Matthew 24:2

KJV

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, See ye {G991} not {G3756} all {G3956} these things {G5023}? verily {G281} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, There shall {G863} not {G3364} be left {G863} here {G5602} one stone {G3037} upon {G1909} another {G3037}, that {G3739} shall {G2647} not {G3364} be thrown down {G2647}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But he answered them, "You see all these? Yes! I tell you, they will be totally destroyed -- not a single stone will be left standing!"

Berean Standard Bible

“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

American Standard Version

But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 24:2, Jesus delivers a profoundly significant prophecy immediately after His disciples express awe at the magnificent structures of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This declaration, foretelling the Temple's complete demolition, serves as the pivotal introduction to the extensive Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), where Jesus expounds upon the signs preceding His return and the culmination of the age. It underscores the transient nature of even the most revered earthly institutions in contrast to the enduring reality of God's sovereign plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse directly follows the disciples' admiration for the Temple's grand buildings and stones, as recorded in [Matthew 24:1](/matthew/24-1 "Matthew 24:1 - Disciples Admire the Temple"). Jesus' response is a stark, shocking counterpoint to their earthly appreciation, immediately shifting the narrative from physical grandeur to prophetic judgment. It sets the stage for the entire Olivet Discourse, which is Jesus' longest uninterrupted teaching in Matthew, covering eschatological themes from the destruction of Jerusalem to the end of the age and His second coming. The prophecy in [Matthew 24:2](/matthew/24-2 "Matthew 24:2 - Jesus Predicts the Temple's Destruction") is the foundational statement that prompts the disciples' subsequent questions about the timing of these events and the signs of His coming ([Matthew 24:3](/matthew/24-3 "Matthew 24:3 - Disciples Ask About the End")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Second Temple, particularly as expanded and beautified by Herod the Great, was an architectural marvel and the undisputed center of Jewish religious, cultural, and national identity. It was considered by many to be indestructible, a symbol of God's enduring presence among His people and the permanence of the Old Covenant. Pilgrims from across the known world flocked to it, and its sheer scale and opulence were a source of immense pride. Jesus' prophecy of its utter destruction, "not be left here one stone upon another," would have been profoundly unsettling and almost incomprehensible to His Jewish audience, challenging their deeply held assumptions about its sanctity and permanence. This prophecy was dramatically fulfilled in 70 A.D. when the Roman general Titus besieged Jerusalem, leading to the total destruction of the Temple, precisely as Jesus foretold. Historical accounts, such as those by Josephus, confirm that the Romans meticulously dismantled the Temple, often prying apart stones to recover melted gold that had seeped into the cracks during the fires.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 24:2 introduces several critical themes that permeate the Olivet Discourse and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Foreknowledge and Prophecy**, demonstrating Jesus' omniscience and the absolute certainty of God's word. His accurate prediction of an event decades in the future underscores the reliability and authority of all His pronouncements, including those concerning His return. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **Impermanence of Earthly Structures and Institutions**. Even the most sacred and magnificent human creations are temporal and subject to God's ultimate plan and judgment, contrasting sharply with the eternal nature of God's kingdom and spiritual realities. Finally, it foreshadows a significant **Transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant**, where the physical Temple, with its sacrificial system, would be superseded by the spiritual presence of God in Christ and His Church. This shift is a recurring theme, as seen in passages like [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection") and [Hebrews 8:13](/hebrews/8-13 "Hebrews 8:13 - The New Covenant is Made New").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **verily (Greek, _amḗn'_):** This word, transliterated from Hebrew, signifies "firm," "trustworthy," or "surely." When Jesus uses "Amen, I say to you" (or "Verily, I say unto you"), it is a unique and authoritative declaration, emphasizing the absolute truth and certainty of His words. It is not merely an affirmation but a solemn, divine pronouncement, underscoring the gravity and infallibility of the prophecy that follows.
* **stone (Greek, _líthos'_):** This term refers to a literal stone, but in this context, it carries immense symbolic weight. The Temple was renowned for its massive, precisely cut stones, some weighing many tons. Jesus' use of "one stone upon another" vividly conveys the complete and utter dismantling of the structure, implying a destruction so thorough that no part of the edifice would remain standing in its original configuration. It speaks to the totality of the coming desolation.
* **thrown down (Greek, _katalýō'_):** Derived from "to loosen down" or "disintegrate," this verb means to demolish, destroy, or overthrow. It implies a violent and complete undoing of a structure. In the context of the Temple, it signifies not just damage but a total razing, fulfilling the prophecy of its absolute obliteration. The word choice emphasizes the finality and thoroughness of the destruction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things?"**: Jesus responds to the disciples' admiration of the Temple's physical grandeur. His question is rhetorical, designed to draw their attention beyond the visible beauty to the deeper spiritual and prophetic reality. He challenges their focus on the temporal and material.
* **"verily I say unto you,"**: This is Jesus' characteristic authoritative introduction, "Amen, I say to you," which signals a solemn and absolutely certain declaration. It emphasizes the divine truth and infallibility of the prophecy He is about to deliver, demanding the disciples' full attention and belief.
* **"There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."**: This is the core prophecy. It is a powerful, hyperbole-laden statement predicting the complete and utter destruction of the Temple. The imagery of "not one stone upon another" conveys a total dismantling, leaving no part of the magnificent structure intact. This foretells the historical event of 70 A.D. and signifies the end of an era.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 24:2 employs several potent literary devices. **Prophecy** is the overarching device, as Jesus foretells a future event with absolute precision. The vivid imagery of "not be left here one stone upon another" is a form of **hyperbole**, emphasizing the completeness and totality of the impending destruction, going beyond mere damage to imply utter obliteration. This statement also functions as **symbolism**, where the physical destruction of the Temple represents the end of the Old Covenant system and the transition to a new era of worship centered on Christ. Furthermore, there is a subtle **irony** in Jesus' response: while the disciples marvel at the Temple's permanence and beauty, Jesus reveals its imminent impermanence, shifting their focus from outward appearance to inner spiritual reality and future judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the transition from the Old Covenant to the New. The Temple, for centuries, had been the physical locus of God's presence and the center of Israel's worship and identity. Its predicted destruction by Jesus, and its subsequent historical fulfillment, signaled the obsolescence of the sacrificial system and the ceremonial law, which had been fulfilled in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. It underscored that God's presence would no longer be confined to a physical building but would reside in His people, the Church, through the Holy Spirit. This prophecy asserts God's ultimate sovereignty over human institutions and history, demonstrating that His plans unfold precisely as He ordains, regardless of human expectations or attachments. It calls believers to fix their hope not on transient earthly structures but on the eternal kingdom of God and the person of Christ.

