“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just predict destruction; He points to the very things the disciples are "gazing on" – the magnificent temple. This isn't about abstract ruins, but the shocking demolition of something so grand and seemingly permanent, emphasizing that even human achievements dedicated to God are subject to His judgment and eventual newness.
“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been admiring the beautiful temple, and the disciples point out its magnificent stones and offerings. In response, Jesus declares that this glorious structure will be completely demolished, with not one stone left standing on another. This startling prophecy, delivered right after marveling at the temple's grandeur, sets the stage for a discussion about signs of the end times and the destruction to come.
Jesus looks at the magnificent Temple, a symbol of Israel's pride and worship. But His words cut through the admiration with a chilling prediction.
Jesus points to the stunning architecture of the Temple, described as adorned with 'beautiful stones and offerings.' It was a marvel of its time, a testament to human skill and devotion. Yet, Jesus declares that this breathtaking structure will face complete annihilation. The prophecy isn't just about damage; it's about total demolition – 'not one stone upon another.' This radical statement underscores that no human achievement, no matter how impressive or sacred it may seem, is permanent or beyond God's judgment.
Jesus' words about the Temple's destruction sound like hyperbole, but history confirms a terrifying, literal fulfillment.
The disciples are likely stunned by Jesus' pronouncement. How could such a fortress, such a holy place, be so utterly destroyed? Historical accounts, like those from Josephus, confirm that the Roman general Titus, despite initial intentions to spare parts of the Temple, oversaw its complete razing. The city was so thoroughly demolished and the land so reworked that it became unrecognizable. This literal fulfillment, down to the very last stone, demonstrates the absolute authority of Jesus' prophetic word and the terrifying reality of divine judgment when it comes.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
hieron · Greek Noun
In the context of Jesus' prophecy, this refers to the physical temple in Jerusalem, which served as the central location for Israel's sacrificial system and the presence of God among His people. It signifies the transition from the old covenant order to the new.
Jesus' prophecy wasn't just a prediction of destruction, but a stark warning about the consequences of rejection, delivered in the face of breathtaking human achievement. The very stones the disciples admired became symbols of divine judgment.
c. 20-19 BC
Herod the Great begins Temple renovation
King Herod the Great commences a massive, decades-long renovation and expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, significantly enhancing its grandeur and structural complexity. This is the magnificent structure the disciples are marveling at when Jesus delivers this prophecy.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus predicts Temple's destruction
During His final week, Jesus points to the magnificent Temple and declares that it will be completely destroyed, with not one stone left upon another. This statement deeply contrasts with the disciples' awe at its current state.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War begins
Growing tensions and revolts in Judea erupt into open warfare against the Roman Empire. This sets the stage for the Roman military campaigns that will ultimately lead to Jerusalem's devastation.
AD 70
Siege and destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army, led by Titus, besieges Jerusalem and brutally sacks the city. Despite Titus's wish to preserve the Temple, the Roman soldiers set it ablaze and dismantle it, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy of complete destruction.
c. AD 71
Josephus documents the destruction
The historian Josephus, an eyewitness, writes detailed accounts of the Roman war and the fall of Jerusalem, corroborating the utter demolition of the city and Temple. He notes that the ruins were so complete that the site would scarcely be recognized.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' prophecy about the temple's destruction, with Matthew recording a very similar, if not identical, declaration of its utter demolition.
Luke 19:43-44Just prior to this statement, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, lamenting that its enemies will 'level it to the ground—you and the children within you.' This highlights the sorrowful context and the inevitable fate of the city and its magnificent temple.
Jeremiah 26:18This Old Testament prophecy speaks of the destruction of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem, citing the prophet Micah's words that 'Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins.' This shows the historical precedent for such utter devastation.
2 Kings 25:10This historical account describes the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, stating that the Chaldeans 'broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around and burned the house of the Lord and the palace of the king.' It serves as a stark fulfillment of the judgment Jesus foretold.
vincentLuke 21:6: "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
Behold (θεωρεῖτε)See on Luke 10:18.Thrown downSee on Mark 13:2.
barnesLuke 21:6: "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
See the notes at Matthew 24:2 .
Jesus doesn't just predict destruction; He points to the very things the disciples are "gazing on" – the magnificent temple. This isn't about abstract ruins, but the shocking demolition of something so grand and seemingly permanent, emphasizing that even human achievements dedicated to God are subject to His judgment and eventual newness.
Jesus has just been admiring the beautiful temple, and the disciples point out its magnificent stones and offerings. In response, Jesus declares that this glorious structure will be completely demolished, with not one stone left standing on another. This startling prophecy, delivered right after marveling at the temple's grandeur, sets the stage for a discussion about signs of the end times and the destruction to come.
Jesus has just been admiring the beautiful temple, and the disciples point out its magnificent stones and offerings. In response, Jesus declares that this glorious structure will be completely demolished, with not one stone left standing on another. This startling prophecy, delivered right after marveling at the temple's grandeur, sets the stage for a discussion about signs of the end times and the destruction to come.
"“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”" — Jesus doesn't just predict destruction; He points to the very things the disciples are "gazing on" – the magnificent temple. This isn't about abstract ruins, but the shocking demolition of something…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026