And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple: and having viewed all things round about, when now the eventide was come, he went out to Bethania with the twelve.
και εισηλθεν εις ιεροσολυμα ο ιησους και εις το ιερον και περιβλεψαμενος παντα οψιας ηδη ουσης της ωρας εξηλθεν εις βηθανιαν μετα των δωδεκα
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 8 commentaries
Jesus entered the temple and quickly departed, indicating that He was abandoning it to desolation and destruction. He then proceeded to Bethany, signifying the house of obedience, as He turns away from the disobedient and hard-hearted, and now leads His disciples to those who are faithful to Him.
The evening in Bethany following such a significant day could not be marked by silence. Among the gathered disciples and friends, the Lord must have shared insights regarding the important events of the prior day, particularly to dispel any misguided notions that His dignified arrival in Jerusalem served any earthly aim. How delightful it surely would have been for the God-Man, at the close of His monumental journey, to disclose to His disciples all His divine revelations and to draw them into the very core of the profound divine judgments soon to unfold through His mission! Souls attuned to higher truths often feel weighed down by the inability to express the beautiful and profound insights they harbor within.
What could embody greater holiness than the resolve to offer Himself for the redemption of humanity, a purpose that now guided every action of the God-Man? And when was the need for fellowship more pressing than in this moment, as He prepared to embrace the cross for the sake of truth and virtue in His redemptive work? Yet, the disciples and companions of Jesus were not yet equipped to grasp the lofty perspective from which the Son of Man viewed His role as the Savior of humankind. Thus, despite His deep wish to share His emotions, He had to keep much of the profound truths essential to His mission hidden in His heart until the moment of the cross. Only the Heavenly Father recognized the beloved Son in His moral splendor; only the heavenly hosts (John 1:51) comprehended the grand purpose for which the Son of Man labored, the nobility and purity of His methods, and the obedience and self-denial that characterized His choice to humble Himself to the death on the cross. In the stillness of the night, as He prayed to the Father, it is likely that He shed even more tears for the sorrowful condition of the Jewish people than those witnessed during His solemn entry into Jerusalem.
To prevent covert schemes from foes and to mitigate public discontent, the Lord dedicated the final nights prior to His Passion and crucifixion in the company of devoted followers and friends outside Jerusalem. However, the setting for His final actions was destined to be Jerusalem, the focal point of holiness and the heart of the nation’s endeavors.
As He made His entrance into Jerusalem amid the cheers of the crowd, He who desired to reveal Himself as the long-awaited King proceeded into the temple. This moment marked the commencement of His public ministry, where He intended to hold the previous stewards of His Father’s house accountable. He sought to assess their faithfulness to His initial call and to evaluate how they had carried out their responsibilities thus far, ultimately determining what they might expect as a result. Within the temple, the Lord encountered the same merchants, the same multitude of offerings, and the same uproar and deceit. He once again expelled those who had violated the reverence and sanctity of the place. Whether this event occurred on the same day, as recorded in Matthew, or the following day, as noted in Mark, does not alter its significance.
According to Mark the Evangelist, as evening approached and darkness began to settle, Jesus and His twelve apostles swiftly left the busy city and made their way to Bethany to find rest from the day's fervor. It is likely that they stayed overnight at Lazarus's home, and the following morning, He returned to Jerusalem.
As the procession commenced, the disciples and the surrounding crowd were filled with uncontrollable fervor. Overflowing with jubilant adoration for their Lord, the apostles exclaimed, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The throng echoed this joyful exclamation, and the news about His raising of Lazarus from the dead spread rapidly among them. The path gradually ascended towards the Mount of Olives, flanked by lush fields and shaded under trees. At the crest, the road turned sharply north, unveiling for the first time a magnificent view of Jerusalem, which had been obscured by the mountain's contours.
In the clear atmosphere, the city, renowned for its rich history, appeared before Him, illuminated by the morning sun that sparkled on the temple's marble towers and golden roofs, creating an astonishing brilliance that nearly overwhelmed the onlooker's senses. The splendor of Jerusalem at that moment captured the attention of many Jewish and gentile travelers, who halted to gaze in wonder at the extraordinary scene before them. This city, graced by lofty towers, was regarded as one of the wonders of the world, presenting a spectacular sight unmatched by contemporary Jerusalem. And now, this glorious city stood revealed to Christ, its rightful King! While others may have reveled in the city's beautiful exterior, the true King focused not on the visible glory, but rather on the profound moral decay and unbelief of its people. Before Him lay a void of sin and rebellion, poised for the gravest of transgressions, and this bewitching vista brought excruciating sorrow to Christ’s compassionate heart. He had grieved in silence over the human condition before, but now He wept audibly. The humiliation and immense suffering He was to endure five days later had not elicited a single groan or tear; yet in this moment, His deep anguish overwhelmed Him, and He wept uncontrollably, struggling to articulate, “Oh, if only you too!” As the multitude looked on in astonishment, unsure of how to respond, He continued, “oh, if only you too had known, even on this day, what would bring you peace!” Tears choked His voice, but once he regained composure, He added, “But this is now hidden from your eyes; for the days will come upon you when your enemies will lay siege to you, encircle you, and crush you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” This marked the last plea from the Messiah to the city that had rejected His prophets, urging them to repent. Since they did not heed His warning, they would face the foretold consequences. Indeed, forty years later, Christ's prophecy was realized in full measure.
As Jesus lamented over the city, the procession paused. In the Kidron valley and near the city walls, the assembled crowds and worshipers who had pitched tents on the green slopes below became aware of the group ascending the mountain, echoing with joyous shouts. Eagerly, they tore green branches from the trees and rushed to meet the approaching Prophet. When the two waves of people converged—one coming from Bethany and the other from Jerusalem—He found Himself amid throngs of followers, triumphantly shouting “Hosanna” and waving branches all the way to the gates of Jerusalem. Among the crowd were several Pharisees, whose discontent was palpable in response to the people's exuberance. They questioned the significance of these Messianic acclamations and whether they posed any threat; why did He permit such proclamations? “Teacher, rebuke your disciples,” they implored. Yet, He refused to silence them. “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out,” He replied. Despite their bitterness, the Pharisees sensed their inability to suppress the swell of public adoration. As the procession approached the city gates, a wave of excitement and anxiety swept through Jerusalem. “Who is this?” the residents inquired, watching from behind their windows and rooftops, while others gathered in the streets and marketplaces. The crowd responded passionately yet simply, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Within the city, the people began to disperse, and Christ made His way to the temple. The enthusiastic praises of the crowds resonated here as well. Even children, likely from the temple choir, cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” When the scribes and Pharisees, harboring jealousy, pointed this out to Him, He answered, “Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of babes and infants Thou hast arranged praise?’” As evening approached, the Savior returned to Bethany.
As the hour was growing late, likely around 6 in the afternoon by our way of counting, or noon by their standards, the temple's religious activities were concluding, with the exception of the evening sacrifice that would follow. At this moment, Christ did not linger but quickly made His way to Bethany for the evening in the company of His disciples.
To the temple, a symbol of the majesty and beauty of the holy city, it was appropriate for the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets, to present Himself to the people within the sanctuary of the Lord. On that significant day of His visitation, He once again affirmed His divine mission through miraculous works. Throughout His earthly ministry, the Lord visited the temple many times, but His current presence profoundly resonated with the Jewish people, reminding them of the ancient prophecy: The Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the covenant, whom you desire, will come to His church at once (Malachi 3:1). When the Lord of the temple entered the sacred space, He beheld that which had drawn His righteous indignation at the outset of His sermon (John 2:13-17).
The greed for wealth had infiltrated what was meant to be a place of prayer and devotion. Filled with zeal for the honor of His heavenly Father, He expelled those who were buying and selling, overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves, declaring, "It is written, My temple shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers." This truth echoes the words of the prophets Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11).
The presence of the Lord was unmistakable, drawing those who sought not just any gift, but the unique healing only He could provide. The blind and the lame approached Him and received the healing they sought. These miraculous acts brought great joy to the day, attracting even the smallest children. In their innocent wonder at what they had experienced and heard, they followed Jesus into the temple, joyfully proclaiming, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Despite their lack of understanding of the full significance of their words, they echoed the praises heard at the recent solemn assembly. Yet, even this unrefined praise was embraced by Him who is worthy of all adoration (Psalm 18:2).
The chief priests and scribes, incensed by the miraculous healings and the children's joyous declarations, confronted Him with scornful rebukes: "Do you hear what these people are saying?" In response, the Lord quoted a psalm that celebrates God's majesty evident in all creation, even among children and infants: "Have you never read, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise?" (Psalm 8:3). As St. John Chrysostom noted, "Children who have not yet attained maturity proclaim great and heavenly truths while the learned utter words filled with folly."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 21 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS