Matthew 24:1
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 19
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
ἐπορεύετο
and departed
G4198
ἐπορεύετο
and departed
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
5 of 19
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
6 of 19
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἱεροῦ
of the temple
G2411
ἱεροῦ
of the temple
Strong's:
G2411
Word #:
8 of 19
a sacred place, i.e., the entire precincts (whereas g3485 denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the temple (at jerusalem or elsewhere)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
προσῆλθον
came
G4334
προσῆλθον
came
Strong's:
G4334
Word #:
10 of 19
to approach, i.e., (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὰς
G3588
τὰς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οἰκοδομὰς
the buildings
G3619
οἰκοδομὰς
the buildings
Strong's:
G3619
Word #:
17 of 19
architecture, i.e., (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation
Cross References
Ezekiel 8:6He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.Jeremiah 6:8Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.Matthew 23:39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.Matthew 21:23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?John 2:20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?Hosea 9:12Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
Historical Context
Herod the Great began renovating the Second Temple in 20 BC, and construction continued until AD 64—just six years before its destruction. The temple complex covered 35 acres with porticoes, courts, and the sanctuary proper. Josephus describes stones 67 feet long, 7.5 feet high, and 9 feet wide. Jesus spoke these words during Passion Week, likely Tuesday afternoon, AD 30 or 33.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern religious structures or traditions might we admire while God's presence has departed?
- How does Jesus's departure from the temple foreshadow the New Covenant reality that believers themselves are now God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)?
- What does the disciples' focus on buildings rather than spiritual reality reveal about human nature?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple (ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ)—Jesus's final departure from the temple marks a theological watershed. His leaving (ἐξέρχομαι, exerchomai) signals divine abandonment, echoing how God's glory departed from Solomon's temple (Ezekiel 10). When the disciples point to the buildings of the temple (τὰς οἰκοδομὰς τοῦ ἱεροῦ), they're marveling at Herod's renovations—massive white limestone blocks, some weighing 100 tons, overlaid with gold plates that blazed in the sun.
This sets the stage for the Olivet Discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple complex. The disciples' architectural admiration contrasts sharply with Jesus's prophecy of total destruction, creating dramatic irony that underscores the insufficiency of external religious magnificence without the presence of God.