Matthew 24:1

My Notes

What Does Matthew 24:1 Mean?

"And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple." Jesus LEAVES the Temple — He departs from it, walks out, exits. And the disciples approach to show Him the BUILDINGS — the magnificent architecture, the massive stones, the spectacular construction of Herod's Temple. The irony is devastating: the disciples are impressed by the BUILDING. Jesus just LEFT it. They want to show Him the stones. He's about to announce the stones' destruction (verse 2).

The phrase "Jesus went out, and departed from the temple" (exelthōn ho Iēsous apo tou hierou eporeueto — Jesus, going out from the temple, was going/departing) describes a DEPARTURE: Jesus doesn't just step outside for air. He DEPARTS — He leaves with finality. After chapter 23's devastating denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus exits the Temple. The departure is both physical (He walks out) and theological (He withdraws His presence). The Temple that will be destroyed in 70 AD is already losing its most important occupant.

The disciples' desire to "shew him the buildings" (epideixai autō tas oikodomas tou hierou — to point out/display to Him the buildings/constructions of the temple) reveals their focus on the IMPRESSIVE: the Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Herod's construction was massive — enormous stones, gold overlay, architectural magnificence. The disciples are TOURISTS, impressed by the grandeur. They want Jesus to be impressed too.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What impressive structures are you admiring that Jesus has already departed from?
• 2.What does Jesus LEAVING the Temple teach about God's presence being more important than the building?
• 3.How does the disciples' tourism during Jesus' departure describe the mismatch between human and divine priorities?
• 4.What buildings in your life might be on the schedule for 'not one stone upon another'?

Devotional

Jesus walks out of the Temple. The disciples want to show Him the buildings. He's LEAVING. They're ADMIRING. The departure and the tourism happen simultaneously. Jesus is done with the Temple. The disciples are marveling at its architecture. The disconnect is the story.

The 'departed from the temple' is more than a physical exit: after chapter 23 — the seven woes against the scribes and Pharisees, the declaration 'your house is left unto you desolate' (23:38) — Jesus LEAVES. The departure is theological. The presence that MADE the Temple significant is WITHDRAWING. The glory is departing. The most important person in the building is walking out the door.

The disciples 'showing him the buildings' is the tragic mismatch: Jesus just pronounced the Temple DESOLATE. And the disciples want to show Him how IMPRESSIVE the architecture is. Look at the stones! Look at the construction! Look at how MAGNIFICENT! They're pointing at the exterior while Jesus has already declared the interior empty. They're impressed by the container. Jesus has already vacated the content.

Jesus' response (verse 2 — 'there shall not be left here one stone upon another') destroys what the disciples are admiring: every stone they're marveling at will be TORN DOWN. The architecture that impresses them will be RUBBLE. The buildings they want Jesus to appreciate will be the ruins that prove His prophecy. The showing is the setup for the shattering.

What impressive structures are you admiring that Jesus has already departed from — and are you showing Him buildings He's about to demolish?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture