Luke 21:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The evangelists, particularly the first three, did not communicate extensively about the teachings of the Lord. John, while also remaining silent on many aspects, did share some of the Lord’s more profound teachings in addition to what the other three had presented. It can be inferred that during His time in the temple, the Lord imparted many significant truths. The reluctance of the evangelists to reveal everything is evident in various ways; their writing is minimal, especially considering that the Lord taught for nearly three years. One might reasonably propose that summarizing those teachings could be achieved in less than a single day without facing criticism. The evangelists penned only a small portion of a much larger narrative, providing merely a sample of the divine sweetness.

The crowd of Jews and their leaders stood against the majesty of Christ, disputing with the Sovereign of all. However, it becomes clear that they were ensnaring themselves, having set traps leading to their own downfall, as the Psalmist notes, ‘The Gentiles fall into the trap which they have made; into the snare which they have set their foot falls.’ The Savior and Lord, whose might is unrivaled and whose power overcomes decay and death, willingly took on human form to experience death for the sake of all, to eradicate corruption, to remove the sin of the world, and to liberate those held captive by the ruthless grip of the adversary.

During the daytime, He instructed the people in the temple for their edification. In the evenings, He withdrew to the Mount of Olives to avoid distractions and facilitate His prayers, and also to provide deeper teaching to His disciples. It is clear that He spent the nights alongside them, offering them further guidance.

The onlookers of this significant day surely anticipated a greater revelation: the complete establishment of the Messiah's reign. However, through this majestic entry, the Lord only accomplished what the prophets had predicted concerning Him. Without abandoning His modest demeanor, He withdrew from Jerusalem as evening fell. His adversaries felt emboldened, while others remained in suspense, eager to discover what would unfold next. In the limited days that the Son of Man had left on earth, He returned to Jerusalem each morning to teach the people in the temple, dedicating the remainder of His time to His disciples. Each night, He would retreat to Bethany, where His friends awaited Him.

In accordance with Heb. Matthew, Jesus Christ concluded His prophetic teaching regarding the final days of Jerusalem and the world with a foretelling of His impending sufferings during the upcoming Passover, set to occur two days hence. As Christ delivered these prophetic messages on Tuesday evening (see Luke 21:37-38), this foreshadowing of His sufferings was also directed toward His disciples during that same Tuesday evening. The convening of the Sanhedrin could not have transpired until the following morning, namely Wednesday. However, since Tuesday evening, according to the contemporary understanding of time, had already transitioned into Wednesday, Eu. proceeds to state, “then the chief priests were assembled,” and so forth.

The profound dialogue on the Mount of Olives reached its conclusion. As dusk fell, Jesus rose and walked alongside His disciples toward Bethany. This journey marked His final passage along this road during His earthly ministry. After the trials, weariness, inspiring teachings, and the intense emotions of that significant day, the tranquility of the evening hours must have brought Him great comfort. The atmosphere of love and peace enveloping Him in that serene village and cherished home was undoubtedly refreshing. It is not far-fetched to suggest that Jesus had little fondness for cities, as He rarely spent the night within their confines. The rampant immorality, incessant commotion, and lifelessness of urban life were likely deeply unsettling to His gentle and pure spirit.

A broad observation on Christ's actions during the final days of His earthly ministry (Luke 19:47-48). He frequently withdrew to the mountain at night, likely seeking solitude for prayer.

After concluding His discussion, the Lord Jesus Christ reminded His disciples of the predictions He had made to them on multiple occasions (Matt. 16:21; 17:22; 20:18). To illustrate that He was destined to endure suffering, as described by St. John Chrysostom, He was fully aware of all that lay ahead and acted willingly (John 10:18). On this occasion, He clearly indicated the exact day of His impending crucifixion: “Behold, it shall be the Passover in two days, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to be crucified." The significant moment when the God-Man disclosed the future of Jerusalem, Israel, and indeed the entire world during discussions at the temple and on the Mount of Olives was drawing near. As evening approached, the teacher and His disciples rose to move to a place of rest for the night.