* [John 4:21-24](/john/4-21-24 "John 4:21-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")
* [1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - Believers as God's Temple")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24:2 serves as a profound reminder for believers across all generations to discern between the temporary and the eternal. It challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate trust and affections. Are we investing our lives, resources, and hopes in structures, institutions, or achievements that, however grand, are ultimately transient and subject to decay? Or are we building upon the unshakeable foundation of God's eternal kingdom and the spiritual realities revealed in Christ? This verse calls us to cultivate a spiritual perspective, recognizing that true worship is not bound to physical locations but is offered "in spirit and in truth." It strengthens our faith in the absolute reliability of God's Word, knowing that if such a specific and seemingly improbable prophecy was fulfilled with precision, then all other promises and warnings within Scripture, including those concerning Christ's return and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom, are equally certain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "magnificent buildings" or earthly securities in your life might Jesus be challenging you to see as impermanent?**
* **How does the fulfillment of this prophecy strengthen your faith in the reliability of God's Word and other biblical prophecies?**
* **In what ways can you shift your focus from temporal achievements to investing in eternal spiritual realities and God's kingdom?**

### FAQ
**When was Jesus' prophecy about the Temple's destruction fulfilled?**

Answer: Jesus' prophecy was dramatically and precisely fulfilled in 70 A.D., approximately 38 years after His crucifixion. The Roman general Titus besieged Jerusalem, leading to the complete destruction of the city and the Temple. Historical accounts, particularly by the Jewish historian Josephus, corroborate that the Romans meticulously dismantled the Temple, leaving "not one stone upon another," often to recover melted gold. This event marked a catastrophic turning point in Jewish history and validated Jesus' divine foreknowledge.

**What is the significance of "not one stone upon another"?**

Answer: This phrase emphasizes the absolute and thorough nature of the Temple's destruction. It means that the entire structure would be completely leveled, leaving no part of its original construction standing. It's a vivid image of total desolation, signifying not just damage but a complete undoing of the physical edifice. This stark imagery underscores the finality of God's judgment upon a system that was about to be superseded by the New Covenant in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The destruction of the Temple, as prophesied by Jesus in [Matthew 24:2](/matthew/24-2 "Matthew 24:2 - Jesus Predicts the Temple's Destruction"), finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. Firstly, Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to the temple of His body ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")). His death and resurrection established Him as the new and ultimate Temple, the true dwelling place of God, through whom humanity now has direct access to the Father. The physical Temple, with its sacrifices and rituals, was a shadow pointing to Christ; its destruction signified the fulfillment of its purpose in Him, rendering it obsolete. Secondly, with Christ's atoning work, the need for a physical, localized place of worship was removed. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, true worship would no longer be confined to Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim but would be "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")). This spiritualization of worship is centered on Christ, who is the truth and the one who makes spiritual worship possible. Finally, the New Testament teaches that believers, collectively, are now the "temple of the Holy Spirit" ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Believers as the Temple of the Holy Spirit")) and are being built together into a "holy temple in the Lord" ([Ephesians 2:21-22](/ephesians/2-21-22 "Ephesians 2:21-22 - The Church as God's Dwelling")). Thus, the prophecy's fulfillment points directly to Christ as the ultimate reality to which the Temple pointed, and to His Church as the new, living dwelling place of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 19:44

And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Jeremiah 26:18

Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Ezekiel 7:20

As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations [and] of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.

Ezekiel 7:22

My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret [place]: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.

Micah 3:12

Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

1 Kings 9:7

Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

1 Kings 9:8

And at this house, [which] is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?