Matthew 24:2

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.

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}.

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!"

“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.”

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.

In Matthew 24:2, Jesus delivers a startling prophecy immediately after His disciples express admiration for the grandeur and magnificence of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This verse is pivotal, setting the stage for the extensive "Olivet Discourse" that follows in Matthew 24 and 25, where Jesus speaks about the signs of His coming and the end of the age.

Historical and Cultural Context

The disciples, having just left the Temple courts, commented on the impressive buildings and stones (Matthew 24:1). The Temple was the spiritual, cultural, and architectural centerpiece of Jewish life, a symbol of God's presence and Israel's identity. Its construction and adornment, particularly Herod's expansion, were truly awe-inspiring. Jesus' pronouncement of its complete destruction would have been shocking and almost incomprehensible to them, challenging their deeply held beliefs about its permanence and significance. This prophecy was dramatically fulfilled in 70 A.D., when the Roman general Titus besieged Jerusalem, leading to the total destruction of the Temple, just as Jesus foretold. Historical accounts confirm that the Romans meticulously dismantled the Temple, leaving no stone unturned, often to recover melted gold from its structure.

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Prophecy: Jesus demonstrates His divine omniscience by accurately predicting an event that would occur decades later. This underscores the reliability and authority of His words, assuring believers that God's plan will unfold precisely as foretold.
  • Impermanence of Earthly Structures: The verse powerfully illustrates that even the most magnificent human creations, including a sacred place like the Temple, are ultimately transient. This contrasts sharply with the eternal nature of God's kingdom and His spiritual realities.
  • Judgment and Transition: The destruction of the Temple symbolized the end of the Old Covenant system, with its animal sacrifices and rituals, and the full establishment of the New Covenant through Christ's sacrifice. It marked a transition from a physical dwelling place for God to a spiritual one—His presence in believers and the Church.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "verily I say unto you" (Greek: amen legō hymin) is a characteristic introduction used by Jesus throughout the Gospels. It signifies a solemn, authoritative declaration, emphasizing the absolute truth and certainty of what He is about to say. The stark image, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down," highlights the absolute and thorough nature of the impending destruction, leaving no room for misinterpretation of its completeness.

Practical Application

This prophecy serves as a powerful reminder for all generations:

  • Focus on the Eternal: We are called to invest our lives and hopes not in temporal earthly structures or achievements, but in eternal spiritual realities and God's kingdom.
  • God's Word is True: The accurate fulfillment of this specific prophecy strengthens faith in the Bible's reliability and the certainty of other prophecies, including those concerning Christ's return and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom.
  • Spiritual vs. Physical Worship: The Temple's destruction pointed to a shift in worship from a physical building to worship "in spirit and in truth." Believers are now the "temple of the Holy Ghost," emphasizing the indwelling presence of God within His people.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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?
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