Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The urgency here isn't just about fleeing from danger, but about fleeing along a specific path. The mention of the housetop implies a continuous rooftop route that allowed for escape over the houses, meaning you shouldn't even go down inside your own home. This emphasizes an immediate, strategic escape route rather than a desperate scramble for possessions.
Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is describing the signs and coming destruction of Jerusalem, emphasizing the urgency of escape. This directive comes immediately after he tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains and before he instructs those in the field not to return for their cloaks. The focus is on immediate flight from the impending disaster, prioritizing life over possessions.
Imagine the unthinkable happening – a sudden, terrifying threat. Jesus’ words here aren't a suggestion; they’re a desperate command for immediate action.
Jesus paints a vivid picture of escape. The flat roofs of houses in that region were like interconnected walkways. A person on the rooftop could literally run from house to house, making their way toward safety.
But here's the crucial part: Jesus says, 'Do not go down to take anything out of your house.' This isn't about leaving behind minor trinkets. It’s about prioritizing life itself over material possessions. The danger is so imminent and overwhelming that any delay, even to grab something valuable, could be fatal. The 'road of the roofs' offered a swift escape route, but only if followed without hesitation.
This isn't just a story about avoiding danger. Jesus is pointing to a specific, terrifying event that signifies God's judgment and requires a radical response.
The context for this command is Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. This event, marked by the 'abomination of desolation' mentioned by Daniel, was a time of unparalleled chaos and divine judgment.
The houses, the fields – these are ordinary places of life that suddenly become zones of extreme danger. The instruction to flee without looking back or retrieving possessions highlights the severity of this judgment. It was a time when clinging to earthly security meant risking eternal peril. This wasn't just a military defeat; it was a spiritual crisis, a sign that the covenantal relationship was broken, and judgment had come.
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dōma · Greek Noun
The flat roof of a Near Eastern house, which served as a social, domestic, and sometimes spiritual space.
This verse depicts a desperate, immediate flight during the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus' instruction to flee across rooftops without even retrieving possessions highlights the extreme urgency and danger, showing how the impending doom made earthly treasures utterly worthless.
c. 167 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Desecration
King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire desecrates the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a precursor to later destruction.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
The Roman Republic conquers Judea, initiating a period of Roman rule that would shape future events.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, an event central to Christian faith and foreshadowing future judgments on the city.
c. AD 66
Outbreak of the First Jewish-Roman War
The First Jewish-Roman War begins, leading to widespread revolt against Roman rule and eventual devastation.
c. AD 70— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple
Roman armies under Titus lay siege to Jerusalem, ultimately destroying the city and its Temple. This event is the primary fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy.
This passage parallels the urgency of escaping danger without regard for possessions, as Baruch was told to seek 'great things' for himself but not to seek them, implying a similar need for immediate flight over material gain.
Luke 17:31Jesus repeats the instruction to not turn back for possessions when danger is imminent, directly echoing the sentiment found in Matthew 24:17 regarding fleeing from destruction.
Genesis 19:17The instruction to Lot to flee without looking back or stopping for belongings mirrors the immediate and unhindered escape commanded in Matthew 24:17, highlighting the critical nature of the situation.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57These verses describe the devastating consequences of siege, including extreme famine and the horror of eating one's own children, underscoring the desperate circumstances that would necessitate the urgent, unencumbered flight described in Matthew 24:17.
vincentMatthew 24:17: "Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:"
Him which is on the house-top (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος)From roof to roof there might be a regular communication, called by the Rabbis "the road of the roofs." Thus a person could make his escape passing from roof to roof, till, at the last house, he would descend the stairs on the outside of the house, but within the exterior court. The urgency of the flight is enhanced by the fact that the stairs…
barnesMatthew 24:17: "Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:"
Him which is on the house-top - The roofs of the houses in Eastern countries were made flat, so that they were favorable places for walking and retirement. See the notes at Matthew 9:1-8 . The meaning here is, that He who should be on the house-top when this calamity came upon the city "should flee without delay;" He should not even take time to secure any article of apparel from his house. So su…
The urgency here isn't just about fleeing from danger, but about fleeing along a specific path. The mention of the housetop implies a continuous rooftop route that allowed for escape over the houses, meaning you shouldn't even go down inside your own home. This emphasizes an immediate, strategic escape route rather than a desperate scramble for possessions.
Jesus is describing the signs and coming destruction of Jerusalem, emphasizing the urgency of escape. This directive comes immediately after he tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains and before he instructs those in the field not to return for their cloaks. The focus is on immediate flight from the impending disaster, prioritizing life over possessions.
Jesus is describing the signs and coming destruction of Jerusalem, emphasizing the urgency of escape. This directive comes immediately after he tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains and before he instructs those in the field not to return for their cloaks. The focus is on immediate flight from the impending disaster, prioritizing life over possessions.
"Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house," — The urgency here isn't just about fleeing from danger, but about fleeing along a specific path. The mention of the housetop implies a continuous rooftop route that allowed for escape over the h…
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Last reviewed October 2026