And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus deliberately withdraws from Jerusalem, not just for safety, but to disassociate himself from the city's rejection of him. By "lodging" in Bethany, a place of welcome and rest, he highlights his royal authority is not earthly, but heavenly, and will not be found in a city that has scorned its King.
And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Jesus' cleansing of the temple and his confrontations with the religious leaders who questioned his authority, he withdrew from Jerusalem. He left the city for the village of Bethany, a place where he found rest and was welcomed by friends, and he would spend his nights there for the remainder of the week leading up to his crucifixion.
When religious leaders and crowds turn hostile or indifferent, sometimes the wisest move is to step back. Jesus didn't stay to argue.
After a powerful, yet ultimately rejected, display of His identity in Jerusalem, Jesus makes a deliberate choice to leave the city. The scholars note that the chief priests and scribes were enraged by the children's praise but couldn't act because the crowds supported Jesus. Jesus 'left them,' not because He was defeated, but because His purpose for that moment was fulfilled. This wasn't just about personal safety; it was a strategic move. By withdrawing to Bethany, a village about two miles away, Jesus avoided escalating the immediate confrontation while also signaling a profound truth: the 'true light' was departing from those who rejected Him.
Jesus found refuge and continued His mission not in the grand city, but in a humble village.
Bethany wasn't just a convenient place to stay; it was a haven. The commentators highlight that Jesus spent His remaining nights there before His crucifixion. This village offered Him peace and acceptance in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus – friends who truly welcomed Him. This retreat wasn't idleness. Even while lodging there, Jesus continued to teach about the kingdom of God. It underscores that periods of outward withdrawal can be times of deeper spiritual focus and preparation, rather than mere escape.
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Jesus' withdrawal to Bethany signifies a turning point, as he leaves the corrupt religious center of Jerusalem behind, choosing instead the hospitality of friends and preparing for his ultimate sacrifice outside the city walls.
c. AD 30, early in the week of Passover— this verse
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Jesus entered Jerusalem, proclaimed himself Messiah, and dramatically drove merchants and money changers out of the temple courts, declaring it a house of prayer.
c. AD 30, same day
Jesus Confronts Religious Leaders
The chief priests and elders questioned Jesus' authority, but he responded with parables and challenged their interpretations of Scripture, leaving them silenced.
c. AD 30, evening of the same day
Jesus Departs Jerusalem for Bethany
After the confrontation and cleansing, Jesus left the city of Jerusalem for the village of Bethany, where he spent the night. This marked the beginning of his final days in Jerusalem before his crucifixion, during which he would stay outside the city each night.
c. AD 30, the following morning
The Fig Tree Curses
Returning to Jerusalem from Bethany, Jesus encountered a fig tree with only leaves and cursed it, causing it to wither. This served as a powerful object lesson for his disciples about faith and judgment.
c. AD 30, during the final week
Jesus Teaches in the Temple
Jesus continued to teach in the temple courts daily, drawing large crowds but also intensifying the hatred of the religious leaders who sought to arrest him.
c. AD 30, days before Passover
Plotting Jesus' Death
The chief priests and scribes, fearing Jesus' influence over the people and frustrated by his public challenges, actively plotted to find a way to seize and kill him.
This passage introduces Bethany as the home of Mary and Martha, friends of Jesus, highlighting the personal refuge Jesus found there away from the crowds and opposition in Jerusalem.
Luke 21:37This verse shows a pattern of Jesus teaching in the temple during the day and going out to the Mount of Olives to spend the night, which aligns with His lodging in Bethany during this critical week.
Matthew 21:18-19The immediate context shows Jesus returning to the city the next morning and encountering the fig tree, emphasizing the cycle of His ministry in Jerusalem and retreat to Bethany.
Psalm 8:2The scholarly context mentions this psalm in relation to Jesus' response to the chief priests and scribes. Though not directly related to lodging in Bethany, it illuminates the divine affirmation of Jesus' kingship, contrasting with the rejection He faced in the city.
bengelMatthew 21:17: "And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there."
Matthew 21:17 . Αὐτοὺς , them ) Whose perversity has just been mentioned.
clarkeMatthew 21:17: "And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there."
And he left them (καταλιπων, finally leaving them) and went - into Bethany; and he lodged there - Bethany was a village about two miles distant from Jerusalem, by Mount Olivet, John 11:18 ; and it is remarkable that from this day till his death, which happened about six days after, he spent not one night in Jerusalem, but went every evening to Bethany, and returned to the city each morning. See Luke 2…
Jesus deliberately withdraws from Jerusalem, not just for safety, but to disassociate himself from the city's rejection of him. By "lodging" in Bethany, a place of welcome and rest, he highlights his royal authority is not earthly, but heavenly, and will not be found in a city that has scorned its King.
Following Jesus' cleansing of the temple and his confrontations with the religious leaders who questioned his authority, he withdrew from Jerusalem. He left the city for the village of Bethany, a place where he found rest and was welcomed by friends, and he would spend his nights there for the remainder of the week leading up to his crucifixion.
Following Jesus' cleansing of the temple and his confrontations with the religious leaders who questioned his authority, he withdrew from Jerusalem. He left the city for the village of Bethany, a place where he found rest and was welcomed by friends, and he would spend his nights there for the remainder of the week leading up to his crucifixion.
"And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there." — Jesus deliberately withdraws from Jerusalem, not just for safety, but to disassociate himself from the city's rejection of him. By "lodging" in Bethany, a place of welcome and rest, he highlights his…
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Last reviewed October 2026