 But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,3 And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster-box of ointment of spikenard, very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster-box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he sat at meat.
8 But when his disciples[257] saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.6 And Jesus said, Let her alone: why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
13 Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.9 Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of, for a memorial of her.
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Luke.John.
CH. XXII. 1-6.CH. XII. 2-8.
Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him: for they feared the people.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet[258] of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot,[259] Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.