Luke 13:35
Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus' lament isn't just about the temple's destruction; it's a stinging indictment of their spiritual blindness, declaring that their house will be abandoned by Him because they refuse to recognize Him. He's telling them they won't truly "see" Him, not just physically, but with understanding, until they finally embrace the very welcome He deserved from the start.
Just prior to this declaration, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, foreseeing its destruction because it rejected God's messengers. He then boldly calls Herod a "fox" and declares that his own mission will be completed despite the threat of death, leading to his ultimate destiny in Jerusalem. This verse is Jesus' final, sorrowful pronouncement on the city and its leaders, signifying their impending judgment and separation from him.
Jesus declares the magnificent Temple, the heart of Jewish worship, is no longer 'His house.' What does this dramatic pronouncement mean for the people who cherished it?
Jesus’ words, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate,” carry immense weight. He is speaking about the Temple in Jerusalem, a place of immense national and religious pride. By calling it 'your house' instead of 'my house,' Jesus is signaling a profound shift. He is declaring that the divine presence, the very glory of God that once filled its courts, is departing.
This isn't just a building; it represents the covenant relationship between God and His people. When Jesus says it will be left 'desolate,' He's prophesying its ultimate destruction and the end of the sacrificial system centered there. It’s a tragic declaration of judgment, a sign that their rejection of Him has severed their connection to God’s immediate presence in that sacred space.
Jesus states His followers won't 'see' Him again until a specific condition is met. What does this longing for recognition reveal about God’s ultimate plan?
The latter part of the verse, 'and I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’' isn't just about a future sighting. It speaks to a deeper recognition and acceptance.
Jesus is pointing towards a future day when His people, even after the devastation of Jerusalem and the Temple, will finally acknowledge Him as the promised Messiah. The phrase 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord' is a direct quote from Psalm 118, a Messianic psalm often associated with the arrival of the King.
This isn't just a one-time event for a few individuals. It signifies a collective turning of the Jewish people towards Jesus as their Lord and King, a deep repentance and joyful welcome. Even in judgment, Jesus holds out the hope of ultimate reconciliation and recognition.
Understand the original words
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
To be left behind or abandoned, often used in a theological sense to describe the removal of God's presence, blessing, or protection from a place or people due to persistent disobedience.
eulogēmenos · Greek Adjective
A declaration of praise and honor directed toward God or one sent by Him. In a messianic context, it expresses recognition of the Lord's Anointed.
Jesus' words in Luke 13:35 are deeply rooted in the political and religious realities of his time, framing a prophecy of judgment that looks both to the immediate destruction of Jerusalem and the future restoration of Israel.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Perea
Jesus is ministering in Perea, a region east of the Jordan River, which was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. During this time, Jesus receives a message from Pharisees warning him of Herod's intent to kill him.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Journey Towards Jerusalem
Despite the warning, Jesus resolutely continues his journey towards Jerusalem, a city that would soon face divine judgment. He knows his own path will lead to death, but he is focused on fulfilling his mission.
c. AD 30
The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly, fulfilling prophecy. The crowds cry out, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' This event is a direct, though partial, fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about when they would next acknowledge him.
c. AD 30
Jesus Clears the Temple
Jesus drives out the money changers and các merchants from the temple courts, declaring it a 'house of prayer' but they have made it a 'den of robbers.' This act of judgment signals his rejection of the current religious establishment.
This passage is the parallel account in Matthew, where Jesus explicitly links the desolation of their 'house' (the Temple) to their rejection of Him until they finally acknowledge His messianic coming.
This Old Testament psalm, specifically quoted by Jesus during His triumphal entry, speaks of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone and blessings upon the one who comes in the Lord's name, directly foreshadowing the words in Luke 13:35.
Zechariah 12:10This prophecy describes a future time when the people of Israel will look upon the one they pierced and mourn, a profound moment of repentance that echoes the future acknowledgment Jesus speaks of in Luke 13:35.
John 16:7Jesus tells His disciples that He must depart for the Holy Spirit to come; this relates to the 'forsaken house' concept, as His physical presence would be withdrawn, necessitating a spiritual one until a future recognition.
gillLuke 13:35: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate,.... That is, would be in a little time, both city and temple; See Gill on Matthew 23:38 . and verily I say unto you; affirm in the strongest manner: ye shall not see me; the Arabic version adds, "from henceforth", and so some copies, as in Matthew 23:39 a…
bengelLuke 13:35: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Luke 13:35 . Ἰδοὺ ἀφίεται ὑμῖν ὁ οἶκος ὑμῶν ) Many have added ἔρημος from Matthew.[137] In Luke the Saviour is represented as having said these words in Galilee: nor did He subsequently afford the people of Jerusalem the opportunity of seeing Him, until, after the resurrection of Lazarus, at His own…
Jesus' lament isn't just about the temple's destruction; it's a stinging indictment of their spiritual blindness, declaring that their house will be abandoned by Him because they refuse to recognize Him. He's telling them they won't truly "see" Him, not just physically, but with understanding, until they finally embrace the very welcome He deserved from the start.
Just prior to this declaration, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, foreseeing its destruction because it rejected God's messengers. He then boldly calls Herod a "fox" and declares that his own mission will be completed despite the threat of death, leading to his ultimate destiny in Jerusalem. This verse is Jesus' final, sorrowful pronouncement on the city and its leaders, signifying their impending judgment and separation from him.
Just prior to this declaration, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, foreseeing its destruction because it rejected God's messengers. He then boldly calls Herod a "fox" and declares that his own mission will be completed despite the threat of death, leading to his ultimate destiny in Jerusalem. This verse is Jesus' final, sorrowful pronouncement on the city and its leaders, signifying their impending judgment and separation from him.
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AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army besieges and destroys Jerusalem, leveling the temple. This catastrophic event is the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about their 'house' being left desolate, signifying the end of the Old Covenant era.
Future
Future Conversion of Israel
Commentators suggest a future, ultimate fulfillment where the Jewish people, in a time of repentance, will acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, saying 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,' and recognize him whom they pierced.
"Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”" — Jesus' lament isn't just about the temple's destruction; it's a stinging indictment of their spiritual blindness, declaring that their house will be abandoned by Him because they refuse to recogniz…
