And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This wasn't just a casual visit; the word Luke uses for "came early" paints a picture of the people "rising at dawn" or "resorting to Him at early dawn," indicating a dedicated, eager pursuit of Jesus' teaching. It highlights a striking contrast between their fervent seeking of His wisdom in these final days and their later rejection of Him.
And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, Jesus had delivered a powerful discourse in the temple about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming, urging his followers to stay alert and pray. Now, the people are flocking to the temple at dawn, eager to hear more of his teachings after such significant prophecies. This shows a crowd captivated by his words, showing up early for his daily ministry in the temple courts, though Luke notes this contrasts sharply with how they'd treat him later in the week.
Why did the people rush to the temple at dawn? What does their haste reveal about their spiritual hunger?
The verse highlights an extraordinary eagerness to hear Jesus teach. The Greek word used, 'orthrizon,' signifies rising up at dawn, a rare term in the New Testament that emphasizes promptness and dedication. This wasn't a casual gathering; it was a deliberate, early morning pilgrimage to the temple. It paints a vivid picture of people prioritizing spiritual nourishment over the comfort of their beds.
This wasn't just a one-time event, but likely a pattern of behavior during Jesus' final week. It shows a community captivated by Jesus' words, seeking wisdom and truth from Him in the very place of worship.
The people flocked to hear Jesus. How does this scene dramatically contrast with their reception of Him just days later?
Luke 21:38 presents a striking picture of adoration and attentiveness. The crowds were drawn to Jesus, eager for His wisdom.
However, this scene stands in sharp contrast to the events of the following Thursday. Just a few days later, the same city, and likely many of the same people, cried out for His crucifixion, shouting, 'Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!' (Luke 23:18).
This shift is a powerful reminder of human fickleness and the spiritual battle for hearts. The same ears that eagerly received His teaching would soon clamor for His death. It’s a sobering illustration of how quickly people can turn from seeking truth to rejecting it.
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The verse captures the scene of Jesus' dedicated teaching ministry in the temple during his final week, emphasizing the people's eagerness to learn from him before his imminent suffering and death.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
During Jesus' ministry, he frequently taught in the temple courts in Jerusalem, drawing large crowds eager to hear his message. This was a regular part of his public teaching in the city.
The week of the Passion (exact days debated)— this verse
Daily Teaching in the Temple
In the days leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus spent his days teaching in the temple. Crowds would gather early each morning to hear him speak.
The week of the Passion
Contrast in Crowd's Response
This period of eager listening contrasted sharply with the crowd's later demand for Jesus' crucifixion just days later, highlighting the fickle nature of public opinion.
This verse describes people coming to hear Jesus, highlighting their eagerness to learn from him, just as in Luke 21:38 where 'all the people came early... to hear him.'
John 8:2This passage shows Jesus teaching in the temple, a common setting for his ministry, connecting with Luke 21:38 where the crowds gather to hear him specifically in the temple.
Acts 5:21This verse mentions religious leaders teaching in the temple, demonstrating the temple's continued role as a place of instruction and public gathering, which provides context for Jesus' own teaching there in Luke 21:38.
Proverbs 8:17This passage speaks of those who seek wisdom 'early in the morning,' mirroring the zealous eagerness of the people described in Luke 21:38 who 'came early in the morning to hear him.'
pooleLuke 21:38: "And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him."
See Poole on "Luke 21:37"
vincentLuke 21:38: "And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him."
Came early in the morning (ὤρθριζεν)Only here in New Testament.
This wasn't just a casual visit; the word Luke uses for "came early" paints a picture of the people "rising at dawn" or "resorting to Him at early dawn," indicating a dedicated, eager pursuit of Jesus' teaching. It highlights a striking contrast between their fervent seeking of His wisdom in these final days and their later rejection of Him.
Just before this, Jesus had delivered a powerful discourse in the temple about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming, urging his followers to stay alert and pray. Now, the people are flocking to the temple at dawn, eager to hear more of his teachings after such significant prophecies. This shows a crowd captivated by his words, showing up early for his daily ministry in the temple courts, though Luke notes this contrasts sharply with how they'd treat him later in the week.
Just before this, Jesus had delivered a powerful discourse in the temple about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming, urging his followers to stay alert and pray. Now, the people are flocking to the temple at dawn, eager to hear more of his teachings after such significant prophecies. This shows a crowd captivated by his words, showing up early for his daily ministry in the temple courts, though Luke notes this contrasts sharply with how they'd treat him later in the week.
"And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him." — This wasn't just a casual visit; the word Luke uses for "came early" paints a picture of the people "rising at dawn" or "resorting to Him at early dawn," indicating a dedicated, eager pursuit of Jesu…
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Last reviewed October 2026